Index Bibliography

The Ghost of Abel

Currently Available:

The Ghost of Abel
, copy A, 1822 (Library of Congress): electronic edition

Dates are the probable dates of printing.

This brief drama addressed to Lord Byron, whose Cain, a Mystery appeared in 1821, treats the themes of revenge, atonement, forgiveness, and self-annihilation through the reactions of Adam, Eve, Satan, and Jehovah to the first murder. The two plates of the work were etched in relief in 1822; all copies (A-E) were printed in the same year. Copy E consists only of plate 1.

Related Works

Related works currently available in the William Blake Archive appear as links below. Works not currently available appear as plain text.

  • Copy A, 1822
    Lessing J. Rosenwald Collection
    Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
  • Copy B, 1822
    Fitzwilliam Museum
    Cambridge, England
  • Copy C, 1822
    Huntington Library and Art Gallery
    San Marino, California
  • Copy D, 1822
    Trinity College
    Hartford, Connecticut
  • Copy E, 1822
    Collection of Robert N. Essick
    Altadena, California
  • Supplementary Illustrations