Conclusion
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 October 2013
Summary
any text depends upon the absence of the bodies and voices that it represents.
Greenblatt (2000: 31)By the time Jane Morris wrote the letter in 1904 in which she asked, ‘Why should there be any special record of me when I have never done any special work?’ (Faulkner 1986: 121), the Pre-Raphaelite biography industry was well underway; in fact, her question occurred in the context of a discussion of the merits of Georgiana Burne-Jones’ recently-published Memorials of Edward Burne-Jones. While, on one level, Jane's question could seem to signal her acceptance of the gendered division of labour and status associated with the men and women, artists and models, in Pre-Raphaelite circles, her praise for Georgiana's efforts clearly accept published authorship as a legitimate activity for women. Despite her demurral concerning her own ‘special work’, however, Jane Morris returned to the subject in another letter to Blunt a few years later, while commiserating about his state of health:
You give but a doleful picture of yourself. I know too well these windings up of life are not very cheerful, if one could just drop off quietly like Autumn leaves, it would be so pleasant for everybody. I am in a worse plight than most, having no special work and constant ill:health.
I have been thinking of writing a little book of reminiscences (not for publication) but just to beguile the weary hours – and shall ask you once more for the ‘Letters’ I once committed to your care.
(Faulkner 1986: 130)- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Jane MorrisThe Burden of History, pp. 177 - 182Publisher: Edinburgh University PressPrint publication year: 2013