Lewis Morris
Lewis Morris was a Welsh poet and lawyer, born in 1833 in Carmarthen, Wales. He was the son of a solicitor and the great-grandson of a noted Welsh poet. After a strong educational background that included studies at Oxford University, where he earned his B.A. and M.A., Morris was called to the bar in 1861 and practiced law for two decades. His literary career began with the publication of "Songs of Two Worlds" in 1871, although he initially chose to conceal his identity in his writings. Morris gained significant popularity with his poem "Book Two of The Epic of Hades," released in 1876, which showcased his fascination with Greek mythology through blank verse monologues. Despite later works receiving less acclaim, Morris remained an influential figure in poetry and was well-respected for his contributions to Welsh literature and education. He was a strong advocate for women's education and played a pivotal role in establishing the University of Wales in 1893. His legacy includes a literary knighthood and a focus on the importance of Welsh heritage in education.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Lewis Morris
- Born: January 23, 1833
- Birthplace: Carmarthen, Wales
- Died: November 12, 1907
- Place of death: Penbryn, Wales
Biography
Lewis Morris was born in 1833 in Carmarthen, Wales, the son of Lewis Morris, a solicitor, and Sophia Hughes Morris. He was the great-grandson of Lewis Morris, a noted Welsh poet. After his education at Queen Elizabeth’s grammar school in his hometown, he attended Cowbridge and Sherborne schools before entering Oxford University. He received his B.A. at Jesus College in 1856 and his M.A. in 1858, winning the chancellor’s prize for his essay on “The Greatness and Decline of Venice.” In 1861, he was called to the bar and practiced law for twenty years. In 1868, he married Florence Julia, by whom he had two daughters and a son, but he did not make his marriage public until 1902.
Songs of Two Worlds, his first book of poetry, appeared in 1871, but he concealed his identity in it and in two subsequent volumes that were published in 1874 and 1875. His work was influenced by George Herbert and Henry Vaughan, but his greatest debt was to Alfred, Lord Tennyson. Encouraged by the popularity of his poems, Morris went on to write his best-known poem, Book Two of The Epic of Hades, published in 1876; Books One and Three appeared the following year. The second book, which consisted of a series of blank verse monologues by figures from Greek mythology, was enormously popular, selling more than fifty thousand copies during his lifetime.
Unfortunately, the work that followed The Epic of Hades was less successful and less critically acclaimed. His dramatic efforts, again influenced by Tennyson, were unsuccessful, and his later books of poetry paled in comparison to his earlier work. A Vision of Saints, patterned after The Epic of Hades, consisted of monologues by Christian figures, but the work is more Miltonic than Tennysonian.
Despite the poetic shortcomings that have led to his critical neglect in the twentieth century, Morris was a popular, well- respected poet whose work embodied middle-class values. His friendship with Tennyson, his poetic model, and his popularity made him a possibility for the post of poet laureate after Tennyson’s death, but he did not receive the appointment. He was, however, the recipient of a literary knighthood.
His interest in his Welsh heritage and the Welsh educational system led to his appointment in 1878 to a commission to examine the state of Welsh higher education. An ardent supporter of higher education for women, he was a key figure in the establishment of the University of Wales in 1983; in 1906, he received a D.Litt. from that university. His last publication was The New Rambler: From Desk to Platform, a collection of autobiographical essays and comments on the Welsh educational system.