William Morris (1834-1896) was an English artist, writer, socialist and activist. He was one of the principal founders of the British arts and crafts movement, best known as a designer of wallpaper and patterned fabrics, a writer of poetry and fiction and a pioneer of the socialist movement in Britain. Morris and his friends formed an artistic movement, the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. They eschewed the tawdry industrial manufacture of decorative arts and architecture and favoured a return to hand-craftsmanship, raising artisans to the status of artists. He espoused the philosophy that art should be affordable, hand-made, and that there should be no hierarchy of artistic mediums. His best-known works are The Defence of Guinevere, and Other Poems (1858), Hopes and Fears for Art (1882), Chants for Socialists (1885), A Dream of John Ball: A King's Lesson (1888), The House of the Wolfings (1889), Child Christopher and Goldilind the Fair (1895), Old French Romances (1896), The Well at the World's End (1896), and The Hollow Land (1897).
A Dream of John Ball: Being an Idyll in Prose is a novel written by William Morris and first published in 1898. The book is a historical fantasy that explores the themes of social justice, political reform, and the struggle for freedom. The story is set in medieval England during the Peasant's Revolt of 1381, and follows the dream of John Ball, a real-life radical priest who preached against the injustices of feudalism and supported the rights of the common people.The novel is written in a poetic and dreamlike style, and is divided into two parts. In the first part, the narrator falls asleep and dreams of a conversation with John Ball, who tells him about the events leading up to the Peasant's Revolt and the struggles of the common people against their oppressors. In the second part, the narrator wakes up and reflects on the lessons he has learned from his dream.Throughout the novel, Morris uses vivid imagery and symbolism to convey his message about the importance of social justice and the need for political reform. He also explores the themes of freedom, equality, and the power of the people to effect change.A Dream of John Ball is considered one of Morris's most important works, and is admired for its lyrical prose, its powerful social commentary, and its historical accuracy. It is a classic of English literature and a must-read for anyone interested in the history of social and political movements.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
A Dream of John Ball: Being an Idyll in Prose is a novel written by William Morris and first published in 1898. The book is a historical fantasy that explores the themes of social justice, political reform, and the struggle for freedom. The story is set in medieval England during the Peasant's Revolt of 1381, and follows the dream of John Ball, a real-life radical priest who preached against the injustices of feudalism and supported the rights of the common people.The novel is written in a poetic and dreamlike style, and is divided into two parts. In the first part, the narrator falls asleep and dreams of a conversation with John Ball, who tells him about the events leading up to the Peasant's Revolt and the struggles of the common people against their oppressors. In the second part, the narrator wakes up and reflects on the lessons he has learned from his dream.Throughout the novel, Morris uses vivid imagery and symbolism to convey his message about the importance of social justice and the need for political reform. He also explores the themes of freedom, equality, and the power of the people to effect change.A Dream of John Ball is considered one of Morris's most important works, and is admired for its lyrical prose, its powerful social commentary, and its historical accuracy. It is a classic of English literature and a must-read for anyone interested in the history of social and political movements.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.