Suzanne Fagence Cooper: At Home with Jane and William Morris (1862)

This week we meet an extraordinary couple, whose life-long partnership and dual creativity changed the face of Britain’s Arts and Crafts movement. 

If it’s ever been possible to come up with a philosophy for how to live, William Morris came pretty close. He once said that “The true secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life.”

It’s a beautiful sentiment and it’s one that makes even more sense when you learn more about his family and the home he created with his wife, Jane. 

Their marriage was complicated and painful at times, but Jane and William Morris built a life together that valued things that were beautiful and useful, people who were generous and creative.

The story of their relationship is told vividly in my guest today, Suzanne Fagence Cooper’s new book How We Might Live: At Home With Jane and William Morris. Suzanne Fagence Cooper is a writer, lecturer and curator, working on 19th and 20th century British art, design and culture. How We Might Live, is published by Quercus. 

As ever, for more about this episode, head over to our website: www.tttpodcast.com

Show Notes

Scene One: 1862. The birth of May Morris.

Scene Two: 1862. First exhibition for Morris & Co.

Scene Three: 1862. The death of Elizabeth Siddall.

Momento: Gabriel Rossetti's book of poems.

People/Social

Presenter: Artemis Irvine

Guest: Suzanne Fagence Cooper

Production: Maria Nolan

Podcast partner: Ace Cultural Tours

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