The Collected Letters of William Morris, Volume II, Part A : 1881-1884

These volumes continue the only complete edition of the surviving correspondence of William Morris (1834- 1896), a protean figure who exerted a major influence as poet, craftsman, master printer, and designer. Covering the years 1881 through 1888, they treat the most dramatic period in another facet of Morris's career: his work as a political activist. Originally published in 1988. The **Princeton Legacy Library** uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905. The years covered in this volume, 1881 through 1888, are among the most vigorous in Morris's career. They record the sharp swing from optimism that public events can be affected by political ideas to disillusion about the people holding the ideas, and finally show the signs--in 1888--of a new, more personal, beginning and the reformulated purpose to come. Moreover, the letters, as always tell us who among Morris's friends and associates were most important to him in the years in which they were written. They also address several matters essential for an understandingof Morris: his definition of the word "political"; his shift from writing poetry to prose; and his complex of interests embracing language, narrative, and the decorative arts Contents List of Illustrations Editorial Practices Acknowledgments Introduction Morris Chronology Abbreviations of Manuscript Locations Abbreviations of Works Frequently Cited The Letters. 1881 The Letters 1882 The Letters 1883 The Letters 1884