William Morris

by Christine Poulson

"When William Morris died at the age of sixty-two on 3rd October 1896, an eminent doctor wrote: 'I consider the case is this: the disease is simply being William Morris, and having done more work than ten men'. ... This book is a comprehensive survey of this busy, varied and productive life. It gives an account of Morris's early years, his important friendships...and the ideas which lead to the foundation of Morris & Co. It discusses his writing throughout his life and charts his relationship with socialism, Finally it assesses the influence left behind by the man, the poet, the designer and the socialist.. About the author: Dr. Christine Poulson is the Curator of the William Morris Society in London. Her experience includes a PhD on Arthurian legend in Fine and Applied Nineteenth Century Art, as well as a book based on the same subject and various articles on nineteenth century art." -book jacket

Genres: Biography, Art

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Christine Poulson was born and brought up in North Yorkshire, England. She is now a research fellow at the Centre for Nineteenth-Century Studies at Sheffield University and chair of the William Morris Society. She has written widely on 19th-century art and literature, and her most recent work of non-fiction was a book on Arthurian legend in British art from 1840 to 1920. She lives with her family in a water mill in Derbyshire, England.

Reviews

[Bryan Lawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The authoritative classic

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

A concise biography of an interesting man; his art, loves and beliefs. There's more focus on his decorative work than his written, but that's to be expected in a book designed for visual appeal.