diff --git a/examples/markup.rs b/examples/markup.rs
index b2aabda..289184c 100644
--- a/examples/markup.rs
+++ b/examples/markup.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ extern crate cursive;
 
 use cursive::Cursive;
 #[cfg(feature = "markdown")]
-use cursive::utils::markup::MarkdownText;
+use cursive::utils::markup::markdown;
 use cursive::views::{Dialog, TextView};
 
 // Make sure you compile with the `markdown` feature!
@@ -13,14 +13,13 @@ fn main() {
     let mut siv = Cursive::new();
 
     #[cfg(feature = "markdown")]
-    let text = MarkdownText("Isn't *that* **cool**?");
+    let text = markdown::parse("Isn't *that* **cool**?");
 
     #[cfg(not(feature = "markdown"))]
     let text = "Rebuild with --features markdown ;)";
 
     siv.add_layer(
-        Dialog::around(TextView::styled(text).unwrap())
-            .button("Hell yeah!", |s| s.quit()),
+        Dialog::around(TextView::new(text)).button("Hell yeah!", |s| s.quit()),
     );
 
     siv.run();
diff --git a/examples/mutation.rs b/examples/mutation.rs
index e4d170d..e7049b4 100644
--- a/examples/mutation.rs
+++ b/examples/mutation.rs
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ fn show_popup(siv: &mut Cursive) {
                 // Look for a view tagged "text".
                 // We _know_ it's there, so unwrap it.
                 s.call_on_id("text", |view: &mut TextView| {
-                    let content = reverse(&view.get_content());
+                    let content = reverse(view.get_content().source());
                     view.set_content(content);
                 });
             })
diff --git a/src/printer.rs b/src/printer.rs
index 0fb2722..65c1647 100644
--- a/src/printer.rs
+++ b/src/printer.rs
@@ -136,10 +136,13 @@ impl<'a> Printer<'a> {
 
     /// Call the given closure with a styled printer,
     /// that will apply the given style on prints.
-    pub fn with_style<F>(&self, style: Style, f: F)
+    pub fn with_style<F, T>(&self, style: T, f: F)
     where
         F: FnOnce(&Printer),
+        T: Into<Style>,
     {
+        let style = style.into();
+
         let color = style.color;
         let effects = style.effects;
 
diff --git a/src/theme/style.rs b/src/theme/style.rs
index 075e4c7..10fadd6 100644
--- a/src/theme/style.rs
+++ b/src/theme/style.rs
@@ -17,6 +17,12 @@ pub struct Style {
     pub color: Option<ColorStyle>,
 }
 
+impl Default for Style {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        Self::none()
+    }
+}
+
 impl Style {
     /// Returns a new `Style` that doesn't apply anything.
     pub fn none() -> Self {
diff --git a/src/utils/lines/spans/chunk.rs b/src/utils/lines/spans/chunk.rs
index d113169..f42c644 100644
--- a/src/utils/lines/spans/chunk.rs
+++ b/src/utils/lines/spans/chunk.rs
@@ -22,11 +22,13 @@ impl<'a> Chunk<'a> {
                 segment.seg.start += to_remove.length;
                 segment.seg.width -= to_remove.width;
                 segment.text = &segment.text[to_remove.length..];
+                self.width -= to_remove.width;
                 break;
             } else {
                 // This segment is too small, so it'll disapear entirely.
                 to_remove.length -= segment.seg.end - segment.seg.start;
                 to_remove.width -= segment.seg.width;
+                self.width -= segment.seg.width;
 
                 // Empty this segment
                 segment.seg.start = segment.seg.end;
diff --git a/src/utils/lines/spans/chunk_iterator.rs b/src/utils/lines/spans/chunk_iterator.rs
index 0bd94f1..f06d5ba 100644
--- a/src/utils/lines/spans/chunk_iterator.rs
+++ b/src/utils/lines/spans/chunk_iterator.rs
@@ -1,32 +1,34 @@
-use super::Span;
 use super::chunk::Chunk;
 use super::segment::{Segment, SegmentWithText};
 use unicode_width::UnicodeWidthStr;
+use utils::span::SpannedString;
 use xi_unicode::LineBreakLeafIter;
 
 /// Iterator that returns non-breakable chunks of text.
 ///
 /// Works accross spans of text.
-pub struct ChunkIterator<'a, 'b>
+pub struct ChunkIterator<'a, T>
 where
-    'a: 'b,
+    T: 'a,
 {
-    /// Input that we want to split
-    spans: &'b [Span<'a>],
+    /// Input that we want to chunk.
+    source: &'a SpannedString<T>,
 
+    /// ID of the span we are processing.
     current_span: usize,
 
     /// How much of the current span has been processed already.
     offset: usize,
 }
 
-impl<'a, 'b> ChunkIterator<'a, 'b>
+impl<'a, T> ChunkIterator<'a, T>
 where
-    'a: 'b,
+    T: 'a,
 {
-    pub fn new(spans: &'b [Span<'a>]) -> Self {
+    /// Creates a new ChunkIterator on the given styled string.
+    pub fn new(source: &'a SpannedString<T>) -> Self {
         ChunkIterator {
-            spans,
+            source,
             current_span: 0,
             offset: 0,
         }
@@ -37,30 +39,31 @@ where
 ///
 /// These chunks may go accross spans (a single word may be broken into more
 /// than one span, for instance if parts of it are marked up differently).
-impl<'a, 'b> Iterator for ChunkIterator<'a, 'b>
+impl<'a, T> Iterator for ChunkIterator<'a, T>
 where
-    'a: 'b,
+    T: 'a,
 {
-    type Item = Chunk<'b>;
+    type Item = Chunk<'a>;
 
     fn next(&mut self) -> Option<Self::Item> {
-        // Protect agains empty spans
-        while self.current_span < self.spans.len()
-            && self.spans[self.current_span].text.is_empty()
-        {
-            self.current_span += 1;
-        }
-
-        if self.current_span >= self.spans.len() {
+        if self.current_span >= self.source.spans_raw().len() {
             return None;
         }
 
-        let mut span: &Span<'a> = &self.spans[self.current_span];
+        // Protect agains empty spans
+        if self.source.spans_raw()[self.current_span].is_empty() {
+            self.current_span += 1;
+            return self.next();
+        }
+
+        let mut span = &self.source.spans_raw()[self.current_span];
+        let mut span_text = span.content.resolve(self.source.source());
 
         let mut total_width = 0;
 
         // We'll use an iterator from xi-unicode to detect possible breaks.
-        let mut iter = LineBreakLeafIter::new(&span.text, self.offset);
+        let text = span.content.resolve(self.source.source());
+        let mut iter = LineBreakLeafIter::new(text, self.offset);
 
         // We'll accumulate segments from spans.
         let mut segments = Vec::new();
@@ -74,7 +77,7 @@ where
             // Look at next possible break
             // `hard_stop = true` means that the break is non-optional,
             // like after a `\n`.
-            let (pos, hard_stop) = iter.next(&span.text);
+            let (pos, hard_stop) = iter.next(span_text);
 
             // When xi-unicode reaches the end of a span, it returns a "fake"
             // break. To know if it's actually a true break, we need to give
@@ -85,8 +88,11 @@ where
 
             let (width, ends_with_space) = if pos == 0 {
                 // If pos = 0, we had a span before.
-                let prev_span = &self.spans[self.current_span - 1];
-                (0, prev_span.text.ends_with(' '))
+                let prev_span =
+                    &self.source.spans_raw()[self.current_span - 1];
+                let prev_text =
+                    prev_span.content.resolve(self.source.source());
+                (0, prev_text.ends_with(' '))
             } else {
                 // We actually got something.
                 // Remember its width, and whether it ends with a space.
@@ -94,7 +100,7 @@ where
                 // (When a chunk ends with a space, we may compress it a bit
                 // near the end of a row, so this information will be useful
                 // later.)
-                let text = &span.text[self.offset..pos];
+                let text = &span_text[self.offset..pos];
 
                 (text.width(), text.ends_with(' '))
             };
@@ -109,26 +115,30 @@ where
                         end: pos,
                         width,
                     },
-                    text: &span.text[self.offset..pos],
+                    text: &span_text[self.offset..pos],
                 });
             }
 
-            if pos == span.text.len() {
+            if pos == span_text.len() {
                 // If we reached the end of the slice,
                 // we need to look at the next span first.
                 self.current_span += 1;
 
                 // Skip empty spans
-                while self.current_span < self.spans.len()
-                    && self.spans[self.current_span].text.is_empty()
-                {
+                while let Some(true) = self.source
+                    .spans_raw()
+                    .get(self.current_span)
+                    .map(|span| {
+                        span.content.resolve(self.source.source()).is_empty()
+                    }) {
                     self.current_span += 1;
                 }
 
-                if self.current_span >= self.spans.len() {
+                if self.current_span >= self.source.spans_raw().len() {
                     // If this was the last chunk, return as is!
                     // Well, make sure we don't end with a newline...
-                    let hard_stop = hard_stop || span.text.ends_with('\n');
+                    let text = span.content.resolve(self.source.source());
+                    let hard_stop = hard_stop || text.ends_with('\n');
 
                     return Some(Chunk {
                         width: total_width,
@@ -138,7 +148,8 @@ where
                     });
                 }
 
-                span = &self.spans[self.current_span];
+                span = &self.source.spans_raw()[self.current_span];
+                span_text = span.content.resolve(self.source.source());
                 self.offset = 0;
                 continue;
             }
diff --git a/src/utils/lines/spans/lines_iterator.rs b/src/utils/lines/spans/lines_iterator.rs
index 03225c2..f8c42ea 100644
--- a/src/utils/lines/spans/lines_iterator.rs
+++ b/src/utils/lines/spans/lines_iterator.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-use super::Span;
 use super::chunk::{Chunk, ChunkPart};
 use super::chunk_iterator::ChunkIterator;
 use super::prefix::prefix;
@@ -8,15 +7,16 @@ use super::segment_merge_iterator::SegmentMergeIterator;
 use std::iter::Peekable;
 use unicode_segmentation::UnicodeSegmentation;
 use unicode_width::UnicodeWidthStr;
+use utils::span::SpannedString;
 
 /// Generates rows of text in constrainted width.
 ///
 /// Works on spans of text.
-pub struct SpanLinesIterator<'a, 'b>
+pub struct LinesIterator<'a, T>
 where
-    'a: 'b,
+    T: 'a,
 {
-    iter: Peekable<ChunkIterator<'a, 'b>>,
+    iter: Peekable<ChunkIterator<'a, T>>,
 
     /// Available width
     width: usize,
@@ -26,24 +26,18 @@ where
     chunk_offset: ChunkPart,
 }
 
-impl<'a, 'b> SpanLinesIterator<'a, 'b>
-where
-    'a: 'b,
-{
+impl<'a, T> LinesIterator<'a, T> {
     /// Creates a new iterator with the given content and width.
-    pub fn new(spans: &'b [Span<'a>], width: usize) -> Self {
-        SpanLinesIterator {
-            iter: ChunkIterator::new(spans).peekable(),
+    pub fn new(source: &'a SpannedString<T>, width: usize) -> Self {
+        LinesIterator {
+            iter: ChunkIterator::new(source).peekable(),
             width,
             chunk_offset: ChunkPart::default(),
         }
     }
 }
 
-impl<'a, 'b> Iterator for SpanLinesIterator<'a, 'b>
-where
-    'a: 'b,
-{
+impl<'a, T> Iterator for LinesIterator<'a, T> {
     type Item = Row;
 
     fn next(&mut self) -> Option<Row> {
diff --git a/src/utils/lines/spans/mod.rs b/src/utils/lines/spans/mod.rs
index e2b0a91..2fbda35 100644
--- a/src/utils/lines/spans/mod.rs
+++ b/src/utils/lines/spans/mod.rs
@@ -15,24 +15,6 @@ mod segment;
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests;
 
-pub use self::lines_iterator::SpanLinesIterator;
+pub use self::lines_iterator::LinesIterator;
 pub use self::row::Row;
 pub use self::segment::Segment;
-use std::borrow::Cow;
-use theme::Style;
-
-/// Input to the algorithm
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
-pub struct Span<'a> {
-    /// Text for this span.
-    ///
-    /// It can be either a reference to some input text,
-    /// or an owned string.
-    ///
-    /// The owned string is mostly useful when parsing marked-up text that
-    /// contains escape codes.
-    pub text: Cow<'a, str>,
-
-    /// Style to apply to this span of text.
-    pub style: Style,
-}
diff --git a/src/utils/lines/spans/row.rs b/src/utils/lines/spans/row.rs
index ea31b10..64d3a94 100644
--- a/src/utils/lines/spans/row.rs
+++ b/src/utils/lines/spans/row.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-use super::{Segment, Span};
-use std::borrow::Cow;
+use super::Segment;
+use utils::span::{Span, SpannedString};
 
 /// A list of segments representing a row of text
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
@@ -11,20 +11,13 @@ pub struct Row {
 }
 
 impl Row {
-    /// Resolve the row indices into styled spans.
-    pub fn resolve<'a: 'b, 'b>(&self, spans: &'b [Span<'a>]) -> Vec<Span<'b>> {
+    /// Resolve the row indices into string slices and attributes.
+    pub fn resolve<'a, T>(
+        &self, source: &'a SpannedString<T>
+    ) -> Vec<Span<'a, T>> {
         self.segments
             .iter()
-            .map(|seg| {
-                let span: &'b Span<'a> = &spans[seg.span_id];
-                let text: &'b str = &span.text;
-                let text: &'b str = &text[seg.start..seg.end];
-
-                Span {
-                    text: Cow::Borrowed(text),
-                    style: span.style,
-                }
-            })
+            .map(|seg| seg.resolve(source))
             .collect()
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/utils/lines/spans/segment.rs b/src/utils/lines/spans/segment.rs
index 2e19bec..66ddfd1 100644
--- a/src/utils/lines/spans/segment.rs
+++ b/src/utils/lines/spans/segment.rs
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+use utils::span::{Span, SpannedString};
+
 /// Refers to a part of a span
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
 pub struct Segment {
@@ -18,6 +20,19 @@ impl Segment {
     pub fn with_text<'a>(self, text: &'a str) -> SegmentWithText<'a> {
         SegmentWithText { text, seg: self }
     }
+
+    /// Resolve this segment to a string slice and an attribute.
+    pub fn resolve<'a, T>(&self, source: &'a SpannedString<T>) -> Span<'a, T> {
+        let span = &source.spans_raw()[self.span_id];
+
+        let content = span.content.resolve(source.source());
+        let content = &content[self.start..self.end];
+
+        Span {
+            content,
+            attr: &span.attr,
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
diff --git a/src/utils/lines/spans/tests.rs b/src/utils/lines/spans/tests.rs
index ca2f473..a3a1f11 100644
--- a/src/utils/lines/spans/tests.rs
+++ b/src/utils/lines/spans/tests.rs
@@ -1,348 +1,67 @@
-use super::Span;
-use super::SpanLinesIterator;
-use super::chunk::Chunk;
-use super::chunk_iterator::ChunkIterator;
-use super::row::Row;
-use super::segment::Segment;
-use std::borrow::Cow;
-use theme::Style;
+use super::LinesIterator;
+use theme::{Effect, Style};
+use utils::markup::StyledString;
+use utils::span::Span;
 
-fn input() -> Vec<Span<'static>> {
-    vec![
-        Span {
-            text: Cow::Borrowed("A beautiful "),
-            style: Style::none(),
-        },
-        Span {
-            text: Cow::Borrowed("boat"),
-            style: Style::none(),
-        },
-        Span {
-            text: Cow::Borrowed(" isn't it?\nYes indeed, my "),
-            style: Style::none(),
-        },
-        Span {
-            text: Cow::Borrowed("Super"),
-            style: Style::none(),
-        },
-        Span {
-            text: Cow::Borrowed("Captain !"),
-            style: Style::none(),
-        },
-    ]
-}
+fn input() -> StyledString {
+    let mut text = StyledString::plain("I ");
+    text.append(StyledString::styled("didn't", Effect::Bold));
+    text.append(StyledString::plain(" say "));
+    text.append(StyledString::styled("half", Effect::Italic));
+    text.append(StyledString::plain(" the things people say I did."));
+    text.append(StyledString::plain("\n"));
+    text.append(StyledString::plain("    - A. Einstein"));
 
-#[cfg(feature = "markdown")]
-#[test]
-fn test_lines_markdown() {
-    let input = r"
-A beautiful *boat* isn't it?
-Yes indeed, my **Super**Captain !";
-
-    let input_spans = ::utils::markup::markdown::parse(input);
-    let iter = SpanLinesIterator::new(&input_spans, 16);
-    let rows: Vec<Row> = iter.collect();
-    let output_spans: Vec<_> =
-        rows.iter().map(|row| row.resolve(&input_spans)).collect();
-
-    assert_eq!(
-        &output_spans[..],
-        &[
-            vec![
-                Span {
-                    text: Cow::Borrowed("A beautiful "),
-                    style: Style::none(),
-                },
-                Span {
-                    text: Cow::Borrowed("boat"),
-                    style: Style::from(Effect::Italic),
-                },
-            ],
-            vec![
-                Span {
-                    text: Cow::Borrowed("isn\'t it?"),
-                    style: Style::none(),
-                },
-            ],
-            vec![
-                Span {
-                    text: Cow::Borrowed("Yes indeed, my "),
-                    style: Style::none(),
-                },
-            ],
-            vec![
-                Span {
-                    text: Cow::Borrowed("Super"),
-                    style: Style::from(Effect::Bold),
-                },
-                Span {
-                    text: Cow::Borrowed("Captain "),
-                    style: Style::none(),
-                },
-                Span {
-                    text: Cow::Borrowed("!"),
-                    style: Style::none(),
-                },
-            ]
-        ]
-    );
+    text
 }
 
 #[test]
-fn test_lines_iter() {
+fn test_line_breaks() {
     let input = input();
 
-    let iter = SpanLinesIterator::new(&input, 16);
-    let rows: Vec<Row> = iter.collect();
-    let spans: Vec<_> = rows.iter().map(|row| row.resolve(&input)).collect();
+    let iter = LinesIterator::new(&input, 17);
 
-    assert_eq!(
-        &spans[..],
-        &[
-            vec![
-                Span {
-                    text: Cow::Borrowed("A beautiful "),
-                    style: Style::none(),
-                },
-                Span {
-                    text: Cow::Borrowed("boat"),
-                    style: Style::none(),
-                },
-            ],
-            vec![
-                Span {
-                    text: Cow::Borrowed("isn\'t it?"),
-                    style: Style::none(),
-                },
-            ],
-            vec![
-                Span {
-                    text: Cow::Borrowed("Yes indeed, my "),
-                    style: Style::none(),
-                },
-            ],
-            vec![
-                Span {
-                    text: Cow::Borrowed("Super"),
-                    style: Style::none(),
-                },
-                Span {
-                    text: Cow::Borrowed("Captain !"),
-                    style: Style::none(),
-                },
-            ]
-        ]
-    );
+    let rows: Vec<_> = iter.map(|row| row.resolve(&input)).collect();
 
     assert_eq!(
         &rows[..],
         &[
-            Row {
-                segments: vec![
-                    Segment {
-                        span_id: 0,
-                        start: 0,
-                        end: 12,
-                        width: 12,
-                    },
-                    Segment {
-                        span_id: 1,
-                        start: 0,
-                        end: 4,
-                        width: 4,
-                    },
-                ],
-                width: 16,
-            },
-            Row {
-                segments: vec![
-                    Segment {
-                        span_id: 2,
-                        start: 1,
-                        end: 10,
-                        width: 9,
-                    },
-                ],
-                width: 9,
-            },
-            Row {
-                segments: vec![
-                    Segment {
-                        span_id: 2,
-                        start: 11,
-                        end: 26,
-                        width: 15,
-                    },
-                ],
-                width: 15,
-            },
-            Row {
-                segments: vec![
-                    Segment {
-                        span_id: 3,
-                        start: 0,
-                        end: 5,
-                        width: 5,
-                    },
-                    Segment {
-                        span_id: 4,
-                        start: 0,
-                        end: 9,
-                        width: 9,
-                    },
-                ],
-                width: 14,
-            }
-        ]
-    );
-}
-
-#[test]
-fn test_chunk_iter() {
-    let input = input();
-
-    let iter = ChunkIterator::new(&input);
-    let chunks: Vec<Chunk> = iter.collect();
-
-    assert_eq!(
-        &chunks[..],
-        &[
-            Chunk {
-                width: 2,
-                segments: vec![
-                    Segment {
-                        span_id: 0,
-                        start: 0,
-                        end: 2,
-                        width: 2,
-                    }.with_text("A "),
-                ],
-                hard_stop: false,
-                ends_with_space: true,
-            },
-            Chunk {
-                width: 10,
-                segments: vec![
-                    Segment {
-                        span_id: 0,
-                        start: 2,
-                        end: 12,
-                        width: 10,
-                    }.with_text("beautiful "),
-                ],
-                hard_stop: false,
-                ends_with_space: true,
-            },
-            Chunk {
-                width: 5,
-                segments: vec![
-                    Segment {
-                        span_id: 1,
-                        start: 0,
-                        end: 4,
-                        width: 4,
-                    }.with_text("boat"),
-                    Segment {
-                        span_id: 2,
-                        start: 0,
-                        end: 1,
-                        width: 1,
-                    }.with_text(" "),
-                ],
-                hard_stop: false,
-                ends_with_space: true,
-            },
-            Chunk {
-                width: 6,
-                segments: vec![
-                    // "isn't "
-                    Segment {
-                        span_id: 2,
-                        start: 1,
-                        end: 7,
-                        width: 6,
-                    }.with_text("isn't "),
-                ],
-                hard_stop: false,
-                ends_with_space: true,
-            },
-            Chunk {
-                width: 3,
-                segments: vec![
-                    // "it?\n"
-                    Segment {
-                        span_id: 2,
-                        start: 7,
-                        end: 11,
-                        width: 3,
-                    }.with_text("it?\n"),
-                ],
-                hard_stop: true,
-                ends_with_space: false,
-            },
-            Chunk {
-                width: 4,
-                segments: vec![
-                    // "Yes "
-                    Segment {
-                        span_id: 2,
-                        start: 11,
-                        end: 15,
-                        width: 4,
-                    }.with_text("Yes "),
-                ],
-                hard_stop: false,
-                ends_with_space: true,
-            },
-            Chunk {
-                width: 8,
-                segments: vec![
-                    // "indeed, "
-                    Segment {
-                        span_id: 2,
-                        start: 15,
-                        end: 23,
-                        width: 8,
-                    }.with_text("indeed, "),
-                ],
-                hard_stop: false,
-                ends_with_space: true,
-            },
-            Chunk {
-                width: 3,
-                segments: vec![
-                    // "my "
-                    Segment {
-                        span_id: 2,
-                        start: 23,
-                        end: 26,
-                        width: 3,
-                    }.with_text("my "),
-                ],
-                hard_stop: false,
-                ends_with_space: true,
-            },
-            Chunk {
-                width: 14,
-                segments: vec![
-                    // "Super"
-                    Segment {
-                        span_id: 3,
-                        start: 0,
-                        end: 5,
-                        width: 5,
-                    }.with_text("Super"),
-                    // "Captain !"
-                    Segment {
-                        span_id: 4,
-                        start: 0,
-                        end: 9,
-                        width: 9,
-                    }.with_text("Captain !"),
-                ],
-                hard_stop: false,
-                ends_with_space: false,
-            }
+            vec![
+                Span {
+                    content: "I ",
+                    attr: &Style::none(),
+                },
+                Span {
+                    content: "didn't",
+                    attr: &Style::from(Effect::Bold),
+                },
+                Span {
+                    content: " say ",
+                    attr: &Style::none(),
+                },
+                Span {
+                    content: "half",
+                    attr: &Style::from(Effect::Italic),
+                },
+            ],
+            vec![
+                Span {
+                    content: "the things people",
+                    attr: &Style::none(),
+                },
+            ],
+            vec![
+                Span {
+                    content: "say I did.",
+                    attr: &Style::none(),
+                },
+            ],
+            vec![
+                Span {
+                    content: "    - A. Einstein",
+                    attr: &Style::none(),
+                },
+            ],
         ]
     );
 }
diff --git a/src/utils/markup/.mod.rs.rustfmt b/src/utils/markup/.mod.rs.rustfmt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a1843eb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/utils/markup/.mod.rs.rustfmt
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+//! Parse various text markup formats.
+//!
+//! Each module is optional and relies on a feature.
+
+#[cfg(feature = "markdown")]
+pub mod markdown;
+
+#[cfg(feature = "markdown")]
+pub use self::markdown::MarkdownText;
+use owning_ref::OwningHandle;
+use owning_ref::StringRef;
+use std::ops::Deref;
+use theme::Style;
+
+use utils::span::{StSpannedString;
+
+/// A parsed string with markup style.
+///
+/// Contains both the source string, and parsed information indicating the
+/// style to apply.
+pub type StyledString = SpannedString<Style>;
+
+pub type StyledIndexedSpan = IndexedSpan<Style>;
+
+impl SpannedString<Style> {
+    /// Returns a plain StyledString without any style.
+    ///
+    /// > You got no style, Dutch. You know that.
+    pub fn plain<S>(content: S) -> Self
+    where
+        S: Into<String>,
+    {
+        Self::styled(content, Style::none())
+    }
+
+    /// Creates a new `StyledString` using a single style for the entire text.
+    pub fn styled<S, T>(content: S, style: T) -> Self
+    where
+        S: Into<String>,
+        T: Into<Style>,
+    {
+        let content = content.into();
+
+        let spans = vec![
+            StyledIndexedSpan {
+                content: IndexedCow::Borrowed {
+                    start: 0,
+                    end: content.len(),
+                },
+                style: style.into(),
+            },
+        ];
+
+        Self::new(content, spans)
+    }
+
+    /// Appends the given plain text to `self`.
+    pub fn append_plain<S>(&mut self, text: S)
+    where
+        S: Into<String>,
+    {
+        self.append(Self::plain(text));
+    }
+
+    /// Appends `text` to `self`, using `style`.
+    pub fn append_styled<S, T>(&mut self, text: S, style: T)
+    where
+        S: Into<String>,
+        T: Into<Style>,
+    {
+        self.append(Self::styled(text, style));
+    }
+    /// Appends the given plain text to `self`.
+    pub fn append_plain<S>(&mut self, text: S)
+    where
+        S: Into<String>,
+    {
+        self.append(Self::plain(text));
+    }
+
+    /// Appends `text` to `self`, using `style`.
+    pub fn append_styled<S, T>(&mut self, text: S, style: T)
+    where
+        S: Into<String>,
+        T: Into<Style>,
+    {
+        self.append(Self::styled(text, style));
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/utils/markup/markdown.rs b/src/utils/markup/markdown.rs
index f1bc721..73d8384 100644
--- a/src/utils/markup/markdown.rs
+++ b/src/utils/markup/markdown.rs
@@ -5,55 +5,27 @@
 extern crate pulldown_cmark;
 
 use self::pulldown_cmark::{Event, Tag};
-use std::borrow::Cow;
 use theme::{Effect, Style};
-use utils::lines::spans::Span;
+use utils::markup::{StyledString, StyledIndexedSpan};
+use utils::span::IndexedCow;
 
-/// `Markup` trait implementation for markdown text.
-///
-/// Requires the `markdown` feature.
-pub struct Markdown;
-
-impl super::Markup for Markdown {
-    type Error = ();
-
-    fn parse<'a>(input: &'a str) -> Result<Vec<Span<'a>>, Self::Error> {
-        Ok(parse(input))
-    }
-}
-
-/// Thin wrapper around text that should be parsed as Markdown.
-///
-/// This does not parse the text here, but indicates how it should be parsed.
-///
-/// # Examples
-///
-/// ```rust
-/// // Can use `&str`
-/// let text = MarkdownText("*Markdown* text!");
-///
-/// // Or `String`
-/// let text = MarkdownText(String::from("*Right __here__!"));
-/// ```
-pub struct MarkdownText<S>(pub S)
-where
-    S: Into<String>;
-
-impl<S> super::MarkupText for MarkdownText<S>
+/// Parses the given string as markdown text.
+pub fn parse<S>(input: S) -> StyledString
 where
     S: Into<String>,
 {
-    type M = Markdown;
+    let input = input.into();
 
-    fn to_string(self) -> String {
-        self.0.into()
-    }
+    let spans = parse_spans(&input);
+
+    StyledString::new(input, spans)
 }
 
 /// Iterator that parse a markdown text and outputs styled spans.
 pub struct Parser<'a> {
     first: bool,
     stack: Vec<Style>,
+    input: &'a str,
     parser: pulldown_cmark::Parser<'a>,
 }
 
@@ -61,23 +33,21 @@ impl<'a> Parser<'a> {
     /// Creates a new parser with the given input text.
     pub fn new(input: &'a str) -> Self {
         Parser {
+            input,
             first: true,
             parser: pulldown_cmark::Parser::new(input),
             stack: Vec::new(),
         }
     }
 
-    fn literal_string<'b>(&self, text: String) -> Span<'b> {
-        Span {
-            text: Cow::Owned(text),
-            style: Style::merge(&self.stack),
-        }
-    }
-
-    fn literal<'b>(&self, text: &'b str) -> Span<'b> {
-        Span {
-            text: Cow::Borrowed(text),
-            style: Style::merge(&self.stack),
+    /// Creates a new span with the given value
+    fn literal<S>(&self, text: S) -> StyledIndexedSpan
+    where
+        S: Into<String>,
+    {
+        StyledIndexedSpan {
+            content: IndexedCow::Owned(text.into()),
+            attr: Style::merge(&self.stack),
         }
     }
 }
@@ -87,7 +57,7 @@ fn header(level: usize) -> &'static str {
 }
 
 impl<'a> Iterator for Parser<'a> {
-    type Item = Span<'a>;
+    type Item = StyledIndexedSpan;
 
     fn next(&mut self) -> Option<Self::Item> {
         loop {
@@ -103,7 +73,7 @@ impl<'a> Iterator for Parser<'a> {
                         self.stack.push(Style::from(Effect::Italic))
                     }
                     Tag::Header(level) => {
-                        return Some(self.literal_string(format!(
+                        return Some(self.literal(format!(
                             "{} ",
                             header(level as usize)
                         )))
@@ -123,10 +93,7 @@ impl<'a> Iterator for Parser<'a> {
                     Tag::Paragraph if self.first => self.first = false,
                     Tag::Header(_) => return Some(self.literal("\n\n")),
                     Tag::Link(link, _) => {
-                        return Some(self.literal_string(format!(
-                            "]({})",
-                            link
-                        )))
+                        return Some(self.literal(format!("]({})", link)))
                     }
                     Tag::Code => return Some(self.literal("```")),
                     Tag::Emphasis | Tag::Strong => {
@@ -142,9 +109,9 @@ impl<'a> Iterator for Parser<'a> {
                 | Event::Html(text)
                 | Event::Text(text) => {
                     // Return something!
-                    return Some(Span {
-                        text,
-                        style: Style::merge(&self.stack),
+                    return Some(StyledIndexedSpan {
+                        content: IndexedCow::from_cow(text, self.input),
+                        attr: Style::merge(&self.stack),
                     });
                 }
             }
@@ -155,7 +122,7 @@ impl<'a> Iterator for Parser<'a> {
 /// Parse the given markdown text into a list of spans.
 ///
 /// This is a shortcut for `Parser::new(input).collect()`.
-pub fn parse<'a>(input: &'a str) -> Vec<Span<'a>> {
+pub fn parse_spans<'a>(input: &'a str) -> Vec<StyledIndexedSpan> {
     Parser::new(input).collect()
     // Parser::new(input).inspect(|span| eprintln!("{:?}", span)).collect()
 }
@@ -163,6 +130,7 @@ pub fn parse<'a>(input: &'a str) -> Vec<Span<'a>> {
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
+    use utils::span::Span;
 
     #[test]
     fn test_parse() {
@@ -170,43 +138,44 @@ mod tests {
 Attention
 ====
 I *really* love __Cursive__!";
-        let spans = parse(input);
+        let spans = parse_spans(input);
+        let spans: Vec<_> = spans.iter().map(|span| span.resolve(input)).collect();
 
         // println!("{:?}", spans);
         assert_eq!(
             &spans[..],
             &[
                 Span {
-                    text: Cow::Borrowed("# "),
-                    style: Style::none(),
+                    content: "# ",
+                    attr: &Style::none(),
                 },
                 Span {
-                    text: Cow::Borrowed("Attention"),
-                    style: Style::none(),
+                    content: "Attention",
+                    attr: &Style::none(),
                 },
                 Span {
-                    text: Cow::Borrowed("\n\n"),
-                    style: Style::none(),
+                    content: "\n\n",
+                    attr: &Style::none(),
                 },
                 Span {
-                    text: Cow::Borrowed("I "),
-                    style: Style::none(),
+                    content: "I ",
+                    attr: &Style::none(),
                 },
                 Span {
-                    text: Cow::Borrowed("really"),
-                    style: Style::from(Effect::Italic),
+                    content: "really",
+                    attr: &Style::from(Effect::Italic),
                 },
                 Span {
-                    text: Cow::Borrowed(" love "),
-                    style: Style::none(),
+                    content: " love ",
+                    attr: &Style::none(),
                 },
                 Span {
-                    text: Cow::Borrowed("Cursive"),
-                    style: Style::from(Effect::Bold),
+                    content: "Cursive",
+                    attr: &Style::from(Effect::Bold),
                 },
                 Span {
-                    text: Cow::Borrowed("!"),
-                    style: Style::none(),
+                    content: "!",
+                    attr: &Style::none(),
                 }
             ]
         );
diff --git a/src/utils/markup/mod.rs b/src/utils/markup/mod.rs
index d2aaf2c..50c0c22 100644
--- a/src/utils/markup/mod.rs
+++ b/src/utils/markup/mod.rs
@@ -5,109 +5,28 @@
 #[cfg(feature = "markdown")]
 pub mod markdown;
 
-#[cfg(feature = "markdown")]
-pub use self::markdown::MarkdownText;
-use owning_ref::OwningHandle;
-use owning_ref::StringRef;
-use std::borrow::Cow;
-use std::ops::Deref;
 use theme::Style;
-use utils::lines::spans::Span;
 
-/// Trait for parsing text into styled spans.
-pub trait Markup {
-    /// Possible error happening when parsing.
-    type Error;
+use utils::span::{SpannedString, IndexedSpan, Span};
 
-    /// Parses text and return the styled spans.
-    fn parse<'a>(input: &'a str) -> Result<Vec<Span<'a>>, Self::Error>;
-
-    /// Returns a string and its parsed spans.
-    ///
-    /// Generates a self-borrowing struct containing the source string, as well
-    /// as the styled spans borrowing this string.
-    fn make_handle<S>(input: S) -> Result<StyledHandle, Self::Error>
-    where
-        S: Into<String>,
-    {
-        let input = input.into();
-        OwningHandle::try_new(StringRef::new(input), |input| {
-            Self::parse(unsafe { &*input })
-        })
-    }
-}
-
-/// Thin wrapper around a string, with a markup format.
+/// A parsed string with markup style.
 ///
-/// This only wraps the text and indicates how it should be parsed;
-/// it does not parse the text itself.
-pub trait MarkupText {
-    /// Markup format to use to parse the string.
-    type M: Markup;
-
-    /// Access the inner string.
-    fn to_string(self) -> String;
-}
-
-/// Unwrapped text gets the "Plain" markup for free.
-impl<S: Into<String>> MarkupText for S {
-    type M = Plain;
-
-    fn to_string(self) -> String {
-        self.into()
-    }
-}
-
-/// Dummy `Markup` implementation that returns the text as-is.
-pub struct Plain;
-
-impl Markup for Plain {
-    type Error = ();
-
-    fn parse<'a>(input: &'a str) -> Result<Vec<Span<'a>>, Self::Error> {
-        Ok(if input.is_empty() {
-            Vec::new()
-        } else {
-            vec![
-                Span {
-                    text: Cow::Borrowed(input),
-                    style: Style::none(),
-                },
-            ]
-        })
-    }
-}
-
-/// Holds both parsed spans, and the input string they borrow.
+/// Contains both the source string, and parsed information indicating the
+/// style to apply.
 ///
-/// This is used to pass around a parsed string.
-pub type StyledHandle = OwningHandle<StringRef, Vec<Span<'static>>>;
+/// **Note**: due to limitations in rustdoc, you will need to read the
+/// documentation from the [`SpannedString`] page.
+///
+/// [`SpannedString`]: ../span/struct.SpannedString.html
+pub type StyledString = SpannedString<Style>;
 
-/// A String that parses a markup language.
-pub struct StyledString {
-    content: Option<StyledHandle>,
-}
+/// Indexes a span into a source string.
+pub type StyledIndexedSpan = IndexedSpan<Style>;
 
-impl StyledString {
-    /// Creates a new styled string, parsing the given content.
-    ///
-    /// # Examples
-    ///
-    /// ```rust
-    /// # use cursive::utils::markup::StyledString;
-    /// let styled_string = StyledString::new("*plain* text");
-    /// ```
-    pub fn new<T>(content: T) -> Result<Self, <T::M as Markup>::Error>
-    where
-        T: MarkupText,
-    {
-        let content = content.to_string();
-
-        let content = Some(T::M::make_handle(content)?);
-
-        Ok(StyledString { content })
-    }
+/// A resolved styled span borrowing its source string.
+pub type StyledSpan<'a> = Span<'a, Style>;
 
+impl SpannedString<Style> {
     /// Returns a plain StyledString without any style.
     ///
     /// > You got no style, Dutch. You know that.
@@ -115,81 +34,35 @@ impl StyledString {
     where
         S: Into<String>,
     {
-        Self::new(content).unwrap()
+        Self::styled(content, Style::none())
     }
 
-    /// Sets the content of this string.
-    ///
-    /// # Examples
-    ///
-    /// ```rust
-    /// # use cursive::utils::markup::StyledString;
-    /// # let mut styled_string = StyledString::new("").unwrap();
-    /// styled_string.set_content("*plain* text").unwrap();
-    /// ```
-    pub fn set_content<T>(
-        &mut self, content: T
-    ) -> Result<(), <<T as MarkupText>::M as Markup>::Error>
+    /// Creates a new `StyledString` using a single style for the entire text.
+    pub fn styled<S, T>(content: S, style: T) -> Self
     where
-        T: MarkupText,
+        S: Into<String>,
+        T: Into<Style>,
     {
-        let content = content.to_string();
+        let content = content.into();
+        let style = style.into();
 
-        self.content = Some(T::M::make_handle(content)?);
-
-        Ok(())
+        Self::single_span(content, style)
     }
 
-    /// Sets the content of this string to plain text.
-    pub fn set_plain<S>(&mut self, content: S)
+    /// Appends the given plain text to `self`.
+    pub fn append_plain<S>(&mut self, text: S)
     where
         S: Into<String>,
     {
-        self.set_content(content).unwrap();
+        self.append(Self::plain(text));
     }
 
-    /// Append `content` to the end.
-    ///
-    /// Re-parse everything after.
-    pub fn append_content<T>(
-        &mut self, content: T
-    ) -> Result<(), <T::M as Markup>::Error>
+    /// Appends `text` to `self`, using `style`.
+    pub fn append_styled<S, T>(&mut self, text: S, style: T)
     where
-        T: MarkupText,
+        S: Into<String>,
+        T: Into<Style>,
     {
-        self.with_content::<T::M, _, _>(|c| c.push_str(&content.to_string()))
-    }
-
-    /// Run a closure on the text content.
-    ///
-    /// And re-parse everything after.
-    pub fn with_content<M, F, O>(&mut self, f: F) -> Result<O, M::Error>
-    where
-        M: Markup,
-        F: FnOnce(&mut String) -> O,
-    {
-        // Get hold of the StyledHandle
-        let content = self.content.take().unwrap();
-        // Get the inner String
-        let mut content = content.into_inner().into_inner();
-        // Do what we have to do
-        let out = f(&mut content);
-        // And re-parse everything
-        self.content = Some(M::make_handle(content)?);
-
-        Ok(out)
-    }
-
-    /// Gives access to the parsed styled spans.
-    pub fn spans<'a>(&'a self) -> &'a [Span<'a>] {
-        &self.content.as_ref().unwrap()
-    }
-}
-
-impl Deref for StyledString {
-    type Target = str;
-
-    fn deref(&self) -> &str {
-        &self.content.as_ref().unwrap().owner()
+        self.append(Self::styled(text, style));
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/utils/mod.rs b/src/utils/mod.rs
index 94963f6..06d9b9b 100644
--- a/src/utils/mod.rs
+++ b/src/utils/mod.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 //! Toolbox to make text layout easier.
 
 mod reader;
+pub mod span;
 pub mod lines;
 pub mod markup;
 
diff --git a/src/utils/span.rs b/src/utils/span.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c8289f9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/utils/span.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,219 @@
+//! Work with spans of text.
+//!
+//! This module defines various structs describing a span of text from a
+//! larger string.
+use std::borrow::Cow;
+
+/// A string with associated spans.
+///
+/// Each span has an associated attribute `T`.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub struct SpannedString<T> {
+    source: String,
+    spans: Vec<IndexedSpan<T>>,
+}
+
+impl<S, T> From<S> for SpannedString<T>
+where
+    S: Into<String>,
+    T: Default,
+{
+    fn from(value: S) -> Self {
+        Self::single_span(value.into(), T::default())
+    }
+}
+
+impl<T> SpannedString<T> {
+    /// Creates a new `SpannedString` manually.
+    ///
+    /// It is not recommended to use this directly.
+    /// Instead, look for methods like `Markdown::parse`.
+    pub fn new<S>(source: S, spans: Vec<IndexedSpan<T>>) -> Self
+    where
+        S: Into<String>,
+    {
+        let source = source.into();
+
+        // Make sure the spans are within bounds.
+        // This should disapear when compiled in release mode.
+        for span in &spans {
+            if let IndexedCow::Borrowed { start: _, end } = span.content {
+                assert!(end <= source.len());
+            }
+        }
+
+        SpannedString { source, spans }
+    }
+
+    /// Returns a new SpannedString with a single span.
+    pub fn single_span(source: String, attr: T) -> Self {
+        let spans = vec![
+            IndexedSpan {
+                content: IndexedCow::Borrowed {
+                    start: 0,
+                    end: source.len(),
+                },
+                attr,
+            },
+        ];
+
+        Self::new(source, spans)
+    }
+
+    /// Appends the given `StyledString` to `self`.
+    pub fn append<S>(&mut self, other: S)
+    where
+        S: Into<Self>,
+    {
+        let other = other.into();
+        self.append_raw(other.source, other.spans);
+    }
+
+    /// Appends `content` and its corresponding spans to the end.
+    ///
+    /// It is not recommended to use this directly;
+    /// instead, look at the `append` method.
+    pub fn append_raw(&mut self, source: String, spans: Vec<IndexedSpan<T>>) {
+        let offset = self.source.len();
+        let mut spans = spans;
+
+        for span in &mut spans {
+            span.content.offset(offset);
+        }
+
+        self.source.push_str(&source);
+        self.spans.append(&mut spans);
+    }
+
+    /// Gives access to the parsed styled spans.
+    pub fn spans<'a>(&'a self) -> Vec<Span<'a, T>> {
+        self.spans
+            .iter()
+            .map(|span| span.resolve(&self.source))
+            .collect()
+    }
+
+    /// Returns a reference to the indexed spans.
+    pub fn spans_raw(&self) -> &[IndexedSpan<T>] {
+        &self.spans
+    }
+
+    /// Returns a reference to the source string.
+    ///
+    /// This is the non-parsed string.
+    pub fn source(&self) -> &str {
+        &self.source
+    }
+
+    /// Returns `true` if self is empty.
+    pub fn is_empty(&self) -> bool {
+        self.source.is_empty() || self.spans.is_empty()
+    }
+}
+
+/// An indexed span with an associated attribute.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub struct IndexedSpan<T> {
+    /// Content of the span.
+    pub content: IndexedCow,
+
+    /// Attribute applied to the span.
+    pub attr: T,
+}
+
+/// A resolved span borrowing its source string.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub struct Span<'a, T: 'a> {
+    /// Content of this span.
+    pub content: &'a str,
+
+    /// Attribute associated to this span.
+    pub attr: &'a T,
+}
+
+impl<T> IndexedSpan<T> {
+    /// Resolve the span to a string slice and an attribute.
+    pub fn resolve<'a>(&'a self, source: &'a str) -> Span<'a, T>
+    where
+        T: 'a,
+    {
+        Span {
+            content: self.content.resolve(source),
+            attr: &self.attr,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Returns `true` if `self` is an empty span.
+    pub fn is_empty(&self) -> bool {
+        self.content.is_empty()
+    }
+}
+
+/// A span of text that can be either owned, or indexed in another String.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum IndexedCow {
+    /// Indexes content in a separate string.
+    Borrowed {
+        /// Byte offset of the beginning of the span (inclusive)
+        start: usize,
+
+        /// Byte offset of the end of the span (exclusive)
+        end: usize,
+    },
+
+    /// Owns its content.
+    Owned(String),
+}
+
+impl IndexedCow {
+    /// Resolve the span to a string slice.
+    pub fn resolve<'a>(&'a self, source: &'a str) -> &'a str {
+        match *self {
+            IndexedCow::Borrowed { start, end } => &source[start..end],
+            IndexedCow::Owned(ref content) => &content,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Returns an indexed view of the given item.
+    ///
+    /// **Note**: it is assumed `cow`, if borrowed, is a substring of `source`.
+    pub fn from_cow(cow: Cow<str>, source: &str) -> Self {
+        match cow {
+            Cow::Owned(value) => IndexedCow::Owned(value),
+            Cow::Borrowed(value) => {
+                let source_pos = source.as_ptr() as usize;
+                let value_pos = value.as_ptr() as usize;
+
+                // Make sure `value` is indeed a substring of `source`
+                assert!(value_pos >= source_pos);
+                assert!(value_pos + value.len() <= source_pos + source.len());
+                let start = value_pos - source_pos;
+                let end = start + value.len();
+
+                IndexedCow::Borrowed { start, end }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Returns `ŧrue` if this represents an empty span.
+    pub fn is_empty(&self) -> bool {
+        match *self {
+            IndexedCow::Borrowed { start, end } => start == end,
+            IndexedCow::Owned(ref content) => content.is_empty(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// If `self` is borrowed, offset its indices by the given value.
+    ///
+    /// Useful to update spans when concatenating sources.
+    pub fn offset(&mut self, offset: usize) {
+        if let IndexedCow::Borrowed {
+            ref mut start,
+            ref mut end,
+        } = *self
+        {
+            *start += offset;
+            *end += offset;
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/views/text_view.rs b/src/views/text_view.rs
index 85d2f56..9151999 100644
--- a/src/views/text_view.rs
+++ b/src/views/text_view.rs
@@ -9,8 +9,9 @@ use std::ops::Deref;
 use std::sync::{Mutex, MutexGuard};
 use std::sync::Arc;
 use theme::Effect;
-use utils::lines::spans::{Row, SpanLinesIterator};
-use utils::markup::{Markup, MarkupText, StyledString};
+use unicode_width::UnicodeWidthStr;
+use utils::lines::spans::{LinesIterator, Row};
+use utils::markup::StyledString;
 use vec::Vec2;
 use view::{ScrollBase, ScrollStrategy, SizeCache, View};
 
@@ -29,7 +30,7 @@ use view::{ScrollBase, ScrollStrategy, SizeCache, View};
 ///
 /// // Later, possibly in a different thread
 /// content.set_content("new content");
-/// assert!(content.get_content().contains("new"));
+/// assert!(content.get_content().source().contains("new"));
 /// ```
 #[derive(Clone)]
 pub struct TextContent {
@@ -37,35 +38,29 @@ pub struct TextContent {
 }
 
 impl TextContent {
-    /// Creates a new text content around the given value.
-    pub fn new<S>(content: S) -> Self
-    where
-        S: Into<String>,
-    {
-        Self::styled(content).unwrap()
-    }
-
     /// Creates a new text content around the given value.
     ///
     /// Parses the given value.
-    pub fn styled<T>(content: T) -> Result<Self, <T::M as Markup>::Error>
+    pub fn new<S>(content: S) -> Self
     where
-        T: MarkupText,
+        S: Into<StyledString>,
     {
-        let content = StyledString::new(content)?;
+        let content = content.into();
 
-        Ok(TextContent {
+        TextContent {
             content: Arc::new(Mutex::new(TextContentInner {
                 content,
                 size_cache: None,
             })),
-        })
+        }
     }
 }
 
 /// A reference to the text content.
 ///
-/// It implements `Deref<Target=str>`.
+/// This can be deref'ed into a [`StyledString`].
+///
+/// [`StyledString`]: ../utils/markup/type.StyledString.html
 ///
 /// This keeps the content locked. Do not store this!
 pub struct TextContentRef {
@@ -76,42 +71,29 @@ pub struct TextContentRef {
 }
 
 impl Deref for TextContentRef {
-    type Target = str;
+    type Target = StyledString;
 
-    fn deref(&self) -> &str {
+    fn deref(&self) -> &StyledString {
         &self.handle.content
     }
+
 }
 
 impl TextContent {
     /// Replaces the content with the given value.
     pub fn set_content<S>(&mut self, content: S)
     where
-        S: Into<String>,
+        S: Into<StyledString>,
     {
-        self.with_content(|c| c.set_plain(content));
-    }
-
-    /// Replaces the content with the given value.
-    ///
-    /// The given markup text will be parsed.
-    pub fn set_markup<T>(
-        &mut self, content: T
-    ) -> Result<(), <T::M as Markup>::Error>
-    where
-        T: MarkupText,
-    {
-        self.with_content(|c| c.set_content(content))
+        self.with_content(|c| *c = content.into());
     }
 
     /// Append `content` to the end of a `TextView`.
-    pub fn append_content<T>(
-        &mut self, content: T
-    ) -> Result<(), <T::M as Markup>::Error>
+    pub fn append<S>(&mut self, content: S)
     where
-        T: MarkupText,
+        S: Into<StyledString>,
     {
-        self.with_content(|c| c.append_content(content))
+        self.with_content(|c| c.append(content))
     }
 
     /// Returns a reference to the content.
@@ -136,6 +118,11 @@ impl TextContent {
     }
 }
 
+/// Internel representation of the content for a TextView.
+///
+/// This is mostly just a StyledString.
+///
+/// Can be shared (through a `Arc<Mutex>`).
 struct TextContentInner {
     // content: String,
     content: StyledString,
@@ -145,6 +132,7 @@ struct TextContentInner {
 }
 
 impl TextContentInner {
+    /// From a shareable content (Arc + Mutex), return a
     fn get_content(content: &Arc<Mutex<TextContentInner>>) -> TextContentRef {
         let arc_ref: ArcRef<Mutex<TextContentInner>> =
             ArcRef::new(Arc::clone(content));
@@ -197,26 +185,9 @@ impl TextView {
     /// Creates a new TextView with the given content.
     pub fn new<S>(content: S) -> Self
     where
-        S: Into<String>,
+        S: Into<StyledString>,
     {
-        Self::styled(content).unwrap()
-    }
-
-    /// Creates a new TextView by parsing the given content.
-    ///
-    /// # Examples
-    ///
-    /// ```rust,ignore
-    /// # use cursive::views::TextView;
-    /// use cursive::utils::markup::MarkdownText;
-    /// // This will require the `markdown` feature!
-    /// let view = TextView::styled(MarkdownText("**Bold** text"));
-    /// ```
-    pub fn styled<T>(content: T) -> Result<Self, <T::M as Markup>::Error>
-    where
-        T: MarkupText,
-    {
-        TextContent::styled(content).map(TextView::new_with_content)
+        Self::new_with_content(TextContent::new(content))
     }
 
     /// Creates a new TextView using the given `Arc<Mutex<String>>`.
@@ -233,7 +204,7 @@ impl TextView {
     ///
     /// // Later, possibly in a different thread
     /// content.set_content("new content");
-    /// assert!(content.get_content().contains("new"));
+    /// assert!(content.get_content().source().contains("new"));
     /// ```
     pub fn new_with_content(content: TextContent) -> Self {
         TextView {
@@ -318,58 +289,25 @@ impl TextView {
     where
         S: Into<String>,
     {
-        self.markup(content).unwrap()
-    }
-
-    /// Replace the text in this view.
-    ///
-    /// Parse the given markup text.
-    ///
-    /// Chainable variant.
-    pub fn markup<T>(self, content: T) -> Result<Self, <T::M as Markup>::Error>
-    where
-        T: MarkupText,
-    {
-        self.try_with(|s| s.set_markup(content))
+        self.with(|s| s.set_content(content))
     }
 
     /// Replace the text in this view.
     pub fn set_content<S>(&mut self, content: S)
     where
-        S: Into<String>,
+        S: Into<StyledString>,
     {
-        self.set_markup(content).unwrap();
-    }
-
-    /// Replace the text in this view.
-    ///
-    /// Parses the given markup text.
-    pub fn set_markup<T>(
-        &mut self, content: T
-    ) -> Result<(), <T::M as Markup>::Error>
-    where
-        T: MarkupText,
-    {
-        self.content.lock().unwrap().content.set_content(content)?;
+        self.content.lock().unwrap().content = content.into();
         self.invalidate();
-
-        Ok(())
     }
 
     /// Append `content` to the end of a `TextView`.
-    pub fn append_content<T>(
-        &mut self, content: T
-    ) -> Result<(), <T::M as Markup>::Error>
+    pub fn append<S>(&mut self, content: S)
     where
-        T: MarkupText,
+        S: Into<StyledString>,
     {
-        self.content
-            .lock()
-            .unwrap()
-            .content
-            .append_content(content)?;
+        self.content.lock().unwrap().content.append(content.into());
         self.invalidate();
-        Ok(())
     }
 
     /// Returns the current text in this view.
@@ -456,8 +394,7 @@ impl TextView {
 
         // First attempt: naively hope that we won't need a scrollbar_width
         // (This means we try to use the entire available width for text).
-        self.rows =
-            SpanLinesIterator::new(content.content.spans(), size.x).collect();
+        self.rows = LinesIterator::new(&content.content, size.x).collect();
 
         // Width taken by the scrollbar. Without a scrollbar, it's 0.
         let mut scrollbar_width = 0;
@@ -473,8 +410,7 @@ impl TextView {
             };
 
             self.rows =
-                SpanLinesIterator::new(content.content.spans(), available)
-                    .collect();
+                LinesIterator::new(&content.content, available).collect();
 
             if self.rows.is_empty() && !content.content.is_empty() {
                 // We have some content, we we didn't find any row for it?
@@ -526,10 +462,10 @@ impl View for TextView {
                 let l = row.width;
                 let mut x = self.align.h.get_offset(l, printer.size.x);
 
-                for span in row.resolve(content.content.spans()) {
-                    printer.with_style(span.style, |printer| {
-                        printer.print((x, 0), &span.text);
-                        x += span.text.len();
+                for span in row.resolve(&content.content) {
+                    printer.with_style(*span.attr, |printer| {
+                        printer.print((x, 0), &span.content);
+                        x += span.content.width();
                     });
                 }
                 // let text = &content.content[row.start..row.end];