 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 . 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 F. S. Ellis , it soon gained a cult following and established Morris ' reputation as a major poet . 
