William Morris (right) and Burne-Jones. William Morris 1834-1896 was an English designer, socialist and poet who shared the Pre-Raphaelite painters' fascination with medieval settings. His first book of verse was The Defence of Guinevere 1858. In 1861 he founded Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co for the manufacture of furniture, wallpapers, and the like. Morris took over the firm 1874 and renamed it Morris & Co. It designed and produced a wide range of decorative wallpapers, many of which are still produced today. In 1890 he set up the Kelmscott Press to print beautifully designed books. The prose romances A Dream of John Ball 1888 and News from Nowhere 1891 reflect his socialist ideology. He also lectured on socialism. Edward Coley Burne-Jones 1833-1898 was an English painter. In 1856 he was apprenticed to the Pre-Raphaelite painter Dante Gabriel Rossetti who remained a dominant influence. His paintings, inspired by legend and myth, were characterised by elongated forms as in King Cophetua and the Beggar Maid 1880-84 (Tate Gallery), London). He later moved towards Symbolism. He also designed tapestries and stained glass in association with William Morris. The best collection of his work is in the Birmingham City Art Gallery.