Greg Jenner

Okay, so we have some of our intellectual figures. Let's move on to William Morris. We've name-checked him already.

Big William.

Big William.

Yeah, Daddy Morris. Which, I don't know, feels worse and feels slightly sordid. I don't know.

Yeah, Daddy Morris. Which, I don't know, feels worse and feels slightly sordid. I don't know.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I think many people would recognise a William Morris print. I don't think they're going to recognise a photo of him. He's not got one of those distinctive Victorian faces. Who was William Morris? Where was he educated?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I think many people would recognise a William Morris print. I don't think they're going to recognise a photo of him. He's not got one of those distinctive Victorian faces. Who was William Morris? Where was he educated?

And as a personality, I mean, he's a prodigious brain. He's another classic polymath.

And as a personality, I mean, he's a prodigious brain. He's another classic polymath.

He also has quite high standards when it comes to other people. There's a quote that he says, if a chap can't compose an epic poem while he's weaving a tapestry, he'd better shut up. He'll never do any good at all. Ha ha! I feel, I mean, that's two skills I can't do.

He also has quite high standards when it comes to other people. There's a quote that he says, if a chap can't compose an epic poem while he's weaving a tapestry, he'd better shut up. He'll never do any good at all. Ha ha! I feel, I mean, that's two skills I can't do.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I mean, Cariad, what are the two things that the modern gentle person should be able to do simultaneously?

I mean, Cariad, what are the two things that the modern gentle person should be able to do simultaneously?

Those sound very difficult. Only one of those at a time. Come on.

Those sound very difficult. Only one of those at a time. Come on.

So he's setting high standards for others, but he's setting them for himself too. William Morris is an interesting fella. And much like the Bloomsbury group that we spoke about in our 100th episode, the arts and crafts movement, again, is a bunch of university pals going, hey, I'm a bit posh and fancy like you and we are all friends.

So he's setting high standards for others, but he's setting them for himself too. William Morris is an interesting fella. And much like the Bloomsbury group that we spoke about in our 100th episode, the arts and crafts movement, again, is a bunch of university pals going, hey, I'm a bit posh and fancy like you and we are all friends.

Doesn't he do architecture as well?