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William Morris and the Legendary |
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Oxford calls
Morris also continued to write poetry based on folk-tales and myths. In 'The Life and Death of Jason', he retold a famous classical tale of Jason and the Argonauts, and the 24 stories that make up his long poem, 'The Earthly Paradise' are derived from many sources, including one that was increasingly to inspire him, Iceland.
Morris designed an elaborate cover for Chaucer's work
© William Morris Gallery, London |
Morris at first read the Icelandic legends or sagas as they are usually known, in English, but, with characteristic commitment, decided to learn the language so as to appreciate the Icelandic culture of the sagas more deeply. This resulted in many translations of the sagas, which he undertook with Eirikr Magnusson, an Icelandic scholar of Cambridge University with whom Morris struck up a lasting friendship.
Morris’ powerful epic poem, 'Sigurd the Volsung', tells the tragic story of the great leader of the Volsungs, who is the same character as Seigfried, whose story Wagner tells, in its German form, in 'The Ring'. Morris visited Iceland in 1871 and 1873, and never lost his respect for its people.
Kelmscott Manor
In 1870 Morris had to leave the Red House, because he found that it was too far to travel if he was to run his London business successfully. The family lived in various places in London, before settling at Kelmscott House in Hammersmith in 1878. In the meantime, Morris found Kelmscott Manor, not far from Lechlade in Oxfordshire.
Parts of the house date back to the 17th Century, and it appealed to Morris for the sturdy simplicity of its architecture and the beauty of its setting in a secluded village on the River Thames. Here he, his family and friends would be able to relax, well away from the busy world of London where Morris had to run his successful business.
In June 1873 Morris and Rossetti took a joint lease on the house and surrounding 68 acres, and it became what we would now term a holiday home. Morris left Jane and their two young daughters there with Rossetti on both his voyages to Iceland, in 1871 and 1873, but it was an uneasy situation, and Morris's relationship with Rossetti deteriorated. Rossetti became increasingly paranoid after he had been criticised as leader of “The Fleshly School of Poetry” in 1871, and attempted suicide the following year. Although he recovered, he never regained full self-confidence and came to rely on the drug chloral to carry him through. He left Kelmscott Manor in 1874, and Morris found another co-tenant.
Words: Peter Faulkner
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