CENTENARY PUBLICATIONS

The Collected Letters of William Morris edited by Norman Kelvin

Reprint of Mackail's Life of William Morris

The Earthly Paradise: William Morris Yesterday & Today

William Morris edited by Linda Parry

William Morris: Art and Kelmscott edited by Linda Parry

The Flowers of William Morris by Derek Baker

The William Morris Library" from Thoemmes Press

William Morris: His Life and Work by Stephen Coote

The William Morris Chronology by Nicholas Salmon with Derek Baker

Anthologies of Morris's writings from Sheffield Academic Press

William Morris Tiles by Richard and Hilary Myers

American Book Design and William Morris by Susan Otis Thompson

THE COLLECTED LETTERS OF WILLIAM MORRIS Edited by Norman Kelvin

It is appropriate (and wonderful timing!) that the onset of the centenary year also brings to completion the publication of the magisterial Collected Letters of William Morris, edited by member Norman Kelvin, professor of English at The City University of New York and at The Graduate Center, The City University of New York. Volumes III and IV, taken together, give in fascinating detail Morris's life and activities from 1888 to his death in 1896. The letters brim with comments and observations that articulate his problematic political and artistic stands and equally problematic position within the aesthetic movement as it developed in the 1890s.

Most eloquently voiced also are the complexities of his troubled marriage and his devotion to his epileptic daughter, Jenny, and his other daughter, May. But dominating all these themes, organizing and structuring them, are the Kelmscott Press and the building of Morris's collection of medieval manuscripts and early printed books. The letters record the way in which the Kelmscott Press becomes not only the center of Morris's aesthetic ambitions and achievements, but also the site for his closest human relations and for much of his connecting with the makers of early modernism.

Thoroughly annotated and illustrated like their predecessors, Volumes III and IV provide a new assessment of Morris's career. Included as appendices to Volume IV are two important documents: F. S. Ellis's unpublished valuation list of Morris's library and the never before reprinted text of what was to be Morris's final essay on socialism, originally published in April 1896.

The Collected Letters should be on the shelves of everyone seriously interested in William Morris.

To make purchase more affordable, Princeton University Press has generously granted members of the William Morris Society a 20% off SPECIAL OFFER, good through 30 September 1996. To order click here for a form which can be downloaded or printed out.

Publication details and prices are as follows:
Volume III: 1996. 440 pages. 86 halftones. 5 line illus. 6 x 9 in. Cloth: 0-691-06601-9. $45.00
Volume IV: 1996. 392 pages. 79 halftones. 7 line illus. 6 x 9 in. Cloth: 0-691-04422-8. $45.00

Previous volumes:
Volume I: 1848-1880 1982. 648 pages. illus. Cloth: 0-691-06501-2. $90.00
Volume II, Part A: 1881-1884 1987. 450 pages. 36 illus. Cloth: 0-691-06600-0. $60.00
Volume II, Part B: 1885-1888 1987. 550 pages. 41 illus. Cloth: 0-691-06723-6. $75.00
UK sterling prices: Vol. 1: & #163; 73.50, Vol. 2A: & #163; 43.50, Vol. 2B: & #163; 56.50, Vol. 3: & #163; 35.00, Vol. 4: & #163; 35.00

[Description and information from William Morris Society in the United States Newsletter, February 1996.]

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REPRINT OF J. W. MACKAIL'S LIFE OF WILLIAM MORRIS

A recent Dover Publications catalogue brings the welcome news that they have reprinted J. W. Mackail's classic Life of William Morris at a very reasonable price. Published in 1899, this was the inaugural biography which, despite its weaknesses (particularly on the political side of Morris, which was played down) remained for many years the standard book on its subject. Mackail has been superseded--at first and in part, by the works of E. P. Thompson and Philip Henderson and, more recently and completely, by Fiona MacCarthy's William Morris: A Life for Our Time--but he still merits reading. For the early biography contains information and vivid detail not found elsewhere, much of it supplied by Georgiana Burne-Jones.

Moreover it is an excellent example of the original, once-defunct 19th century school of two-volume "lives of the great" which has been revived--in more prurient guise--to serve the needs of, among others, Lytton Strachey, Evelyn Waugh, James Joyce, and Virginia Woolf.

The Mackail reprint, stock no. 28793-9, is priced at $18.95 ($4.00 shipping for US). Contact: Dover Publications, 31 E. 2nd St., Mineola, NY 11501.

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THE EARTHLY PARADISE: WILLIAM MORRIS YESTERDAY & TODAY

To mark the 1996 William Morris Centenary, the William Morris Society of Canada and the Craft Studio at Harbourfront Centre are proud to publish The Earthly Paradise: William Morris Yesterday & Today, a collection of papers presented in Toronto at two very special symposia which brought together historians, curators, craftspeople and designers to discuss the life and legacy of William Morris. These events in June 1993 celebrated the opening of the Art Gallery of Ontario's exhibition "The Earthly Paradise: The Work of Morris and His Circle from Canadian Collections," curated by Katharine Lochnan. The contributors include an international group of scholars and craftspeople: Charles Harvey, Geoffrey Munn, Linda Parry, Douglas Schoenherr, Carole Silver, Gillian Naylor, Paul Greenhalgh, Peter Weinrich, Kirsten Wickman, and Virginia Wright, Jane Agnew, Anne Barros, Margot Fagan, Peter Fleming, and Jeff Goodman.

Order from: The William Morris Society of Canada, 52 Berkeley Court, Unionville, Ontario, L3R 6L9.
Price $18.50 (Canadian dollars) includes postage and packing within Canada.

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WILLIAM MORRIS Edited by Linda Parry

William Morris, the book and integrated catalogue which accompanies the William Morris Exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum (9 May - 1 September, 1996, sponsored by Pearson plc) is being published by Philip Wilson Publishers and' the V&A.

This most comprehensive and fascinating book reflects the extraordinary range and brilliance of the life and work of William Morris (1834-96). Morris, who is increasingly recognized as Britain's greatest designer, was a pioneer of the Arts and Crafts movement. He was an artist, designer and craftsman, a man with a great love of nature and conservation, and an enthusiasm for craftsmanship. Poet, calligrapher, and publisher of exquisite books at the Kelmscott Press, a writer and socialist, he was nevertheless a successful businessman too. The book explores the range and balance of Morris's activities, and the place of his art in late Victorian England.

William Morris is edited by Linda Parry, curator at the V&A who is a leading expert, and author of several earlier publications, on Morris. She has written the introduction and essays on Domestic Decoration and on Textiles, and has commissioned contributions from 20 internationally recognized experts, including seven colleagues from the Museum. These range in subject according to the exhibition, in two main sections, "The Man" and "The Art." In "The Man," there are six essays on the gifts and qualities outlined above, including one on Morris, The Designer, by his recent biographer, Fiona MacCarthy. The second section concerns the arts, featuring nine essays, detailing his achievements as a designer and manufacturer, with a comprehensive catalogue of his finest work. The third and final section looks at the context of his work and the Morris legacy.

With its informed articles and superb illustrations William Morris will no.doubt remain the most authoritative and valuable publication on its subject for many years to come.

Publication 9 May 1996. 384 Pages, 559 illustrations (394 colour, 165 b/w).

Hardback Edition £39.95; softcover edition available from the Victoria and Albert Museum. The book will be issued in the United States later in 1996 by Harry N. Abrams, New York.

For more information contact: Philip Wilson Publishers Ltd, L43-149 Great Portland Street, London WIN 5FB.

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WILLIAM MORRIS: ART AND KELMSCOTT Edited by Linda Parry

NOTE: This book should not be confused with the publication, also edited by Ms. Parry and described above, associated with the Victoria and Albert Museum exhibition.

Contributors: John Cherry, A.R. Dufty, Tom Dufty, Charles Harvey, Donald Insall, Jan Marsh, David O'Connor, Linda Parry, John Press, Ray Watkinson, Martin Williams.

Kelmscott Manor, the home of William Morris and his family from his first renting of the house with Rossetti to the death of his daughter May in 1938, is now owned and cared for by the Society of Antiquaries as a living museum of Morris design. Studies in this book illuminate the importance of Kelmscott in the private and public lives of the Morris Family and there are also detailed assessments of William and May Morris's work by leading Morris scholars, covering new findings on, and reassessment of, Morris's early attempts to become a painter; his record as businessman in control of a popular and busy factory and shop; and his development as designer and manufacturer of stained glass.

ISBN 0-85115-6703, 6 color, 39 b&w;illustrations, June 1996, Paperback: £14.95/$30.00.

For information contact: Boydell & Brewer, Ltd, PO Box 9, Woodbridge, Suffolk 1P12 3DE. Tel. (0139) 441 1320; Fax. (0139) 441 1477; or (in Canada and US only) PO Box 41026, Rochester NY 14604-4126.

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THE FLOWERS OF WILLIAM MORRIS By Derek Baker

William Morris's flower patterns are known throughout the world for their unique combination of nature and order. This illustrated survey examines the artist's approach to nature and flowers, looking closely at Morris's own gardens at Red House, Kelmscott Manor, Kelmscott House, and the Morris & Co. works at Merton. It also explores his student days at Oxford with Burne-Jones, the unique influence of Ruskin, and the friendship and rivalry with Rossetti. On the centennial of his death, this is the first time that Morris's flowers have been looked at in such depth, bringing new insights and a deeper appreciation of the range and abilities of this passionate yet practical individual.

The Flowers of William Morris 9 x 9 (240 x 240mm), 88 pp with 70 illus., 30 full page color.

Ordering information:

USA & Canada residents send check/money order for $22.00 + $4.50 postage to Independent Publishers Group, 814 N. Franklin Street, Chicago, IL 60610. Please specify The Flowers of William Morris, ISBN: 1-55652-307-6 VISA/MASTERCARD orders: 1-800-888-4741; UK residents send cheque/postal order for £16.50 + £2 postage to Barn Elms Publishing, 93 Casteinau, London SW13 9EL. Please specify The Flowers of William Morris, ISBN: 1-899531-03-3.

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THE WILLIAM MORRIS LIBRARY

Thoemmes Press has inaugurated the "William Morris Library," a series incorporating uncollected or long out-of-print texts by Morris. Each volume contains an introduction by a leading Morris scholar. For further information click here.

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WILLIAM MORRIS; HIS LIFE AND WORK By Stephen Coote
and other books from Sutton Publishing Ltd.

The diverse elements of this extraordinary man's life--designer, craftsman, proprietor, writer, poet, political activist, husband and friend--are here brought together into an incisive, well-informed, lavishly-illustrated biography.

ISBN 0-7509-1196-4, 60 color and 40 b&w;illustrations, Hardback: £18.99.

Related publications:

The Well at the World's End Introduction by Nicholas Salmon

Morris's late romantic fantasy-adventure describes a long journey through a magical imaginary landscape; republished in this the centenary year of his death.

ISBN 0-7509-1207-3, Paperback: £7.99.

The Arts and Crafts Movement in the Cotswolds By Mary Greensted

Gimson and the Barnsleys, the Guild of Handicraft and others are discussed in the context of the Cotswolds, where they chose to realize the ideals of the Arts and Crafts Movement through their work, and in their daily lives.

ISBN 0-7509-1165-4, 100 b&w;and 12 color illustrations, Paperback: £12.99.

Gimson and the Barnsleys By Mary Greensted

A fascinating account of the careers of the late-nineteenth century designer craftsmen Ernest and Sidney Barnsley.

ISBN 0-86299-991-X, 166 b&w;illustrations, Paperback £12.99.

For further information contact: Sutton Publishing Limited, c/o Lucy Williamson, Littlehampton Book Service, Lineside Estate, Littlehampton<, West Sussex, BN17 7HE, UK; Tel. (0190) 373 2596; Fax. (0190) 373 0914.

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THE WILLIAM MORRIS CHRONOLOGY By Nicholas Salmon with Derek Baker

The first comprehensive chronology of Morris's entire life, based on letters, diaries, and other records, this new publication will become an essential source for all interested in Morris and his world. Click here for publication details and a SPECIAL OFFER for members of the William Morris Society.

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SHEFFIELD ACADEMIC PRESS

Three attractive new selections from Morris's writings, William Morris on Art and Design, William Morris on Architecture, and William Morris on History, have been published by Sheffield Academic Press. Each has been edited by a noted Morris scholar. For more details click here.

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WILLIAM MORRIS TILES By Richard and Hilary Myers

William Morris Tiles: The Tile Designs of Morris and his Fellow-Workers is the first comprehensive survey of the colourful ceramic tiles produced by Morris & Company. From the earliest examples, made for Red House through important commissions for houses, churches and Cambridge colleges to the tiles produced in the twentieth century, all the many different designs are illustrated and discussed in detail. Using original records, catalogues, and early exhibitions, the authors reveal the contributions of designers Edward Burne-Jones, Philip Wehh, D.G. Rossetti, Madox Brown, Kate Faulkner, and Morris himself. The relationship between Morris and William de Morgan is also fully explained, and new information is given about the role of Murray Marks and Barnard, Bishop & Barnard in the production and distribution of the tiles. Over 350 illustrations, many of them in colour, offer a unique insight into an aspect of Morris's work.

Published by Richard Dennis, The Old Chapel, Shepton Beauchamp, Somerset, TA19 OLE; Tel. 01460 240044, Fax 01460 242009.

ISBN 0 903685 43 4, 152pp., 40 colour pages., 250 b&w; illustrations. Price £38.

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AMERICAN BOOK DESIGN AND WILLIAM MORRIS By Susan Otis Thompson, With a new Foreword by Jean-Francois Vilian

A landmark study, American Book Design and William Morris, documents in depth the extent of Morris's influence on American bookmaking. Thompson has distinguished what seems to be a confusion of forms: Arts & Crafts, Art Nouveau, and the Aesthetic styles. She analyzes historical material drawn from rare published and unpublished sources as well as stylistic elements of major books that were major events for young artists in this typographic revolution.

Now reissued for the Morris Centenary Year by Oak Knoll Press outside the United Kingdom and by The British Library in the United Kingdom, American Book Design comes with a new Foreword by Jean-Francois Vilain and contains 111 enhanced illustrations of bindings, title-pages, type, and decorations as well as an extensive bibliography. This book remains a contribution to American intellectual and cultural history, appealing to not only book designers, art historians, typographers and graphic artists, but also to librarians, book collectors and students of literature.

Available worldwide through Oak Knoll Books outside the U.K. Available in the U.K. through the British Library.

Hardcover, illustrated, 318 pages, 1996. Price $49.95 + shipping Order# 44930-K. ISBN 1-884718-25-6

Paperback edition. Price $34.95 + shipping Order# 44931-K. ISBN 1-884718-26-4

Published by Oak Knoll Press, Oak Knoll Books, 414 Delaware Street, New Castle DE 19720 USA. Tel. (800) 996-2556, Fax: (302) 328-7274, oakknoll@oakknoll.com

See also
A Bibliography of William Morris's writings
William Morris: Books by and About
William Morris Society Publications.