Born on this date in 1834 was William Morris, architect, poet, artist, and socialist associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and the English Arts and Crafts Movement. 10 facts about him:
He was born in Essex to a large and well off family.
He attended Marlborough College from the age of 13, and hated school. Morris would later say that at Marlborough he learned “next to nothing…for indeed next to nothing was taught.” His schoolfellows thought him somewhat eccentric and he was nicknamed “Crab”.
He studied Classics at Exeter College, Oxford, where he first met the Pre-Raphaelite painter, Edward Burne-Jones, who became a lifelong friend. The two were part of “The Brotherhood”, also known as the “Birmingham Set”, an influential group of artists and writers who championed traditional crafts. His friends there nicknamed him Topsy, after the character in Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
During his time at Oxford, Morris was very interested in religion and along with Burne-Jones, was involved with the Oxford Movement. For a while, it seemed likely the two of them would become clergymen, but later travels in Europe resulted in Morris pursuing a career in art instead. In later life, he came to be an atheist.
It was the Pre-Raphaelite painter and poet Dante Gabriel Rossetti, who persuaded Morris to make a career of painting and so he joined the group of friends who were decorating the walls of the Oxford Union with scenes from Arthurian legend.
This was how Morris met his wife, Jane. She was a working class woman who Rossetti had spotted and decided would be a perfect model for Guinevere. Both Morris and Rosetti were taken with Jane, but since Rosetti was already engaged at the time, it was Morris that she married. Rosetti would later say that he went through with the marriage “out of a mistaken sense of loyalty and fear of giving pain” despite have fallen for another. Jane’s marriage to Morris produced two daughters, but was rather rocky and when Rosetti was widowed, he and Jane began a long affair. Jane would say after Morris died that she never really loved him, but marrying him was the right decision for her at the time.
Morris was a staunch socialist and founded the Socialist League in 1884. He strongly believed that workers should have a say in how they are treated by their employers, and his ideas greatly influenced the Labour Party in Britain. Morris was even arrested once for disorderly conduct during a socialist demonstration.
His textile company came about after he bought The Red House as his family home and couldn’t find Wallpaper and textiles that he thought good enough to decorate the place, so went into business with a few friends and began making his own.
He also appreciated beautiful books, and started the Kelmscott Press in 1891. He designed multiple fonts including “Golden” Roman typeface, “Troy” Gothic type and “Chaucer.” He also wrote fiction and poetry himself, much of which was published after his death by one of his daughters.
Today, as well as in many stately homes and museums, Morris’s designs can be seen on Football kit. In 2023, Walthamstow F.C. launched a new home football shirt with Admiral Sports featuring a William Morris print which was widely regarded as one of the best kit launches of the year.
Beta
(Combat Team Series #2)
Steff was abducted by an evil alien race, the Orbs, at fourteen. Used as a weapon for years, he eventually escapes, but his problems are just beginning. How does a man support himself when his only work experience is a paper round and using an Orb bio-integrated gun?
Warlord is an alien soldier who knows little but war. When the centuries-old conflict which ravaged his planet ends, he seeks out another world where his skills are still relevant. There are always wars on Earth, it seems. However, none of Earth's powerful armies want him.
Natalie has always wanted to visit England and sees a chance to do so while using her martial arts skills, but there are sacrifices she must make in order to fulfil her dream.
Maggie resorted to crime to fund her sister's medical care. She uses her genetic variant abilities to gain access to the rooms of wealthy hotel guests. The Ballards look like rich pickings, but they are not what they seem. When Maggie targets them, little does she know that she is walking into a trap.
Hotel owner Hamilton Lonsdale puts together a combat team to pit against those of other multi-millionaires. He recruits Warlord, Natalie, Maggie and Steff along with a trained gorilla, a probability-altering alien, a stockbroker whose work of art proved to be much more than he'd bargained for, a marketing officer who can create psionic forcefields, a teleporting member of the landed gentry, and a socially awkward fixer. This is Combat Team Beta.
Steff never talks about his time with the Orbs, until he finds a woman who lived through it, too. Steff believes he has finally found happiness, but it is destined to be short-lived. He is left with an unusual legacy which he and Team Beta struggle to comprehend; including why something out there seems determined to destroy it.
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