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How We Might Live

At Home with Jane and William Morris

Suzanne Fagence-Cooper author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Quercus Publishing

Published:9th Jun '22

Should be back in stock very soon

How We Might Live cover

This biography highlights the creative partnership of William and Jane Morris, emphasizing Jane's significant contributions alongside her husband's legacy in How We Might Live.

This joint biography delves into the intertwined lives of William Morris and his wife, Jane Morris, shedding light on their remarkable partnership. William Morris, a celebrated poet, designer, and a key figure in the Arts & Crafts movement, left an indelible mark on the Victorian era with his stunning designs and thought-provoking ideas. However, Jane Morris, often overshadowed by her husband's legacy, emerges as a significant artist in her own right. This book seeks to elevate her story, presenting her not merely as an artist's model but as a creative force alongside William.

The narrative explores the homes they created together, such as the Red House and Kelmscott Manor, which were more than just residences; they were artistic expressions of their shared values and aspirations. Each space they inhabited reflected their commitment to beauty and fulfillment, illustrating their vision of a life steeped in artistry. The book emphasizes how their collaborative efforts in both life and art shaped their identities and legacies.

In How We Might Live, author Suzanne Fagence Cooper provides a comprehensive examination of both Jane and William Morris, highlighting the importance of their partnership. By bringing Jane's contributions to the forefront, the book offers readers a deeper understanding of their creative synergy and the profound impact they had on the world around them.

Lyrical...enjoyable * Mail on Sunday *
Jane is fortunate in her biographer * The Times *
Well researched and extensive * BBC History Magazine *
Fascinating * The Field *
[Cooper] traces the Morrises' shared and separate lives with clarity and judicious assessment * History Today *
Fagence Cooper succeeds, against the odds, in restoring some reality to our view of Jane Morris, giving a proper sense of a woman with striking gifts and talents identifiably her own * Literary Review *
Delightful, accessible and insightful * Church Times *
Jane Morris's creative influence on her husband's design empire has finally been revealed in a new book [...] the first joint biography of the couple will shine a light on their personal and creative partnership, and reassert the rightful place of Jane Morris - a skilled embroiderer and talented designer - in the history books. * Guardian *

ISBN: 9781529409482

Dimensions: 238mm x 166mm x 48mm

Weight: 791g

320 pages