Contents
Introduction Dent-Beardsley
Malory King Arthur ... Credits
W illiam Morris (1834 - 1896) was a poet, novelist, and socialist, but he is best remembered today for his design work- for the fabrics, tapestries, and household objects produced by the William Morris Co., and for the beautiful books produced by the Kelmscott Press.
M M orriss medievalism is reflected in both the list of books published and in their design. Many of the books were edited by Frederick S. Ellis, and Morris and Ellis sometimes clashed over the latters desire to include more scholarly apparatus with the medieval texts. Fifty-three books were published, including a few which had been in process at the time of Morriss death. The linen and board bindings on most of the volumes here were all done by J. and J. Leighton, London.
Morris explained his goals in this way: I began printing books with the hope of producing some which would have a definite claim to beauty, while at the same time they should be easy to read and should not dazzle the eye, or trouble the intellect of the reader by eccentricity of form in the letters. I have always been a great admirer of the calligraphy of the Middle Ages, and of the earlier printing which took its place... And it was the essence of my undertaking to produce books which it would be a pleasure to look upon as pieces of printing and arrangement of type.
(William Morris, A Note on His Aims in Founding the Kelmscott Press) | |
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