Product Description
The first great fantasy novel ever written. William Morris has been described as "obviously a Nineteenth Century Tolkien..." but he has a quality that is equally obviously and uniquely his own. In Limpid, singing prose, daintily archaic, he tells a fabulous story of the travels of a down-to-earth hero in an enchanted time: of a land beyond reality but of humans governed by very real laws. Every picture is delicately precise; every view dewy fresh. The world of William Morris is truly a jeweled world. Cover art by Gervasio Gallardo. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

A small, perfect pearl
This was one of the earliest books reprinted in the legendary Ballantine Adult Fantasy Series, and is still one of the finest fantasies ever written. It introduced an entire generation to the forgotten genius of William Morris, as well as establishing his importance in the field of fantasy as a genre ... although, as the genre has grown & become quite marketable, its quality has dropped far short of this glowing original.

Fans of more recent fantasies, with their relentlessly detailed world-building & spectacular special effects-style action, may be bored by Morris & his deliberately languid, archaic diction. More's the pity, because they'll be missing something special. This luminous story, quite simple as far as actual plot goes, is more evocative chamber music than overblown orchestral bombast.

Golden Walter, a young man betrayed by his wife, flees across the ocean, coming at last to an unknown land. He soon encounters the innocent Maid, a lovely innocent enslaved by the Mistress, a woman with mysterious powers, whose dwarfish servant has long tormented the Maid. Both love & terror follow in short order, all described in gorgeous language that transports the reader into a more mythic world.

Love, both emotional & sexual, is a notable feature of Morris' fantasy novels, as is the presence of strong & independent women. He also brings a shrewd & subtle understanding of psychology & character to all these works. He definitely has an innate feel for the mythic, which makes his writing feel genuine, as if actually drawn from a mist-shrouded past. This quality gives his fantasies an extra dimension & depth that's sorely lacking in so many by-the-numbers fantasies churned out today.

While there are several editions of this beautiful novel currently in print, I've chosen to review the Ballantine edition, both to call attention to the tranquil & mysterious cover art by Gervasio Gallardo & the appreciative forward by series editor Lin Carter. But whether you get this out-of-print edition, or a more current one, it's required reading for the fantasy fan of poetic, Romantic bent -- most highly recommended!

Beyond the world
The multitalented William Morris is reknowned for many things, but in literary circles he's known for having created the first real fantasy stories, even before Dunsany and Tolkien. Though heavy on prose and light on plot, "The Wood Beyond The World" is an intriguing look at the baby steps of the fantasy genre.

After a disastrous marriage to an unfaithful wife, Walter sails away on a ship, but catches a glimpse of a beautiful queenly woman, a misshapen dwarf, and a lovely young slave girl. When he arrives in a distant land, he encounters all three in a beautiful house in the Wood Beyond The World, where the sexy, manipulative Lady is currently living with a cold-hearted prince.

Walter stays there as a guest, and falls in love with the beautiful Maid, despite her mistress's jealousy. But the Lady has taken a liking to him, and despite his love for the Maid, Walter is drawn in by the Lady's magical charm. And breaking free of the jealous sorceress could be fatal for himself and the Maid -- even if they escape, they still have to deal with the savage wilderness of the Wood Beyond the World.

"The Wood Beyond the World" has the distinction of being the first fantasy-quest novel, although it hasn't had nearly the effect on fiction that J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis have had. However, it is an interesting read, especially when one considers that Morris had no mold to work with -- he thought it all up himself.

Morris chose to write in a very formal style, with plenty of phrases like "then waxed Walter wood-wroth," whatever that means. It's not a light read, and it gives the story the feeling of a half-forgotten myth rather than a straightforward fairy tale. And despite its formality, the book has plenty of exquisitely described moments, such as Walter eavesdropping on the Lady and her boytoy.

Unfortunately, Morris loses his grip on the plot in the last fourth of the book: the Lady and her evil dwarf are dealt with way too quickly. Boom, they're gone. The primitive Bear tribe is an intriguing idea that Morris brings up, and then drops. And the last chapters of the book feel contrived, as if Morris were trying to think up a happy enough ending. And he also seems to forget that Walter is already married, albeit unhappily.

"The Wood Beyond the World" suffers from a rather weak last quarter, but it's an intriguing and often beautiful read. And if nothing else, a literary milestone.

Weird "world"
The multitalented William Morris is reknowned for many things, but in literary circles he's known for having created the first real fantasy stories, even before Dunsany and Tolkien. Though heavy on prose and light on plot, "The Wood Beyond The World" is an intriguing look at the baby steps of the fantasy genre.

After a disastrous marriage to an unfaithful wife, Walter sails away on a ship, but catches a glimpse of a beautiful queenly woman, a misshapen dwarf, and a lovely young slave girl. When he arrives in a distant land, he encounters all three in a beautiful house in the Wood Beyond The World, where the sexy, manipulative Lady is currently living with a cold-hearted prince.

Walter stays there as a guest, and falls in love with the beautiful Maid, despite her mistress's jealousy. But the Lady has taken a liking to him, and despite his love for the Maid, Walter is drawn in by the Lady's magical charm. And breaking free of the jealous sorceress could be fatal for himself and the Maid -- even if they escape, they still have to deal with the savage wilderness of the Wood Beyond the World.

"The Wood Beyond the World" has the distinction of being the first fantasy-quest novel, although it hasn't had nearly the effect on fiction that J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis have had. However, it is an interesting read, especially when one considers that Morris had no mold to work with -- he thought it all up himself.

Morris chose to write in a very formal style, with plenty of phrases like "then waxed Walter wood-wroth," whatever that means. It's not a light read, and it gives the story the feeling of a minor myth rather than a straightforward fairy tale. And despite its formality, the book has plenty of exquisitely described moments, such as Walter eavesdropping on the Lady and her boytoy.

Unfortunately, Morris loses his grip on the plot iuickly. Boom, they're gone. The primitive Bear tribe is an intriguing idea that Morris brings up, and then drops. And the last chapters of the book feel contrived, as if n the last fourth of the book: the Lady and her evil dwarf are dealt with way too qMorris were trying to think up a happy enough ending. And he also seems to forget that Walter is already married, albeit unhappily.

"The Wood Beyond the World" suffers from a rather weak last quarter, but it's an intriguing and often beautiful read. And if nothing else, a literary milestone.

A literary Waterhouse painting.
"The Wood Beyond the World" is many things but let me discuss what it is not.It is not a work of modern fantasy - that is, it does not havea high-paced plot full of swords and sorcery, peopled with rogues, wizards, goblins and elves.There is no attempt at the epic here. The story takes place with a limited cast of characters and only amodicum of natural magic.The lack of sword-play and the slow plot build-up may bore those accustomed to more "riveting" modern tales although patience is rewarded for the more persistent.

The book is also, most definitely, not a fairy tale for children. The hero, Walter, leaves his first wife for unfaithfulness and fares forth on a sea voyage, during the course of which he stumbles onto the wood beyond the world.Here he encounters difficulties of a romantic nature when he falls in love with the maidservant of the Mistress of the Wood.How Walter and the maid escape the Mistress' wiles is subsequently described in fairly adult terms, the Mistress doing her best to seduce the innocent Walter. While C. S. Lewis may have received inspiration for the Narnia series from this book (the Mistress seems an archetype of the White Witch and has Walter slay a Lion at one point) Morris addresses themes of purity and temptation with considerably more directness.

It is also not a typical Victorian novel, dealing with social mores, societal injustice or unrequited love. Rather it is an attempt to create a myth.Walter's entanglement with the Mistress of the wood and his eventual escape play out as a battle between seduction and guile on the one hand, and innocence and honesty on the other.The issue of trust and betrayal is of fundamental importance.

"The Wood Beyond the World" is, however, a splendid little tale, told in a romantic style and written in a pseudo-archaic english (a little practice with a King James Bible might be in order if you are rusty).The plot is full of tension and the descriptions of the Wood, the characters and the rustic scenery are all exquisitely painted.Morris was a founding member of the Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood and perhaps the best way to think of this story is as the literary equivalent of a Waterhouse painting - brooding, mysterious and enchanted.

This book seems like a George MacDonald novel written by Howard Pyle
How can you go wrong with a title like The Wood Beyond the World? I think it was C. S. Lewis who said that no book could live up to the titles which Morris gave to his books (this and The Well at the World's End), and he is correct.Morris does, however, come close, and delivers an excellent fantasy book, which is even more excellent considering that he had to come up with it on his own.He had no previous fantasy writers to base his ideas upon, for he, in writing this book, became the one from whom others drew their ideas.I came to read this book through C. S. Lewis influence.I was reading one of his books of letters, and in one he mentioned that he was reading this book, and he thought very highly of it.I also read somewhere else that this book greatly influenced Lewis' Narnian Chronicles, and when reading this book I could see what Lewis drew upon for some of his ideas.For example, he probably got the "Sons of Adam" and "Daughters of Eve" bit from this book, as well as the "wood between the worlds" in his The Magician's Nephew.

I think that this book is best described as a cross between George Macdonald and Howard Pyle, for the fantasy and magic seems similar to Macdonald, but the archaic writing style is extremely similar to Pyle's.Since I love both MacDonald and Pyle's works, I was very pleased to find an author who writes like both of them.I am hoping to find a copy of The Well Beyond the World soon so I can read that as well.

One last thing:the edition I have is a reprint of the original novel printed by Morris at his Kelmscott press, and has fancy letters and print, and it greatly adds to the magic of the story.I would hightly recommend finding this version if at all possible. ... Read more

Product Description
This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishing's Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more

Product Description
With his Kelmscott Press and associations with the Arts &Crafts Movement, William Morris helped raise awareness for the bookarts to new heights.This landmark study describes the true extent ofMorris's influence on American bookmaking as Dr. Thompson dispels theconfusion surrounding the Arts & Crafts, Art Nouveau and Aestheticstyles.With 111 illustrations of bindings, title pages, type, anddecorations, this work will appeal to book designers, art historians,typographers, librarians, book collectors, and more.

Co-published with The British Library. ... Read more

Product Description
J. R. R. Tolkien fans who long for more of the great delight that they get from The Lord of the Rings will find it in the writings of William Morris. He created the literature that Tolkien brought to such perfection. As a young man writing his future wife, Tolkien mentioned the inspiration he was getting from Morris:

"Amongst other work I am trying to turn one of the short stories [of the Finnish Kalevala] . . . into a short story somewhat on the lines of Morris’ romances with chunks of poetry in between."

Forty-six years later, Tolkien recalled what he learned from Morris:

"The Lord of the Rings was actually begun, as a separate thing, about1937, and had reached the inn at Bree, before the shadow of the secondwar. . . . The Dead Marshes and the approaches to the Morannon owesomething to Northern France after the Battle of the Somme. They owemore to William Morris and his Huns and Romans, as in The House of theWolfings or The Roots of the Mountains."

As The Lord of the Rings was being written, Tolkien’s close friend,C. S. Lewis, wrote that Morris provides his readers with a"pleasure so inexhaustible that after twenty or fifty years ofreading they find it worked so deeply into all their emotions as todefy analysis." In words that apply equally well to Tolkien, hesaid:

"It is indeed, this matter-of-factness . . . which lends to all ofMorris’s stories their somber air of conviction. Other stories haveonly scenery; his have geography. He is not concerned with‘painting’ landscapes; he tells you the lie of the land, and thenyou paint the landscapes for yourself. To a reader long fed on thealmost botanical and entomological niceties of much modern fiction. . . the effect is at first very pale and cold, but also fresh andspacious. No mountains in literature are as far away as distantmountains in Morris. The world of his imagining is as windy, astangible, as resonant and three dimensional, as that of Scott andHomer."

In short, if you like Tolkien’s Aragorn, if you admire the bravery of the Riders of Rohan, if you long for more adventure in an unspoiled wilderness, or if you wish Tolkien had more romances between men and women, then you will be delighted by these two tales from William Morris. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A treasure for any Tolkien fanatic
Thousands of modern day fantasy authors are inspired by the works of J.R.R Tolkien - but who inspired Tolkien? "More to William Morris: Two Books That Inspired J.R.R. Tolkien" looks at the author who Tolkien himself credited with the majority of his inspiration for the iconic 'The Lord of the Rings' saga. Offering two of Morris's works in 'The House of the Wolflings' and the 'The Roots of the Mountains', "More to William Morris: Two Books that Inspired J.R.R. Tolkien" is a treasure for any Tolkien fanatic who wants to learn more of the roots of their beloved author and for community library literary collections. Also for Tolkien fans from Inkling Press is Michael W. Perry's "Untangling Tolkien: A Chronology and Commentary for The Lord of the Rings" (1587420198, $17.95) - focusing on the complete history of the Rings Saga.

Disappointed by format
The House of Wolfings and The Roots of the Mountains, published together in one volume, by William Morris.

I enjoy Morris's work very much. The style is high, archaic, and, to my taste, very beautiful.So I am grateful that Inkling Books is once again making his works available.If I were rating the story alone, I would have given it 5 stars.

What is extremely disappointing, however, is that this edition (that contains both the House of Wolfings and The Roots of the Mountains) is almost torture to read due to the formatting. I have to strain to read the text. The type is a thin 9 pt font, which frequently goes into an even thinner italics.The pages are two columns, and the margins are small. Each page is a large 9.5 in height, and 7.5 in width.The net effect is that the open book looks more like a forbidding text book with tiny type than it does a work of enjoyable literature.

The terrible format has taken away the pleasure I am sure I could have had reading these stories.I recommend people look to purchase these works of Morris in separate editions, both of which Inkling Books does in fact offer (which I am led to hope, from the higher page numbers per story, are more felicitously formatted).I also think Inklings Books should make known the (unfortunate) nature of the formatting of the text in their advertisement of this one volume edition.Personally, I'd take it off the market altogether so that poor fools like myself would not accidentally purchase it over the more standardly formatted, and hence readable, editions.
... Read more

Product Description
This practical guide by Elizabeth Wilhide sh ows the reader a variety of simple and cost-effective ways o f creating a ''Morris'' style that will complement their own m odern living space. ' ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A must-have for William Morris fans
Elizabeth Wilhide's superb "William Morris: Decor and Design" will be a real treat for William Morris fans.Wilhide combines dozens of sumptuous color photographs of Morris interiors with an overview of his life, his influences, and his artistic goals.I learned a number of interesting things about his personal background, such as:

- His beautiful wife Jane had a long affair with fellow artist Dante Gabriel Rossetti;
- In addition to his design work, he was such a respected poet that he was offered the poet laureateship of England once Tennyson had died;
- Many of his designs are still in active production today, more than a century after his death.

Morris shunned the effect the Industrial Revolution had had on the arts in England (and elsewhere) and proposed that hand-crafted art, furniture, wallpaper, and so on be the goal of an artists' cooperative he helped to found.He felt that art should be in every home and that it should be useful, beautiful to look at, and durable.This success of the cooperative produced the uncomfortable situation, for Morris, of having art be so beautifully and painstakingly produced by hand that, in the end, only the wealthy could afford it.

The photographs of Morris interiors, wallpaper designs, furniture, and more, are absolutely sumptuous, and Wilhide's well-informed and well-written text helps to expand our understanding of the whole of Morris' life.Highly recommended!

This is a beautiful, must-have interior design book!
With its stunning photographs, reproduced in exceptional color, William Morris: Décor & Design is a fine interior design book that belongs on every coffee table. This book will surely win more appreciation for thediverse talents of the great designer when newcomers to Morris see thebreadth of his talents presented so beautifully. As a long-time admirer, Ihave many books about the 19th century designer, poet, fantasist, etc., butthis is one of my favorites, as well as one of the most complete books onhis design that I have seen. Photographs range from the interiors of housesand public buildings decorated by Morris for clients, to the homes heactually lived in. Insets show details of patterns, from wallpaper totapestry to upholstery fabric to curtains, as well as pages from hisilluminated books and the Morris & Co. catalog. Non-Morris interiorsare shown for comparison. A pictorial glossary of his most common patternscompletes the book. Further, the biography chapter is a good, comprehensiveintroduction to Morris, describing his forays into politics and literature,as well as his many efforts in all aspects of design. I recommend thisbeautifully designed book, a fitting tribute to Morris's own delight indesign, to any lover of beauty in art and design.

This is a beautiful, must-have interior design book!
With its stunning photographs, reproduced in exceptional color, William Morris: Décor & Design is a fine interior design book that belongs on every coffee table. This book will surely win more appreciation for thediverse talents of the great designer, especially when newcomers to Morrissee the breadth of his talents presented so beautifully. As a long-timeadmirer, I have many books about the 19th century designer, poet,fantasist, etc., but this is one of my favorites, as well as one of themost complete books on his design that I have seen. Photographs range fromthe colorful interiors of houses and public buildings decorated by Morrisfor clients, to the homes he actually lived in. Insets show details of hisstriking patterns, from wallpaper to tapestry to upholstery fabric tocurtains, as well as pages from his illuminated books and the Morris &Co. catalog. Non-Morris interiors are shown for comparison. A pictorialglossary of his most common patterns completes the book. Further, thebiography chapter is a good, comprehensive introduction to Morris,describing his forays into politics and literature, as well as his manyefforts in all aspects of design. I recommend this beautifully designedbook, a fitting tribute to Morris's own delight in design, to any lover ofbeauty in art and design.

This is a beautiful, must-have interior design book!
With its stunning photographs, reproduced in exceptional color, William Morris: Décor & Design is a fine interior design book that belongs on every coffee table. This book will surely win more appreciation for thediverse talents of the great designer, especially when newcomers to Morrissee the breadth of his talents presented so beautifully. As a long-timeadmirer, I have many books about the 19th century designer, poet,fantasist, etc., but this is one of my favorites, as well as one of themost complete books on his design that I have seen. Photographs range fromthe colorful interiors of houses and public buildings decorated by Morrisfor clients, to the homes he actually lived in. Insets show details of hisstriking patterns, from wallpaper to tapestry to upholstery fabric tocurtains, as well as pages from his illuminated books and the Morris &Co. catalog. Non-Morris interiors are shown for comparison. A pictorialglossary of his most common patterns completes the book. Further, thebiography chapter is a good, comprehensive introduction to Morris,describing his forays into politics and literature, as well as his manyefforts in all aspects of design. I recommend this beautifully designedbook, a fitting tribute to Morris's own delight in design, to any lover ofbeauty in art and design. ... Read more

Product Description
"Beauty, which is what is meant by art...is no mere accident to human life, which people can take or leave as they choose, but a positive necessity of life."—William Morris

William Morris, the leader of the British Arts and Crafts movement, was a man of tremendous energies, his accomplishments astonishing in their range and depth. He became successively a poet, embroiderer, pattern designer, calligrapher, dyer, weaver, translator, architectural preservationist, socialist, and book publisher and printer. As the head of the internationally successful Morris & Company, he devoted himself to the decorative arts.

Drawing upon The Huntington's superb holdings—the largest collection of Morris material in North America—this book examines the life and work of the designer and of Morris & Company. It contains detailed studies of Morris's stained glass, interior decoration designs, and book publishing ventures, as well as an essay on his successor at Morris & Company, J. H. Dearle. The book also explores the design legacy of Morris and the firm in the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries on both sides of the Atlantic.

Diane Waggoner, curator of the exhibition at The Huntington, is a specialist in nineteenth-century art and has written about the photography of Lewis Carroll. The contributors include Pat Kirkham, Professor of Design History at the Bard Graduate Center for Studies in the Decorative Arts, Design, and Culture; Gillian Naylor, professor emerita at the Royal College of Art and an expert on the Arts and Crafts movement; and Edward R. Bosley, director of the Gamble House in Pasadena, California. 120 illustrations, 80 in color. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Entree to the life and works of William Morris
I was scarcely aware of William Morris until recently. This book has been a valuable entree to his life and work for me. Diane Waggoner edited this volume, which features chapters written by Pat Kirkham, Waggoner, Gilliam Naylor, and Edward Bosley.

What makes this book intriguing to me is the various facets of Morris' life that are covered--from "The Firm" (Morris & Company) to stained glass to books to decoration of houses to his publishing company to his politics. I am especially intrigued by his interest in atypical political activists such as Peter Kropotkin.

He counted among his friends some of the leading Pre-Raphaelites and other ambitious young men of the era, including Ford Madox Brown, Dante Gabriel Rosetti, Edward Burne-Jones, Philip Webb, and so on. In the Introduction, Waggoner notes the value of the collection of Morris' works at the Huntington Museum. Kirkham's chapter, "William Morris: A Life in Design" begins with an apposite quotation from Morris (Page 20): "Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful." Kirkham notes the breath of his work (Page 21): "One of the most famous figures of his day, [Morris[ was a poet, a novelist, translator, social activist, environmentalist, entrepreneur and designer of a wide range of objects, including embroidery, tapestry, furniture, carpets, stained glass, tiles, textiles, wallpaper, books and type."

Indeed, one of the glories of this book is the rich set of examples of his art and craft.Included are photos of his stained glass, his embroidery, his books, and so on. The luscious visual portrayal of his artifacts makes this a fine introduction to his work. one doesn't need to visualize his works in one's mind--they are there to see and appreciate and savor. Important, too, of course, is his philosophical perspective on these products.

Chapter by chapter, one gets a sense of the wide variety of his work. While Morris was not particularly interested in the United States (according to Bosley's chapter), the U. S. proved receptive to many of Morris' ideas. The chapter focusing on the U. S. notes that some movements appear to have been in the spirit of Morris, including the Shakers (I'm not so sure, but I'm not an expert!). For example, Trinity Church in Copley Square in Boston is noted as influenced by the ideas of Morris (including the installation of stained glass designed by Burne-Jones for Morris & Company).

At any rate, I found this a fascinating volume, as I became much better acquainted with the work and philosophy of William Morris.

The Beauty of Life: William Morris and the Art of Design
Beautiful presentation of the work of William Morris - genius designer and illustrator of the Arts and Crafts movement. Beautiful illustrations and reproductions of his work - a great book for any student and artist as well as a graphic designer that has an appreciation for history and beauty.

A joy to simply page through and savor
Painstakingly compiled and expertly edited by Diane Waggoner (Andrew W. Mellon foundation Curatorial Fellow in the Art Collections at The Huntington), The Beauty Of Life: William Morris & The Art Of Design is specifically devoted to the decorative artwork of William Morris, an influential leader of the British Arts and Crafts movement. Contemplative and informative essays by Pat Kirkham, Gillian Naylor, and Edward R. Bosley are added to those of Diane Waggoner and concern William Morris' diverse works of art (including his stained glass and interior decoration designs). These essays are enhanced with eye-catching, full color photographs. A joy to simply page through and savor, and presented with a deep respect for artistic traditions stretching back to medieval times and beyond, The Beauty Of Life is a superbly presented and heartily endorsed addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library Art History collections. ... Read more

Product Description
News from Nowhere (1890), William Morris' most famous work, is a utopian picture of a future communist society, depicting a world in which capitalism has been abolished by a workers' revolution, and in which nature and society have become beautiful habitations for humanity. In an era that has seen the collapse of state socialism, Morris' damning critique of this conception, and his positing of a powerful alternative, are compelling reasons for paying attention to this classic of British socialism. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

William Morris' futuristic utopia based on Medieval ideals
William Morris is best known for his involvement in the Pre-Raphaelite movement and as one of the greatest European pattern-designers since the Middle Ages.He was also a campaigning socialist, a pioneering environmentalist, and a lyric poet, as well as a journalist and a storyteller with a penchant for making his dreams reality.Much of his prose writings focused on the theme of an earthly paradise, which is the subject of "News from Nowhere."First published in serial form in the "Commonweal" in 1890, this novella offers Morris' ideal future for England as a pastoral society born out of revolution.A true utopian vision of the future, it is largely forgotten in comparison to the dramatic dystopian works such as "Brave New World" and "Nineteen Eighty-Four," which have dominated the interest of scholars and students.

"News from Nowhere, or, An Epoch of Rest: being some chapters from a Utopian Romance" tells the story of a young Englishman who goes to bed one night in his London home and wakes up in a strange world where his "neighbors" talk about the year 2001 as thought it had happened in the past.Morris depicts an England where radical changes have altered not only the way things look but the key elements of the society, which is now structured according to the ideals of communism.This means a world without money or private property but with a perfect equality between all citizens who share in the daily labor.

In addition to these common features of a utopian society, Morris argues that labor would be regarded as a pleasure rather than as a chore.This is possible because in the ideal world Morris envisions every citizen does the job that matches their skills and is able to take pride in the fruit of their labors.Consequently, for Morris "work" is more akin to "art," specifically in terms of the Medieval idea of individual workmanship, where even the production of a dish was celebrated as an art form.Towards this end Morris creates a future where humanity has eliminated all but the simplest forms of machinery, forcing a reliance on the individual skins of the workman.Even the city of London becomes a collection of villages in this post-industrial utopia.

At one point an old man who had studied the revolution explains what happened, which is where "News from Nowhere" gives Morris the opportunity to comment on the injustices he perceives in his own society.The revolution came when the conflict between workers and the state became violent.Unions had banded together in larger organizations and when the establishment ordered unarmed protesters to be gunned down and the workers decided to fight back.In many ways the story Morris tells through his character clearly predicts some of the conflicts that would take place between labor and the state around the world in the decades to come, but there is also a strong affinity with the story of the French Revolution.

Ultimately, "News from Nowhere" is a combination of Morris' ideal of the Medieval workman as a happy artisan and his socialist beliefs.The irony for utopian scholarship is that while Morris was prompted by "Looking Backward" to write "News from Nowhere" as a refutation of Bellamy's reliance on the modern institutions of technology and complex organizations, but today the two works are seen as being kindred spirits because they both predict a brighter future for humanity.Still, it is became Morris is looking backward from the end of the 19th century to the past to find the ideal state that should be achieved in the future, that "News From Nowhere" is one of the most atypical examples of utopian literature. ... Read more

Product Description
This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishing's Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more

Product Description
Originally published in 1868. 16 pages. This volume is produced from digital images from the Cornell University Library Samuel J. May Anti-Slavery Collection ... Read more

Product Description
A lavish record of an extraordinary collaboration between designer and architect—and the catalyst for the William Morris style.

Red House occupies a singular place in British architectural history: it was the first and only house that was built for designer William Morris, and it was the first independent architectural commission for his friend, Philip Webb. The challenge of furnishing the house inspired Morris and his Pre-Raphaelite friends to found the design firm of Morris & Co., which was the flagship for what was to become the Arts & Crafts movement. Red House captured Morris’ heart. He was only 25 when, in 1858, he married Jane Burden, whose beauty was the inspiration for much of Pre-Raphaelite art. With his young wife, he planned to produce a vision of "earthly paradise" at Red House; however, the idyll was found to be impractical, and Morris left after five years. Because of its illustrious first owner, Red House was never forgotten, and a succession of tenants kept Morris’ spirit alive in the house; in 2003, Red House was acquired for the National Trust. This handsome volume provides both the story of Red House and a "virtual tour" that enables the reader to see how this splendid house looked and functioned when it was inhabited by the celebrated designer. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

William Morris and Red House
A beautiful tour of one of the first Arts & crafts homes.It was interesting to see the changes that have been made since we were there. ... Read more

Product Description
In the land of the Upmeads, King Peter's sons thirst for adventure and the King agrees that all except Ralph, the youngest, may go forth. But Ralph secretly makes his way to Wulstead, and here learns about the Well at the World's End, beginning a journey which will eventually lead him there. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Perhaps Not His Best, But Definitely His Longest.
This is the tale of Ralph of Upmeads, the son of a king from a tiny kingdom, who flees his home in search of adventure, but keeps encountering hints and portents that he must seek the legendary Well at the World's End.

I'm in the minority here in not being wild about this book.There are many, of course, who will be unable to finish the book because of its quasi-archaic language, but it was not so with me.For me, the language was one of the book's unique charms.

If you are planning on giving William Morris' fantasy novels a try, I wouldnot start here.He wrote three others:Wood Beyond the World, Water of the Wondrous Isles, and The Sundering Flood, all of which are significantly shorter.Moreover, you may find that Morris' sprawling, meandering, disconnected plots hold together better if not dragged out over such extended length.The tale has its good points and surprises but none which seemed to justify its 1200-plus pages.Resolutions are often unsatisfying -- can someone please explain the significance of Ralph's repeated encounters with the mysterious knight?

I could barely stand Ralph.The novel seemed far too focussed on the glorification of Ralph, this wondrous youth with whom all women are in love.I would have preferred the fantasy to be a bit more outward-focussed -- on world that Ralph explores.In all Ralph's adventures, he hardly meets anything more wonderful than himself.

I have since read "The Water of the Wondrous Isles", which I enjoyed rather more than this.It packs more wonders and fairy-tale elements into a smaller space, and its shorter length better suits its meandering plot.It is also, perhaps, unduly enamored of its heroine; but in my case, if I am required to be in love with the protagonist, it helps if she's a girl.

The building of a genra
I, like many others, came to read this through the influence of C. S. Lewis.Lewis said, and rightly so, that no book could match the titles which William Morris gave to his books, but that he came closer than anyone else could have.This and The Wood Beyond the World are both spectacular, and I look forward to reading his other literature when I get the chance.

This particular book weaves the story of Ralph of Upmeads, the youngest son of the king of a small nation, who runs away from home to seek adventure.He hears of the fabled Well at the World's End, and decides to seek this Well.On the way he encounters numerous smaller adventures, built into what became the first truly epic fantasy book.Morris was the first to ever create a new world as his setting.Sure, there had been fictional books written before his, but he was the first to leave behind conventional countries and lands as his setting and create new lands and new countries in which to place his story.Tolkien, Lewis, etc. all simply went farther down the path that Morris had begun to blaze before them.

As far as the actual writing goes, I find it superb (for the most part).Many dislike his archaic English, but I very much enjoy it.I actually prefer to read books written like that, as I find that it adds greatly to the general feel of the story.The archaic English makes it really feel old, as if it really did take place ages ago.Morris does not use it quite so skillfully as someone like Howard Pyle, but it is very good, and does not fall flat like it tends to do when many less skilled modern authors try to use it.The only part of his writing style that I disliked is his odd manor of switching back and forth between past and present language.For example, he will be going along writing things like "Ralph looked around and knew not where he was" and then suddenly go a few pages writing things like "Ralph looks around and knows not where he is" for no reason at all.It simply makes no sense to me, and I found it rather annoying.This happened in only a few places, so it is not a major issue or anything.For the most part, Morris' writing is superb.

In all, I highly recommend reading this, as it is one of the most important fictional books ever written.Make sure you get Volume 1 and 2, as it was originally one volume but simply had to be split up when they re-printed it so as not to be so bulky.It is long, but well worth the time.If you like it, I recommend checking out The Wood Beyond the World, as well as Howard Pyle's material.

Overall grade:A+

Rewarding, yet left me wanting more...
As C.S. Lewis claimed, a story cannot match the wonder and expectation that comes from a title "The Well at the World's End."Indeed, my expectations of a spiritual grail-type quest, the joy of finding another George MacDonald, got in my way of enjoying a fascinating recreation of the medieval romance, an experiment in archaic English, and a materialistic examination of the relativity of culture structure.

Like reading the "Faerie Queene," the characters are shadowy forms whose presence goes beyond simple characterization.Do not look for deep psychosis.Ralph, the hero of this romance, is just that, a hero.Like Ivanhoe or Galahad, Ralph is a luck child and is less interesting than his supporting cast.For example, "the Lady", his first romantic encounter, is a mysterious character, existing beyond good and evil, almost half goddess, a combination of Faerie Queene and Le Belle Dame Sans Merci.Unfortunately, she does not inhabit the whole quest, and her replacement, Ursula, who is confused with "the Lady," is lifeless mirror image her.

The difference between the Well quest and a Grail quest is that the Well quest is attainable.While the Grail lies outside of reach, a spiritual mystery to be claimed at the end of life, more spirit than body, the Well is a material mystery connected to life not death, body as well as somewhat spirit.Being a material possession "The Well at the World's End" is less concerned with spiritual transformation as it is cultural transformation.Therefore, the climax is not the drinking of the well, but the in the life that follows.The relativity of the divergent cultures that Ralph eludes aligning himself with, becomes more black and white after the well.Morris's Marxist optimism shows himself as Ralph retraces his steps and like a revolutionary transform what was a cultural mixed bag into wholly good.

I think my disappointment was a mater of preference and personal expectation.Perhaps my desire for a climax at the end of life reveals my lack of living.

Quick note: this is only part 1.Part 2 is in orange.

Seminal heroic fantasy
Morris is the early master of "modern" heroic fantasy.
At the same time, Morris was a socialist and there are many political overtones to his last prose romances.These subthemes are subtle but elevate him above most others in genre. Tolkien and hisone-dimensional, and somewhat puerile characters area far cry from Morris, his literary grandfather.

Check out his other prose romances if you can find them esp. "The Water of the Wondrous Isles"

Great Story - Not-So-Great Edition
I first ran into this book by accident in 1975 - it still remains one of my absolute favorites and I encourage anyone interested even remotely in fantasy or heroic romanticism to read it.

However, some caveats should be observed.The ORIGINAL story was published by Kelmscott Press which used "gothic" fonts and unconventional design.Ballentine used this as the source for the 1970 edition and a lot of textual errors crept in - not all of which have been corrected in this new version.(For example "A garth of pound" should read "A garth OR pound.")

But this does not excuse the omission of several paragraphs which are dropped from the bottom of page 308.It looks almost as though a whole page is missing.

I still highly recommend this book regardless.But if a better edition makes its way into the market I would buy that one instead. ... Read more

Product Description
An overview of the multi-faceted work of the English innovator, William Morris. This volume looks at the anti-industrialist who supported the artisan and the handmade object at a time when history was gazing clearly in the opposite direction. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The work of William Morris is shown beautifully in this gorg
I enjoyed both the text and the pictures in this book.Certainly this is a fine show of Morris's decoration.It is also a good starting place to begin exploring the Arts & Crafts movement that followed from Morris's work.

SO MODERN
We would need William Morris'ideas nowdays. He understood the importance of hands and mind in art and hated the guilty factories and industries that killed arts and crafts...that's why he is so modern...Was he wrong?Absolutely not! ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

Book
Excellent book!Delivered as described.Thank you!

The Gardens of William Morris
I loved this book. It demonstrated for me the real "art" of gardening. William Morris was a clever and far sighted man who advocated staying within the parameters of nature and natural beauty when making gardens. He also perpetuated the "garden room" theme which hasbeen enormously popular since the eighteeth century. I refer to this bookcontinuously and strive to design and construct garden rooms in my owngarden which are as beautiful. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Biography of Morris-the-Socialist
William Morris is the British artisan generally credited with inspiring the larger "Craftsman" movement, familiar to many Californians as a style of house architecture popular in the early part of the 20th century ("Craftsman style house").EP Thompson is a British writer whose "History of the English Working Class" is as seminal a piece of writing as you are ever likely to read.William Morris: From Romantic to Revolutionary is Thompson's biography of Morris-the-socialist.

Like many famous socialist's of the 19th century, Morris came from a privileged background.He never had to work for a living.As a young university student, he fell in with a group of English artists who espoused Romantic believes.During that period, he wrote several pieces of epic poetry that found a huge audience in the UK (though no one reads it today.)


During this same period, he started "The Firm" a full service interior design firm where he actually made all the stuff he sold to rich people.He was also active in the first rumblings of what today we would call the "Historic Preservation" movement.From here, he moved decisively into socialism.This happened during the 1880s, and at the time he was likely the first semi-respectable intellectual in all of England to go all in on socialism.At the time, socialism was a pretty fluid concept, and the border lines between socialism/communism/anarchism were hard to determine.

I found the description of the early period of English socialism to be hilarious, particularly when Thompson describes the realization by the intellectual socialists that at some point, they would actually have to interact with the working classes who they claimed to be speaking for.We all no how that turned out:The Working Classes had no problem working within parliamentary democracy and they were less interested in revolution then an 8 hour day.

Morris was an opponent of "Parliamentary Socialism" preferring instead to wait for some magical transformation from capitalist to socialist paradise.There is some irony in the fact that although he spend most of his passion espousing socialism, he is today remembered more for his aesthetic theory.

In the end, Morris missed the trend which would simultaneously prove to be the death of any broad socialist revolution AND would be key to the rise to prominence of his craftsman aesthetic.And that trend?Why consumer capitalism of course.He missed the boat on that, but you can hardly blame him since he lived in a time where consumer capitalism was in a nascent state.But when capitalist figured out to generate desire in their audience, and then to satisfy that audience with consumer goods.Well, that was all she wrote for socialist revolution in the west.The working class didn't want a revolution, they wanted a television.

A virtual warehouse of information
To chronicle the life of William Morris, his biographer, E.P. Thompson, purposely reminds the reader that the English Romantic period in literature strongly influenced Morris, from his childhood on. Tracing the steps of Morris' formal education, he documents how Morris was deeply affected by his studies of medieval art and literature and deeply influenced by the writings of both Carlyle and Ruskin, influences that had repercussions for the direction of Morris's artistic and political life.

Thompson worked from a treasure trove of material: letters, public documents, articles about William Morris, and, of course, the vast collection of literary works and political articles and speeches that Morris published.

He shows Morris as being at odds with Victorian sensibilities, both as an artist and political reformer, all tempered to some degree, by his illusory yearning for an ideal love, a yearning that doomed any hope of true happiness in his marriage to Jane Burden but made him an ardent reformer striving to bring about more equality for his fellow man.

Thompson chronicles specific incidents, such as Morris infamous arrest under false charges, with reams of details and viewpoints. This technique, while thorough, does not make for easy or quick reading. This biography is heavily weighted toward Morris's activities as a socialist reformer, and at times Thompson's commentary on Morris's literary output seems unduly colored by these socialist beliefs. This argument may be valid, as Thompson notes about Morris: "He looked upon the history of arts, not---as did many of his contemporaries---as the record of individual geniuses, each "inspired" and each influencing each other, but as part of wider social processes."

Likewise, he quotes Morris as saying "I never set up for a critic," by which me means that art is a "solace," an expression of "pleasure," thus, in some measure, confirming that Morris trivialized both the creative process and the role of art in society.

There is, in my view, not enough balanced information on the myriad contributions Morris made to literature---especially The Wood beyond the World, The Well at the World's End, and The Water of the Wondrous Isles---and other novels he wrote during the final decade of his life. Those works are worth more scrutiny, if for no other reason, because they clearly and firmly are the seminal works in what is now the genre of fantasy, in which Tolkien, deservedly so, reigns supreme. Yet without Morris, who was the first to combine elements from classical epic and medieval romance with conventions of the novel, this genre may not have taken form until much later.

I would also have expected more about the magnificent work from the Kelmscott Press, especially the much-revered Kelmscott Chaucer (if you are a book-lover, you owe it to yourself to see if a library near you has a facsimile) instead of a detailed footnote citing the various works of other experts.

More could have been done with the vast accomplishments Morris was responsible for in the visual arts, in his design of wallpapers, chintzes, and tapestries, as well as his furniture designs (the Morris chair indeed comes from this William Morris).

One other shortcoming, in my view, is that one gleans little about what Morris experienced as a child or adolescent. Also, surprisingly, there is much less detail about his marriage, his wife's affair, and his children than one would expect from a book of this scope.

Still, this biography is an excellent reference for the, I suspect, ever-dwindling number of scholars reviewing William Morris and his life. Bibliophiles who love biographies will not, I also suspect, readily enjoy Thompson's writing style, in which passages sometimes seem welded together with multiple colons, and who writes much more like a reporter than in the biographical style elevated by writers such as Walter Jackson Bate or David McCullough. Thompson had a daunting task before him in attempting to distill, to a single volume, the life of William Morris, of whom, upon hearing of Morris' death, remarked, "I consider the case is this: the disease is simply being William Morris, and having done more work than most ten men."

Thompson no doubt did much of his research in the late 1940s and early 1950s, as the first copyright date for this book is 1955, and his writing style may seem at times harsh if compared with current biographical writing. Still, this volume is a virtual warehouse crammed with facts, accounts, details, and remembrances. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Great for a pocket or purse address book
This is a great address book if you are looking for something very small.I did not pay attention to the measurements of the item and was surprised at it's size.Also,the item is actually marked at a value of $1.50 but they charge a $1.99 more for "sourcing fees" so buyer beware that the product isn't actually worth what is charged.Overall I would say it is great if you are looking for a small address book. ... Read more

Product Description
All the major works of fantasy author William Morris together in one collection, with active table of contents:

CHILD CHRISTOPHER AND GOLDILIND THE FAIR
A DREAM OF JOHN BALL
The Hollow Land
HOPES AND FEARS FOR ART
THE HOUSE OF THE WOLFINGS
OLD FRENCH ROMANCES DONE INTO ENGLISH
THE SUNDERING FLOOD
THE TABLES TURNED
THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES
The Well at the World's End
The Wood Beyond the World
THE WORLD OF ROMANCE ... Read more

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A Warehouse of Information on Morris, His Life, and His Work
To chronicle the life of William Morris, his biographer, E.P. Thompson, purposely reminds the reader that the English Romantic period in literature strongly influenced Morris, from his childhood on. Tracing the steps of Morris' formal education, he documents how Morris was deeply affected by his studies of medieval art and literature and deeply influenced by the writings of both Carlyle and Ruskin, influences that had repercussions for the direction of Morris's artistic and political life.
Thompson worked from a treasure trove of material: letters, public documents, articles about William Morris, and, of course, the vast collection of literary works and political articles and speeches that Morris published.

He shows Morris as being at odds with Victorian sensibilities, both as an artist and political reformer, all tempered to some degree, by his illusory yearning for an ideal love, a yearning that doomed any hope of true happiness in his marriage to Jane Burden but made him an ardent reformer striving to bring about more equality for his fellow man.

Thompson chronicles specific incidents, such as Morris infamous arrest under false charges, with reams of details and viewpoints. This technique, while thorough, does not make for easy or quick reading. This biography is heavily weighted toward Morris's activities as a socialist reformer, and at times Thompson's commentary on Morris's literary output seems unduly colored by these socialist beliefs. This argument may be valid, as Thompson notes about Morris: "He looked upon the history of arts, not---as did many of his contemporaries---as the record of individual geniuses, each "inspired" and each influencing each other, but as part of wider social processes."

Likewise, he quotes Morris as saying "I never set up for a critic," by which me means that art is a "solace," an expression of "pleasure," thus, in some measure, confirming that Morris trivialized both the creative process and the role of art in society.

There is, in my view, not enough balanced information on the myriad contributions Morris made to literature---especially The Wood beyond the World, The Well at the World's End, and The Water of the Wondrous Isles---and other novels he wrote during the final decade of his life. Those works are worth more scrutiny, if for no other reason, because they clearly and firmly are the seminal works in what is now the genre of fantasy, in which Tolkien, deservedly so, reigns supreme. Yet without Morris, who was the first to combine elements from classical epic and medieval romance with conventions of the novel, this genre may not have taken form until much later.

I would also have expected more about the magnificent work from the Kelmscott Press, especially the much-revered Kelmscott Chaucer (if you are a book-lover, you owe it to yourself to see if a library near you has a facsimile) instead of a detailed footnote citing the various works of other experts.

More could have been done with the vast accomplishments Morris was responsible for in the visual arts, in his design of wallpapers, chintzes, and tapestries, as well as his furniture designs (the Morris chair indeed comes from this William Morris).

One other shortcoming, in my view, is that one gleans little about what Morris experienced as a child or adolescent. Also, surprisingly, there is much less detail about his marriage, his wife's affair, and his children than one would expect from a book of this scope.

Still, this biography is an excellent reference for the, I suspect, ever-dwindling number of scholars reviewing William Morris and his life. Bibliophiles who love biographies will not, I also suspect, readily enjoy Thompson's writing style, in which passages sometimes seem welded together with multiple colons, and who writes much more like a reporter than in the biographical style elevated by writers such as Walter Jackson Bate or David McCullough. Thompson had a daunting task before him in attempting to distill, to a single volume, the life of William Morris, of whom, upon hearing of Morris' death, remarked, "I consider the case is this: the disease is simply being William Morris, and having done more work than most ten men."

Thompson no doubt did much of his research in the late 1940s and early 1950s, as the first copyright date for this book is 1955, and his writing style may seem at times harsh if compared with current biographical writing. Still, this volume is a virtual warehouse crammed with facts, accounts, details, and remembrances.
... Read more

Product Description
Therewith they went their ways to the Court of the Count and found him not there, because he was gone to Bericain to visit Amis his fellow, and comfort him of the death of his father. And when he found him not, he departed sore troubled, and said to himself that he would not betake him to his own land till he had found Amis his fellow; and he sought him in France and in Almaine, where soever he heard tell that his kindred were, and could find no certainty of him. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Entertaining Medieval stories
This book has 4 stories from Medieval France that can be traced back to the 12th century. The themes are similar to other stories I've read from this time period- separated couples, hidden identities, a princess likes a boy her daddy disapproves of, dueling knights, loyalty to the king, etc. The stories all involve goings-on in the court of a king or count. The book is loaded with Medieval-sounding words like thou, yea and forsooth, as well as some words that are no longer in the English language, like dight and trow (but the Kindle's dictionary has them!) The introduction has information about the origin of each story. The stories are all fun to read and have happy endings. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

What a wonderful book
I truly do not understand the criticism of these other reviews I've seen here. It simply makes me think most people ought not to write reviews or that they never really read the book.

My mother-in-law dropped this book off yesterday and I am completely captivated. I've read works by William Morris (and if you want to know what his ideas were that is what you should read, because they were abundant, detailed and encompassed many subjects - far more plentiful than a book about him can contain), but this is the first book I've read that attempted to deliver the man himself, within his environment and time. This it does, beautifully, caringly and not only with an abundance of gorgeous illustrations but in fine prose. In explaining how someone could be so incredibly productive as was William Morris Burdick writes, toward the end of this explanation:

"For motivation, situate him in a vital and turbulent era in which opposing forces vie to determine the direction of a culture. For support, surround him with a fraternity of like-minded; an idealistic brotherhod inspired as much by their contempt for the way things are as by their passion for the way things might be. To prevent complacency, endow him with a a sensitive conscience that will not let him rest and will spur him on endlessly to new enterprises and frontiers. Through it all, feed him well. Voila, William Morris.

The book is a wonderful work and anyone who actually cares about Morris and the transformations of his time, the rise of the Arts & Crafts movement and beauty and art in the things around us will value this book highly. I can't imagine how it could be better.
Keith Davitt

I was trying to find how to contact Mr. Burdick to thank him when I came across these reviews and had to stop and give my mind.

Well, I did the best I could under the circumstances.
Rose, don't you have better things to do than slag coffee table books? As I recall, I had about 2 to 3 months to research and write that thing, and I did it for what would work out to be an hourly wage considerably less than the minimum. Hey, it's not the publisher's fault. I knew what I was signing on for.

Of course it doesn't do justice to Morris' politics, Rose! It is a book about pretty designs after all. There are plenty of good scholarly books out there about his socialism, ones that don't even mention his tapestries, wallpapers, poetry, or chairs.I thought I did a pretty good job of tracing the development of, and the contradictions inherent in, his artistic philsophy, his debt to Ruskin, the Rossetti soap opera, and so on.

Ah well. Believe me, the Morris book is a fair bit better than my book on colonial houses. That one was quite deft in the way it avoided the subjects of architecture and design altogteher. I can get you a copy cheap, Rose, if you'd care to review it too.

William Morris: phony or artist? Yes.
An interesting subject, and great illustrations/photos, but not really well written. A lot of referring to Morris's ideas about art and politics, without robustly stating what they were.

Morris himself is a very ambiguous figure -- a born-to-wealth socialist who never gave up his comforts and servants, even while he grew more and more theoretically radical. As for his art,and design, it was supposedly based on the desire to beautify the lives of the masses, but was overwhelmingly marketed to the wealthy bourgeoisie. He articulated an abhorrence of Victorian fustiness and mindless worship of the past, but there is something precious and fake about his idolatry of romantic medievalism.

But, finally, he was a terrific designer -- the wallpaper, chintzes, typefaces -- and a prolific do-er, not just theorizing but producing a phenomenal amount and breadth of work. ... Read more