"News From Nowhere" - An 1890 Novel Revisited
Written in 1890 by William Morris "News from Nowhere" is a compelling formulation of his views on art, work, community, family, and the nature and structure of the ideal society. One might say it's a Utopian narrative or something like science fiction, but without question, it is an immensely entertaining novel. And one that has cause for resonance today. You can read the work yourself here at no cost. William Morris (1834-1896) is probably best-known today as a Victorian designer whose work has never gone out of fashion. You can buy Morris merchandise – from coasters to picture frames to ties to mugs – in the gift shops of every big design museum. Do an internet search of his name, and your screen will fill up with cascades of dense, colorful ornaments. But Morris was also a radical thinker, and his novel "News from Nowhere" (1890), has striking applications in the internet era. In "News from Nowhere", Morris imagined a world in which hu...