ABSTRACT

When businessmen achieve fame, it usually does not prove enduring. Most educated people could name many notable Victorians; their lists would consist of politicians, writers, soldiers, social reformers, philosophers, scientists and the like, but few businessmen. William Morris was and is notable, and he was a businessman; but that is not what he is remembered for. He is remembered principally as an artist-designer, second as a socialist thinker, and third (by a long way) as a writer. In consequence, he has been investigated by historians of art, politics and literature, who cannot be blamed for neglecting an aspect of his life which, however important to Morris himself, does not greatly impinge on their particular fields, and may even be thought rather arid.