The Routledge Companion to William Morris

William Morris (1834–96) was an English poet decorative artist translator romance writer book designer preservationist socialist theorist and political activist whose admirers have been drawn to the sheer intensity of his artistic endeavors and efforts to live up to radical ideals of social justice. This Companion draws together historical and critical responses to the impressive range of Morris’s multi-faceted life and activities: his homes travels family business practices decorative artwork poetry fantasy romances translations political activism eco-socialism and book collecting and design. Each chapter provides valuable historical and literary background information reviews relevant opinions on its subject from the late-nineteenth century to the present and offers new approaches to important aspects of its topic. Morris’s eclectic methodology and the perennial relevance of his insights and practice make this an essential handbook for those interested in art history poetry translation literature book design environmentalism political activism and Victorian and utopian studies.