William Morris: The Art of Socialism

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This work analyzes the impact that Morris's understanding of art had on his political thought, and argues that his socialism was driven by a deeply romantic impulse which underpinned his central contribution to socialist thought. In today's political climate, the assumptions that Morris made about the revolution and his ideas about the socialist economy and the role of women appear impractical and outdated. Nevertheless, this study suggests that there is a role for utopian thought in practical politics and that Morris's image of the good society remains relevant today.

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'For the first time since E. P. Thompson wrote his magnificent defence of William Morris's socialism, at the height of the Cold War, there is a serious attempt to examine the role this giant of Victorian Britain truely played...His reputation stands the test of time in a number of ways...It is gratifying to read a book on Morris whose starting point is his revolutionary outlook...' Socialist Review

Author Bio

Ruth Ellen Kinna is lecturer in the Department of European Studies, Loughborough University. Her research interests lie socialism and anarchism, with a particular focus on the political thought of William Morris and Peter Kropotkin.