"The Gates of Paradise" is the story of the three years the poet William Blake spent in Felpham, of the impact of his revolutionary ideas on a pair of young lovers, of his quarrel with a trooper and his subsequent arrest and trial for sedetion. It is also a story about people, places and art; it's centred around the Fox Inn in Felpham. In April 1852 Alexander comes to stay, trying to discover more about a former resident of Felpham: a certain William Blake. In doing so he unearths the history of this small village; its people and the secrets they hide. A vast collection of colourful characters run through Kingston's book as we learn about the people that Blake interacted with and who influenced his poetry. Among the local residents is Johnnie, who works for local poet William Hayley. We witness his relationship with young Betsy and how it blossoms throughout their time with William Blake in the village.