William Morris

This work analyzes the impact that Morris's understanding of art had on his political thought, and argues that his socialism was driven by a deeply romantic impulse which underpinned his central contribution to socialist thought. In today's political climate, the assumptions that Morris made about the revolution and his ideas about the socialist economy and the role of women appear impractical and outdated. Nevertheless, this study suggests that there is a role for utopian thought in practical politics and that Morris's image of the good society remains relevant today.