The Life and Death of Jason: A Poem. Author's Edition

by William Morris

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Genres: Poetry

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1867

About the author

People best remembered wallpaper and furniture designs of William Morris, British painter, craftsman, and social reformer, whose poetry includes Sigurd the Volsung , the epic in 1876.

The Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood and the Arts and Crafts Movement associated William Morris, an English architect, textile, artist, writer, and Marxist. Morris wrote and published fiction and translations of ancient and medieval texts throughout his life. He worked his known The Defence of Guenevere and Other Poems (1858).

William Morris wrote The Earthly Paradise (1868–1870), A Dream of John Ball , and the utopian News from Nowhere .

William Morris, an important figure in the emergence, founded the Socialist league in 1884 but broke with the movement over goals and methods before the end of 1880s, that decade.

He founded the press of Kelmscott in 1891 and devoted much of the rest of his life. People consider the edition, masterpiece of Kelmscott of 1896 of the Works , book of Geoffrey Chaucer.

Reviews

[Anisha Inkspill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful retelling of Jason of the Argonauts in epic poetry, first published in 1867. This has drama, danger, adventure, romance, passion, betrayal, supernatural and murder. It’s a riveting read, where it’s easy to sympathise with both Medea and Jason who love each other deeply; when their relationship falls apart it is truly, truly tragic.

The poem starts before Jason is born, where he is left in Chiron’s care to keep him safe. Later, when grown up and ready to take the throne that belongs to him, Jason’s uncle Pelias sets him on a quest – to fetch the Golden Fleece – where he meets Medea, and with her help becomes the hero whose story will forever be told.

This poem of 17 books is not just a love story, alongside it there are adventures and fight scenes in cinematic tones that are so vivid that I felt the dangers and the suspense.

I know William Morris as an artist, this is the first work I have read by him, but after this I will be looking out for more of his books.

[Katharine Wibell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this retelling of Jason and the Argonauts. Written in the old epic style of poetry, this whimsical tale follows the mythological hero, Jason, and his famed crew as they journey for the golden fleece. Though it branches away from the original myth in some areas, it was still very entertaining.

[Jericho · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly read as a curiosity of how Jason’s been adapted historically. Definitely scrubs the parts of his mythos that I find most interesting (namely how much he has to rely on others and his relationship to Medea). My guess is that Morris was more interested in mirroring English epic texts where the hero goes out gloriously rather than really exploring how later myths paint Jason as an embittered oath breaker and tragic figure. Still, interesting enough I suppose.

[Ritesh Ranjan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nice