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Conclusion

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 October 2013

Wendy Parkins
Affiliation:
The University of Otago
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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I have been thinking of writing a little book of reminiscences (not for publication) but just to beguile the weary hours – and shall ask you once more for the ‘Letters’ I once committed to your care.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
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Jane Morris
The Burden of History
, pp. 177 - 182
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press
Print publication year: 2013

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