In this episode we meet an extraordinary couple, whose life-long partnership and dual creativity changed the face of Britain’s Arts and Crafts movement. They are Jane and William Morris, the subjects of my guest today, Suzanne Fagence Cooper’s, wonderful new book, How We Might Live: At Home with Jane and William Morris.

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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.

Jane grew up in a working-class family in Oxford, where she finished school aged elven and most likely worked as domestic servant in the city’s university colleges. When she was seventeen she was approached by the painters Gabriel Rossetti and Ned Burne-Jones who asked her if she would model for them. They had spotted Jane in the audience at the theatre and were immediately taken in by her mass of thick, black hair and striking profile.

As Suzanne points out, from the perspective of a young working-class woman, being approached by middle-class students like Rossetti and Burne-Jones would have been a potentially frightening experience. She had no reason to think their intentions were pure. In fact, Jane did not consider the offer serious enough to attend the sitting the following day and had to be chased by Burne-Jones to be convinced.

However, her eventual decision to model for this group of bohemian students, William Morris amongst them, would change the course of her life.

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 How We Might Live: At Home With Jane and William Morris, which is published by Quercus.

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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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About Suzanne Fagence Cooper

Suzanne Fagence Cooper is a writer, lecturer and curator, working on nineteenth and twentieth century British art, design and culture. Suzanne spent twelve years as a curator and research fellow, studying the Victorian collections of the V&A Museum. She has written extensively on the Pre-Raphaelites and Victorian women. She has worked as a historical consultant with Ralph Fiennes for his film about Dickens, 'The Invisible Woman', and has contributed to programmes on BBC Radio and TV, and Channel 4. Her latest book How We Might Live, is published by Quercus.