William Morris

Readers of all ages will learn much from this unique biography that highlights the most important aspects of the artist’s life and career. It traces his childhood fascination with medieval history, nature, and his friendships with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood—Dante Gabriel Rosetti, Edward Burne-Jones—and with other leading figures of the day such as Philip Webb and John Ruskin. It takes readers inside Morris’ famous homes—Red House, which became a hub for artistic and intellectual activities, and served as a testing ground for his ideas about the integration of art and daily life; and Kelmscott Manor, a tranquil retreat whose natural surroundings and historic setting resonated with his romantic ideals. The visual narrative captures key moments of his foray into political activism, and details his important work in printing and book design. The volume closes with a virtual gallery, in which readers can explore the details of his tapestries, carpets, and other masterpieces as well as a section on how the Arts and Crafts Movement influenced architecture, painting, sculpture, graphics, illustration, publishing, photography, and design for decades to come. The perfect introduction to a true Renaissance man, this fascinating presentation provides readers with an indelible impression of a polymath and free-thinker who was ahead of his time, and of his lasting legacy in the fields of art, preservation, and social justice.