Poet, artist, and visionary, William Blake is an archetypal misunderstood genius, yet he now occupies a unique position as an artist who unites and attracts people from all corners of society—a rare inclusive symbol of human identity. Revealing the scientific basis for Blake's otherworldly visions, John Higgs places the bewildering eccentricities of a most singular artist into fascinating context. And although the journey begins with us trying to understand him, we will ultimately discover that it is Blake who helps us to understand ourselves.