Product Description
Published to mark the centenary of William Morris's death, this is an evocation of the life he lived in Red House and Kelmscott Manor, surrounded by artists and designers of the day. Morris, a great bon viveur, was also considered a fine cook and many of his recipes are included. ... Read more

Product Description
News from Nowhere(1890) is the best-known prose work of William Morris and the only significant English utopia to be written since Thomas More's. The novel describes the encounter between a visitor from the nineteenth century, William Guest, and a decentralized and humane socialist future. Set over a century after a revolutionary upheaval in 1952, these "Chapters from a Utopian Romance" recount his journey across London and up the Thames to Kelmscott Manor, Morris's own country house in Oxfordshire. Drawing on the work of John Ruskin and Karl Marx, Morris's book is not only an evocative statement of his egalitarian convictions but also a distinctive contribution to the utopian tradition. Morris's rejection of state socialism and his ambition to transform the relationship between humankind and the natural world, give News from Nowhere a particular resonance for modern readers. This text is based on the 1891 version, incorporating the extensive revisions made by Morris to the first edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Looking Forward...
News From Nowhere is William Morris's response to Looking Backwards by Edward Bellamy.Morris simply did not like the idea of state socialism that seemed to form the foundation for Bellamy's idea of a future socialist utopia.He wanted a decentralized and humane socialist future, where there was no private property and people enjoyed their work.Ideally, his story of a future society sounds wonderful and carefree, mostly because the idea of money, and bartering, has been removed from the human mindset all together.Yet while seems seem equal and everybody is happy, I couldn't help but notice that many of the cooks and those who waited on others during the meal times were women.And while men and women both seem to have a hand in manual labor, the old elders, who debated and talked about the past with the main character, were men.Like it or not, there is a hint of sexism in this future paradise of his.Also, having both books, I have to say that Edward Bellamy is a slightly better writer than William Morris, as he is more inclined to show us examples of his ideas.William Morris has the characters talk page, after page, showing us very little of this bright and wonderful future.Well, outside of showing us happy people rowing around, eating bread and camping outside.
It seems more like a mixture of socialist ideas mixed with dreams of a perfect farm life from long ago.

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.

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 is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
With an introduction by May Morris. This Elibron Classics book is a facsimile reprint of a 1911 edition by Longmans, Green, and Company, London, New York, Bombay, Calcutta. ... Read more

Product Description
Uses new critical approaches to demonstrate deep affinities in these vastly different filmmakers' philosophies on film, fantasy, and reality. ... Read more

Product Description
This is the definitive source book for anyone interested in living with Arts and Crafts style. In it, Pamela Todd celebrates William Morris's genius, presenting a thorough overview of his life and career, and showing how he envisaged and implemented schemes for interiors in his own homes and those of others. A series of 'Case Studies' explores six contemporary houses - from a modern London townhouse to a traditional Arts and Crafts home in Massachusetts - that have followed and adapted Morris's dicta, brilliantly demonstrating how the style can be applied to our environment today. The book concludes with a comprehensive style-sourcing section, as well as a gazetteer of places to visit for inspiration. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Excellent!
What a find!Great history, very informative and the photography is outstanding. Such a wonderful book on the Arts & Craft movement. I would imagine it's a must-read for interior design students.

Lovely details
If you appreciate anything to do with the Arts & Crafts movement, you'll really like this book -- even if you look only at the pictures. It's separated into sections on exteriors and gardens; interiors (architecture); decorative patterns (wallpapers and woven fabric); furniture; softer elements (curtains, rugs, carpets, etc.); finishing touches (ornament, tiles).

Each has plenty of detail: you see the overall effect (the entire wall of wallpaper) and the specific design (a zoom in on the wallpaper's design). Even if you care about only one element (you're into fabric for instance) you'll get plenty out of this book.

For Lovers of Arts and Crafts Homes
William Morris changed people's attitudes towards architecture and interior decoration when Victorian excess was at it's height.I love the use of wood in an Arts and Crafts house.For others who feel this way, this book is a treat.At the back are two useful sections: Where to See Arts and Crafts Homes and a listing of Specialist Supplies for anyone renovating an Arts and Crafts Home.
You might also want to read The William Morris Stained Glass Pattern Book and The Life and Works of William Morris.Take a look also at Craftsman Homes: Architecture and Furnishings of the American Arts and Crafts Movement.
... Read more

Product Description
With an introduction by May Morris. This Elibron Classics book is a facsimile reprint of a 1911 edition by Longmans, Green, and Company, London, New York, Bombay, Calcutta. ... Read more

Product Description
William Morris (1834-1896) was an English artist, writer, socialist and activist. He was one of the principal founders of the British arts and crafts movement, best known as a designer of wallpaper and patterned fabrics, a writer of poetry and fiction and a pioneer of the socialist movement in Britain. Morris and his friends formed an artistic movement, the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. They eschewed the tawdry industrial manufacture of decorative arts and architecture and favoured a return to hand-craftsmanship, raising artisans to the status of artists. He espoused the philosophy that art should be affordable, hand-made, and that there should be no hierarchy of artistic mediums. His best-known works are The Defence of Guinevere, and Other Poems (1858), Hopes and Fears for Art (1882), Chants for Socialists (1885), A Dream of John Ball: A King's Lesson (1888), The House of the Wolfings (1889), Child Christopher and Goldilind the Fair (1895), Old French Romances (1896), The Well at the World's End (1896), and The Hollow Land (1897). ... Read more

Product Description
Four distinctive giftwrap papers based on designs by the great Victorian artist, author, and designer feature appealing, intricate florals and foliates. At just a fraction of the price of giftwrap from stationery stores, these full-color 18" x 24" sheets feature four different designs, plus four matching gift cards. Shrink-wrapped in a sturdy 9 1/4" x 12 1/4" folder (with no staples to mar the wrap), the sheets remain fresh and wrinkle-free till ready for use.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

wrapping paper
I like to keep this wrapping paper handy incase I feel the urge to give away a book to a loved one and wrap it up.Beautiful paper.DB

Stronger than average
This wrapping paper is thicker and stronger than any wrapping paper I have ever used.If you like the design you will not go wrong.

Beautiful paper although not very big
I love the uniqueness of this wrapping paper. If you want something that stands out from the regular paper, this is it. Tied with a simple bow, the gifts look amazing. The only reason I gave it four out of five stars is that the sheets of paper are very small and you do have to cut out the gift cards by hand.

love to shop on Amazon!
Very nice paper.I plan to use it for any occasion - even Christmas.I like a nicely wrapped present.Like many I sometimes get rushed a just thrown a gift in a bag with some tissue paper.I am pleased with this item.The price is really good for this level quality.Defintiely a good deal.I will likely try other patterns as well.

Lovely Paper
Having just discovered William Morris, I was thrilled to discover this paper.It can be used for gifts (or in my case, for dollhouse wallpaper).Quality is lovely... ... Read more

Product Description
A true Renaissance man, William Morris mastered every art and craft to which he set his hand, revelling in designs, patterns, colours and textures, and placing his stamp on sumptuous books, rugs, embroidery, wallpaper, stained glass, tapestries, curtains and furniture. The patterns and designs drawn together here show both the nuances and breadth of William Morris's visions, combining intricacy and simplicity; alternatingly dramatic and demure, dark and light, curved and angular, in a virtual dance of superb interwoven shapes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Black & White, NOT color
I can't say that the description of the book is misleading, but more details or a preview would certainly have been helpful.This book is entirely black & white and, in some places, looks like they aren't reproductions, but that someone traced over an original.Lots of close-up details and very few full-size images.I was hoping for images I could frame, but it's not possible with this book.It's much more geared to someone doing embroidery, cross-stitch, or stencils.

William Morris passion
I have done a workshop with Michele Hill and have become hooked on William Morris fabrics and designs.I bought this book as an indulgence to feed my passion.A beautful book.

William Morris:Patterns & Designs
Very little to share.Just many piks one could copy and try to reproduce in a quilt. ... Read more

Product Description
FROM THE UPLAND TO THE SEA


Shall we wake one morn of spring,
Glad at heart of everything,
Yet pensive with the thought of eve?
Then the white house shall we leave.
Pass the wind-flowers and the bays,
Through the garth, and go our ways,
Wandering down among the meads
Till our very joyance needs
Rest at last; till we shall come
To that Sun-god's lonely home,
Lonely on the hillside grey,
Whence the sheep have gone away;
Lonely till the feast-time is,
When with prayer and praise of bliss,
Thither comes the country side.
There awhile shall we abide,
Sitting low down in the porch
By that image with the torch:
Thy one white hand laid upon
The black pillar that was won
From the far-off Indian mine;
And my hand nigh touching thine,
But not touching; and thy gown
Fair with spring-flowers cast adown
From thy bosom and thy brow.
There the south-west wind shall blow
Through thine hair to reach my cheek,
As thou sittest, nor mayst speak,
Nor mayst move the hand I kiss
For the very depth of bliss;
Nay, nor turn thine eyes to me.
Then desire of the great sea
Nigh enow, but all unheard,
In the hearts of us is stirred,
And we rise, we twain at last,
And the daffodils downcast,
Feel thy feet and we are gone
From the lonely Sun-Crowned one,
Then the meads fade at our back,
And the spring day 'gins to lack
That fresh hope that once it had;
But we twain grow yet more glad,
And apart no more may go
When the grassy slope and low
Dieth in the shingly sand:
Then we wander hand in hand
By the edges of the sea,
And I weary more for thee
Than if far apart we were,
With a space of desert drear
'Twixt thy lips and mine, O love!
Ah, my joy, my joy thereof!
... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Clear Theasaurus, updated
This was ordered before I found the Writer's Thesaurus.Both are wonderful books, This particular book would be well used by a beginning student or home school.
O kept it anyway, I hate to return anything!
Price was refreshing, but Amazon's books are always refreshing.

Good first thesaurus.
After looking through many thesaurus (for children and adults) to find a good one for my first grader, I chose this one.It is easy to use. Print is not too little. The only thing that I am not crazy about is the size of the book, a little too big, but nothing too bad.Overall I think it is the best choice for an elementary school student who loves to write!

Scholastic Dictionary of Synonyma, Antonyms, and Homonyms
This book is a valuable resource for students in upper elementary and lower middle school grades.Great for homework help and vocabulary building if used on a continual basis.

Different than expected, but still happy
I thought this book was for a little bit younger child, but I was plesantly suprised when it arrived!It's perfect for our 8 year old all the way to the grown-ups in the family.Our 8 yr old likes it because it looks like a "real" dictionary/thesaurus, but is easy to use.He's just learning how to use a real dictionary, so this was a great buy.

A dissapointment
This book has, unfortunately, been a disappointment for me.From reading the reviews written by others, I had high hopes for it, but it has not lived up to them in my family's particular experience.I bought this dictionary specifically for my son (age 12) to use, but literally every time he has tried to use it to look up a word he needs, it happens to be a word that has not been included.Just our dumb luck, I guess, but it seems this book is better suited to those in grades 1-4 and probably not beyond that.
... Read more

Product Description
A principal founder of Britain's Arts and Crafts movement--which valued handcraftsmanship over manufactured goods--William Morris (1834-1896) was also a writer of poetry and fiction, a founder of the socialist movement in England, and a designer of typefaces, fabrics, and wallpaper. The gorgeous floral and foliate wallpaper designs in this calendar were selected from sample books of William Morris and Company owned by the Brooklyn Museum. Morris's combinations of colors and use of ornate forms attest to the incredible talent of this most accomplished artist.

Published with the Brooklyn Museum. Size: 12 x 13 in.; opens to 12 x 26 in. Printed on FSC certified paper with soy-based ink. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (4)

William Morris Designs CDRom and Book from Dover Publishing
Dover have done a lovely job at sourcing these beautiful designs by William Morris, with all their lovely outlines and color.The CD Rom included in this publication, is a copy of the soft cover book, but very useful for those that want to see these patterns up close. The best thing about the CD Rom is that Dover has included the Dover Design Manager, a simple graphics editing program for Windows, that will allow you to view, print, crop and rotate the images. I have aspirations to make a quilt that is William Morris inspired, and this resource is exactly what I needed to get that inspiration.

"Full Color" is a Misleading Description
There are 291 designs on this CD-ROM.The cover says it has "Full Color Electronic Designs."Of the 291 designs, only 40 are full color! Of those 40 color designs, about 10 look like they are scans of carpets. The rest are black and white graphics.Of the black and white, 24 are frames, 27 are pictures, & 200 are letters of the alphabet. Overall, you aren't getting what you pay for, even at the low Amazon price.

Not For Everyone
All of Dover's books are beautiful.However, because the images are skewed, there is no repeat pattern.

beautiful images which print very well
This book includes a selection of black & white picture frames in both narrow and wide styles. The narrow ones have turned out to be very useful for innermost frames of pictures and other images, then surrounded by color frames. I've even used the black & white picture images for hand-coloring. But the color images in this book are magnificent, and they print exactly as well as one would hope. This dover collection is a credit to them. ... Read more

Product Description
A collection of over 40 cross stitch designs inspired by William Morris, the famous 19th century decorative artist, whose designs are as popular today as they were during his lifetime more than a century ago. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Great book
This book it really great.So often books like this are "inspired by an artist," yet the design is so far off base.This collection has designs that look as if Morris himself made it.A great addition to any cross-stitch collection!

Some nice projects
I was fairly warned by the other reviews, but I bought this book anyway because I really like William Morris. There are a couple of very nice projects that I might actually do, but not nearly as many as I was hoping for in a book of this size. I am probably going to buy a book from Dover of Morris' designs and chart my own. These just wouldn't be up to Morris' standards. You should also know that many of these projects are tiny. So tiny that if you saw them stitched, you might not recognize them as William Morris patterns. I think most stitchers looking at this book are hoping for some large, lovely, tapestry-like patterns. Look somewhere else if that's what you're hoping for.

A brilliant interpretation of William Morris's Work
Barbara Hammet has created a wonderful tribute to William Morris in this work. For those unfamiliar with William Morris, she provides a work biography of the master artist. Though short, she gives examples of his work, and explanation of his background. Once this is explained, she launches into the rest of the book, where she offers more than 40 charts that are Hammet's interpretations of Morris' style. Pillows, bell pulls, small motifs, wall hangings, broaches, bookmarks, and even a full alphabet are some of the items she offers. She even gives the design and instructions for a 3-D treasure box! There are small motifs in a few colors, or larger items in less than 4 colors which would be very well suited to the beginning stitcher and many things that are large and complex for the experienced stitcher.

Another reviewer said these are poor examples of William Morris's work. I must disagree. These items are beautiful, and they are Barbara Hammet's art she BASED on William Morris. Still, any of these finished works would be the perfect compliment to Morris's art.

Because of the wide variety of skill levels and project scales I would highly recommend this book to any level of cross stitcher. Even those needle artists not interested in Morris might find a few projects they find enjoyable in this diverse volume. Hammet does offer instructions for finishing the projects and a few basic cross stitch instructions, but I would recommend purchasing the Cross Stitcher's Bible in addition if you have NEVER cross stitched before, as you will probably need more instruction than is provided here.

Highest recommendations!

William Morris cross stitch
I first purchased this book prior to hearing about Beth Russell.The projects in this book are relatively straightforward and attractive, however, they do veer off from what William Morris was really trying to accomplish (i.e. rich, medieval tapestry, etc..).Please compare to Beth Russell's interpreetation of W. M. I have made a couple of projects from the Barbara Hammett book, but in future, I will work on Beth Russell's William Morris interpretations which capture the Arts and Crafts essence alot better.Some of the skein counts in B. Hammett's book were inaccurate as well.

Overall, if you want a basic book on William Morris, without anything too complicated or costly, this book is for you.The materials for Barbara Hammett's projects average between the 20 and 30 dollar range per project.Beth Russell's book patterns average over 100 dollars since you have to buy costly wool and heavy duty top notch canvas.Still, there is no comparison between B. Hammett and B. Russell.Although I have enjoyed doing B. Hammett's projects, I will do B. Russell in future, despite the cost.B. Russell's projects are truly for heirloom quality keepsakes.

I'm Having Reservation About This Book.
I just received this beautiful book in the mail. Several projects will look great in my American Arts and Crafts bungalow home. I have purchased the material for the Orange Bell Pull and found the materials information for the item inaccurate. Specifically, the fabric called for cannot be Sage Aida 16 count. When I placed all the skeins of floss against the fabric called for many colors washed right into the color of the fabric!
I find the book easy to view and very aesthetically pleasing to read. Howeveer, if this material information is any indicative of other corrections I need to problem solve I am going to be very upset as I spend time/money on projects only to be met with frustration caused me by an editor's oversite.
I will, therefore, remain hopeful and positive and continue to stitch! If a reader of this has done the Orange Bell Pull and would be interested in sharing their experience with me please email. drl34859_98@yahoo.com ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (2)

Great!
Lots of pictures on artwork and brief info. on artist and artworkof the Art & Crafts movement

Lovely & Useful
This is a lovely little book.Seriously, it's design is sleek and the black band you see across the front is just a bit of paper that comes off easily to reveal a hardcover of one of Morris' wallpaper designs.There is even a ribbon bookmark built in!There is little fuss, it gets into pattern after beautiful pattern in full page spreads with a small space for information on each piece.I expected something awkward and ugly to house the CD, but its built in in the back in a subtle and attractive way.The CD has high res copies of each image, so it's actually a very good resource for visual artists. ... Read more

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