An Illustrated Life of William Morris 1834-1896.
Aylesbury, UK: Shire Publications Ltd, 1983. Later printing. Color Pictorial Wraps. Small octavo, pp. 48, indexed, illustrated with b/w photographs. Very Good. Item #20449
William Morris led the crusade against the materialism and ugliness of Victorian England. Now considered to be the founder of modern design, his love for the Gothic style and his nostalgic enthusiasm for the craftsmanship of the Middle Ages, which in his opinion was free from the corrupting influence of capitalism and mass-production, were the dominant features of his work and his philosophy. He became a socialist, and English socialism today owes much to the gentle passion of Morris. He was a prolific poet, his best works being based on Norse mythology and the Icelandic sagas, which also inspired some of his prose romances. His advocacy of craftsmanship in preference to the technology of modern machinery and his love of pure beauty gives his philosophy and ideas an even greater relevance in the present day. From the Old House Journal reference library.
Price: $25.00