Chevalier Burning Bright

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2007/03/Tracy_Chevalier.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:369;s:6:"height";i:358;s:4:"file";s:27:"2007/03/Tracy_Chevalier.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:6:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:27:"Tracy_Chevalier-336x326.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:326;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:27:"Tracy_Chevalier-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"Tracy_Chevalier-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:27:"Tracy_Chevalier-321x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:321;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:27:"Tracy_Chevalier-273x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:273;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:27:"Tracy_Chevalier-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:179563;s:14:"optimized_size";i:130629;s:7:"percent";d:27.25;}s:5:"sizes";a:9:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:55:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2007/03/Tracy_Chevalier.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:46980;s:14:"optimized_size";i:32165;s:7:"percent";d:31.530000000000001;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:6:"medium";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:63:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2007/03/Tracy_Chevalier-336x326.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:27687;s:14:"optimized_size";i:20499;s:7:"percent";d:25.960000000000001;}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:63:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2007/03/Tracy_Chevalier-369x338.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:34687;s:14:"optimized_size";i:25863;s:7:"percent";d:25.440000000000001;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:63:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2007/03/Tracy_Chevalier-300x300.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:23887;s:14:"optimized_size";i:17749;s:7:"percent";d:25.699999999999999;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:63:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2007/03/Tracy_Chevalier-321x311.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:26001;s:14:"optimized_size";i:19286;s:7:"percent";d:25.829999999999998;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:63:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2007/03/Tracy_Chevalier-273x265.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:20321;s:14:"optimized_size";i:15067;s:7:"percent";d:25.859999999999999;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

)
1672333362 
1174953600
To say Tracy Chevalier’s new novel, Burning Bright, conjures up late 16th century London is an understatement. The book plunges the reader headfirst into noisy pubs, busy streets and a rowdy circus. It also shines a light onto the life of one of Britian’s most beloved, if least well understood, artists: William Blake.

Burning Bright focuses on the children of a rural English family that moves to London after the death of a beloved son. In it the children, Jem and Maisie, lose some of the innocence that swathed them in their move from the countryside. At the same time a young Londoner, Maggie, gets to start over. All of the children become involved in the life of their neighbor William Blake as his completing his most famous works, “Songs of Innocence” and “Songs of Experience”. Chevalier says the inspiration for the book came from an art exhibit.

 

 

From chess to a medical mystery: Great global reads from 2025 you may have missed

We published hundreds of stories on global health and development each year. Some are ... alas ... a bit underappreciated by readers. We've asked our staff for their favorite overlooked posts of 2025.

The U.S. offers Ukraine a 15-year security guarantee for now, Zelenskyy says

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday the United States is offering his country security guarantees for a period of 15 years as part of a proposed peace plan.

Electric vehicles had a bumpy road in 2025 — and one pleasant surprise

A suite of pro-EV federal policies have been reversed. Well-known vehicles have been discontinued. Sales plummeted. But interest is holding steady.

Why do so many people ring in the new year on Jan. 1?

Much of the world follows the Gregorian calendar, named after Pope Gregory XIII, who put the finishing touches on a Roman system that integrated ideas from other cultures.

A ‘very aesthetic person,’ President Trump says being a builder is his second job

President Trump was a builder before he took office, but he has continued it as a hobby in the White House.

Teens are having disturbing interactions with chatbots. Here’s how to lower the risks

Teen use of AI chat bots is growing, and psychologists worry it's affecting their social development and mental health. Here's what parents should know to help kids use the technology safely.

More Arts and Culture Coverage