Part 6: William Morris' Passion

Cast (in order of appearance)

Paul Bateman as State Library of Victoria Journalist
Angelo Salamanca as William Morris
Michael Jeffery as Workman

[The signature theme melody is played in a Victorian style.]

Journalist

We're here at the printing works of Kelmscott Press. This is William Morris' private press dedicated to quality hand made books. I've been told that Mr Morris is on his way to receive us. Oh, here he comes. It is a rainy spring morning this March the 2nd 1896.

William Morris

[Footsteps of Morris approaching.] Ah, there you are. Sorry to keep you waiting. I was just wondering… You’re from Illustrated London News? 

Journalist

Uh, well actually…

William Morris

Yes of course… Yes. I normally receive people up at Kelmscott House but I thought you would prefer to see the press in action. 

Journalist

Yes, I'm very anxious to see the whole operation.

[Footsteps as they walk into the press room we hear sounds of books being printed by hand.]

William Morris

We just reprinted another 350 copies of my own romantic fantasy, The Well at the World's End.  People seem to really like my character, Gandalf.

[Footsteps as he moves over to another table.] [William feels the pain of his gout, but recovers.] 

Ah...oh... this gout.

Here, feel this quality. 

Journalist

Lovely. [The sound of the blank sheet being handled.]

William Morris

Unbleached handmade paper. And all the illustrations and ornaments are wood block. No, go ahead, you can, it's dry. 

Journalist

Oh I thought it was still wet.

William Morris

A good quality rich black ink will look like that, sitting proudly on the paper, not soaking in like so much of what you are used to these days. 

Journalist

I don't think I've ever seen a book this beautiful.

[Music underscores Mr Morris' mood.]

William Morris

Oh, this Industrial Revolution has left craftsmanship dead in its wake. Cheap, thin paper, shoddy presswork, drab gray inks, and anaemic typefaces. Oh, they throw in marbled end pages,  but that doesn't make up for it. No thought to design. No thought to beauty. When was the last time you held a book in your hands with detailed hand carved woodcuts of artists such as Edward Burne-Jones?

Journalist

This is really an Edward Burne-Jones?

William Morris

And these borders. They just set the page.

Journalist

What is this large book? [He steps over to another table.}

William Morris

Beautiful isn't it? We stopped printing them with untrimmed edges in 1892 but this was a special request. I prefer this big folio style it lies quiet and majestic on the table, waiting kindly till you please to come to it, with its leaves flat and peaceful, giving you no trouble of body, so that your mind is free to enjoy the literature which its beauty enshrines.

Journalist

I never really thought of it that way.

William Morris

No probably not. You see each book houses an idea and ideas are the only truly precious things any of us will ever have. 

Journalist

I see.

William Morris

Here at Kelmscott we build them homes that they deserve? Fine hand crafted homes with doors of embossed leather and with a binding that will stand the test of... [We hear the footsteps of a workman approaching.]

Workman

Mr Morris.

William Morris

Yes, Jack.

Workman

You'll be wanted up at the house sir.

William Morris

Oh my is that really the time? I must apologize, I am due at the house. Another interview I'm afraid. This one in response to my article, 'How I became a Socialist'. Really, can there be any question?

Journalist

Well, thank you Mr Morris I don't think I'll ever look at a book in quite the same way.

[The signature theme signals the end of the scene.]

Credits

Conceived and Directed by John Paul Fischbach
Script by Robert Reid
Engineered and mixed by Carl Priestly at Itchyacoustic Design
Orchestrations by David James Nielsen

Recorded December 2007