Editing William Morris (section)

=== Queen Square and ''The Earthly Paradise'': 1865–1870 ===
[[File:George Frederic Watts portrait of William Morris 1870.jpg|thumbnail|upright| Portrait of William Morris by George Frederic Watts, 1870]]

At Queen Square, the Morris family lived in a flat directly above the Firm's shop.{{sfn|MacCarthy|1994|p=198}} They were joined by Janey's sister [[Elizabeth Burden]] and a number of household servants.{{Sfn|MacCarthy|1994|pp=198–199}} Meanwhile, changes were afoot at the Firm as Faulkner left, and to replace him they employed a business manager, Warrington Taylor, who would remain with them till 1866. Taylor pulled the Firm's finances into order and spent much time controlling Morris and ensuring that he worked to schedule.{{sfnm|1a1=Mackail|1y=1901|1pp=175–176|2a1=MacCarthy|2y=1994|2pp=207–210}} During these years the Firm carried out a number of high-profile designs; from September 1866 to January 1867, they redecorated the Armoury and Tapestry Room in [[St James's Palace]],{{sfn|MacCarthy|1994|p=211}} in the latter year also designing the Green Dining Room at the [[South Kensington Museum]] (it is now the Morris Room at the Victoria and Albert Museum).{{sfnm|1a1=Mackail|1y=1901|1pp=176–177|2a1=Thompson|2y=1955|2p=96|3a1=MacCarthy|3y=1994|3pp=212–213}} The Firm's work received increasing interest from people in the United States, resulting in Morris's acquaintance with [[Henry James]] and [[Charles Eliot Norton]].{{sfn|MacCarthy|1994|p=229–230}} However, despite its success, the Firm was not turning over a large net profit, and this, coupled with the decreasing value of Morris's stocks, meant that he had to decrease his spending.{{sfn|MacCarthy|1994|p=241}}

Janey's relationship with Rossetti had continued, and by the late 1860s gossip regarding their affair had spread about London, where they were regularly seen spending time together.{{sfn|MacCarthy|1994|pp=224, 253–254}} Morris biographer [[Fiona MacCarthy]] argued that it was likely that Morris had learned of and accepted the existence of their affair by 1870.{{sfn|MacCarthy|1994|p=259}} In this year he developed an affectionate friendship with Aglaia Coronio, the daughter of wealthy Greek refugees, although there is no evidence that they had an affair.{{sfnm|1a1=Mackail|1y=1901|1p=290|2a1=MacCarthy|2y=1994|2pp=270–273}} Meanwhile, Morris's relationship with his mother had improved, and he would regularly take his wife and children to visit her at her house in [[Leyton]].{{sfn|MacCarthy|1994|pp=214–215}} He also went on various holidays; in the summer of 1866 he, Webb, and Taylor toured the churches of northern France.{{sfn|MacCarthy|1994|p=215}}

[[File:Morris by Rossetti.jpg|left|thumb|A caricature sketch of Morris by Rossetti, ''The Bard and Petty Tradesman'', reflecting his behaviour at the Firm]]

In August 1866 Morris joined the Burne-Jones family on their holiday in [[Lymington]], while in August 1867 both families holidayed together in Oxford.{{sfn|MacCarthy|1994|p=216}} In August 1867 the Morrises holidayed in [[Southwold]], [[Suffolk]],{{sfn|MacCarthy|1994|p=217}} while in the summer of 1869 Morris took his wife to [[Bad Ems]] in [[Rhineland-Palatinate]], central Germany, where it was hoped that the local health waters would aid her ailments. While there, he enjoyed walks in the countryside and focused on writing poetry.{{sfnm|1a1=Mackail|1y=1901|1pp=401–204|2a1=MacCarthy|2y=1994|2pp=231–246}}

Morris had continued to devote much time to writing poetry. In 1867 Bell and Dandy published Morris's epic poem, ''The Life and Death of Jason'', at his own expense. The book was a retelling of the ancient Greek myth of the hero [[Jason]] and his quest to find the [[Golden Fleece]]. In contrast to Morris's former publication, ''The Life and Death of Jason'' was well received, resulting in the publishers paying Morris a fee for the second edition.{{sfnm|1a1=Mackail|1y=1901|1pp=183–186|2a1=MacCarthy|2y=1994|2p=204}}
From 1865 to 1870, Morris worked on another epic poem, ''[[The Earthly Paradise]]''. Designed as a homage to Chaucer, it consisted of 24 stories, adopted from an array of different cultures, and each by a different narrator; set in the late 14th century, the synopsis revolved around a group of Norsemen who flee the [[Black Death]] by sailing away from Europe, on the way discovering an island where the inhabitants continue to venerate the ancient Greek gods. Published in four parts by [[Frederick Startridge Ellis|F. S. Ellis]], it soon gained a cult following and established Morris's reputation as a major poet.{{sfnm|1a1=Mackail|1y=1901|1pp=179–183, 192–197, 204–208|2a1=Thompson|2y=1955|2pp=110–150|3a1=MacCarthy|3y=1994|3pp=199–203, 259–264}}