Rediscover one of Virginia Woolf's greatest works in this beautiful new gift edition from Vintage Classics. Mr and Mrs Ramsay and their eight children have always holidayed at their summer house in Skye, surrounded by family friends.
Throughout history, some books have changed the world. They have transformed the way we see ourselves - and each other. They have inspired debate, dissent, war and revolution. They have enlightened, outraged, provoked and comforted. They have enriched lives - and destroyed them. Now Penguin brings you the works of the great thinkers, pioneers, radicals and visionaries whose ideas shook civilization, and helped make us who we are.
In this vivid portrait of one day in a woman's life, Clarissa Dalloway is preoccupied with the last-minute details of a party she is to give that evening. As she readies her house she is flooded with memories and re-examines the choices she has made over the course of her life.
A playful mock 'biography' of a chameleonic historical figure, immortal and ageless, who changes sex and identity on a whim.
As his tale begins, Orlando is a passionate young nobleman whose days are spent in rowdy revelry, filled with the colourful delights of Queen Elizabeth's court. By the close, he will have transformed into a modern, 36-year-old woman and three centuries will have passed.
A seminal, widely studied feminist polemic that touches on both literature and politics, A Room of One's Own is essential reading for those wishing to understand the progress that has been made in women's rights and the struggles that still lie ahead.
'Brilliant interweaving of personal experience, imaginative musing and political clarity' Kate MosseThis volume combines two books which were among the greatest contributions to feminist literature this century.
A poetic novel that begins with six children playing in a garden by the sea and follows their lives as they grow up and experience friendship, love and grief at the death of their beloved friend Percival.
'One of the greatest elegies in the English language, a book which transcends time' Margaret DrabbleTo the Lighthouse is at once a vivid impressionistic depiction of a family, the Ramseys, whose annual summer holiday in Scotland falls under the shadow of war, and a meditation on marriage, on parenthood and childhood, on grief, tyranny and bitterness. The novel's use of stream of consciousness, reminiscence and shifting perspectives gives it an intimate, poetic essence, and at the time of publication in 1927 it represented an utter rejection of all that had gone before.Edited by Stella McNichol with an Introduction and Notes by Hermione Lee
Past, present and future are brought together one momentous June day in 1923. Clarissa Dalloway, elegant and vivacious, is preparing for a party while reminiscing about her childhood romance with Peter Walsh, and dwelling on her daughter Elizabeth's rapidly-approaching adulthood.
'A landmark of feminist thought and a rhetorical masterpiece' GuardianRanging from the silent fate of Shakespeare's gifted imaginary sister to Jane Austen, Charlotte Bront and the effects of poverty and sexual constraint on female creativity, A Room of One's Own, based on a lecture given by Woolf at Girton College, Cambridge, is one of the great feminist polemics. Published almost a decade later, Three Guineas breaks new ground in its discussion of men, militarism and women's attitudes towards war. These two pieces reveal Virginia Woolf's indomitable spirit, sophisticated wit and genius as an essayist.Edited with an Introduction and Notes by Mich le Barrett
Little Clothbound Classics: irresistible, mini editions of short stories, novellas and essays from the world's greatest writers, designed by the award-winning Coralie Bickford-Smith.'The hour should be evening and the season winter, for in winter the champagne brightness of the air and the sociability of the streets are grateful'. In such conditions, Virginia Woolf takes to London's streets in search of a pencil. The account of her journey - the people, the places, the pleasure - soon becomes one of the great paeans to city life. This collection also includes other wonderful essays, such as 'How Should One Read a Book?' and 'The Sun and the Fish'.'One of the great writers of the twentieth century' Guardian
Chiltern creates the most beautiful editions of the World's finest literature.Your favorite classic titles in a way you have never seen them before; the tactile layers, fine details and beautiful colors of these remarkable covers make these titles feel extra special and look striking on any shelf.Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway, first published in 1925, examines one day in the life of Clarissa Dalloway, an upper-class Londoner married to a member of Parliament. The novel addresses the nature of time in personal experience through multiple stories, particularly that of Clarissa, as she prepares for and hosts a party, and that of the World War I veteran Septimus Warren Smith, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. The novel is widely considered to be a groundbreaking work of twentieth-century literary fiction. The narrative begins and ends with Clarissa as it details a day in her life. Clarissa is a seemingly disillusioned socialite whose mood fluctuates: at some moments she seems delighted, at others she seems depressed. Her overall affect suggests suppressed symptoms of depression. Mrs. Dalloway begins with Clarissa's preparatory errand to buy flowers. Unexpected events occur--a car emits an explosive noise and a plane writes in the sky--and incite different reactions in different people. Soon after she returns home, her former lover Peter arrives. The two converse, and it becomes clear that they still have strong feelings for each other.
Rich in symbolism, daring in style, elegiac in tone, and encapsulating Virginia Woolf's ideas on life, art and human relationships, To the Lighthouse is a landmark of twentieth-century literature and one of the high points of early modernism.
Discover the most popular of Woolf's books during her lifetime - a powerful portrait of a family coping with changes wrought by the new twentieth century. The Years follows the lives of the Pargiters, a large middle-class London family, from an uncertain spring in 1880 to a party on a summer evening in the 1930s.
Hätte Shakespeare eine Schwester gehabt, ebenso begabt wie er, wie wäre es ihr ergangen? Welche Widerstände mussten Jane Austen oder die Brontë-Schwestern überwinden? Im Oktober 1928 hielt Virginia Woolf zwei Vorträge am ersten Frauencollege Großbritanniens an der Universität Cambridge. Ob ihnen bewusst sei, fragte Woolf ihre Zuhörerinnen, dass sie vielleicht »das am häufigsten abgehandelte Tier des Universums« seien? Schließlich wurde Literatur über Frauen fast ausschließlich von Männern verfasst. Aus Woolfs Vorträgen entstand der Essay Ein Zimmer für sich allein, den sie ein Jahr später veröffentlichte. Bereits zu Woolfs Lebzeiten gepriesen, wurde ihre Abhandlung über Frauen und Literatur zu einem der wegweisenden Texte der Frauenbewegung. Engagiert, poetisch, erfahrungssatt und ironisch analysiert Woolf Geschlechterdifferenzen und führt aus, was Frauen brauchen, um große Literatur zu produzieren: finanzielle, vor allem aber geistige Unabhängigkeit, im viktorianischen England symbolisiert durch ein eigenes Zimmer.Sandra Voss moderiert Konzerte und Podcasts, spricht Hörbücher ein und synchronisiert u. a. für ARTE und 3Sat.Virginia Woolf (1882–1941) gilt als Englands größte Autorin der Moderne. Ihre Romane werden in einem Atemzug mit James Joyce und Marcel Proust genannt, zudem verfasste sie zahllose Essays und hinterließ umfangreiche Tagebücher. Obwohl Tochter einer wohlhabenden Intellektuellen-Familie – Thomas Hardy und Henry James gingen in ihrem Elternhaus ein und aus – hat sie nie eine Schule, geschweige denn eine Universität besucht. 1917 gründete sie gemeinsam mit ihrem Mann Leonard den Verlag The Hogarth Press, in dem auch »Ein Zimmer für sich allein« erschien. Als Opfer sexuellen Missbrauchs in der Familie, litt sie zeitlebens unter wiederkehrenden schweren Depressionen. Am 28. März 1941 fand ihr Mann einen Brief auf dem Kaminsims, der mit den Zeilen begann: »Liebster, ich fühle deutlich, dass ich wieder verrückt werde …« Virginia Woolfs Leiche wurde in einem nahegelegenen Fluss entdeckt.
De Jacob Flanders no se sabe sino lo que se deja entrever en las impresiones que los otros personajes tienen de él y sin embargo él es el centro constante de la narración. La primera novela experimental de Virginia Woolf trabaja entonces sobre ese vacío del personaje central, una novela sin protagonista si se la aborda desde la perspectiva tradicional. La narración es un estudio de carácter, construida por el relato y los pensamientos ajenos, y sin embargo el argumento se desarrolla sin interrupciones, siguiendo a Jacob desde su infancia hasta el desenlace de la historia. Es a la vez un relato de un joven exitoso que encarna los valores de la sociedad inglesa. Un mundo que terminará, como el libro, con la Primera Guerra Mundial. Flanders recuerda así a Flandes -la región Flamenca- y a sus campos de batalla con la sangre derramada que terminará simbolizada por amapolas rojas.
Virginia Woolf's 1928 novel Orlando is her most entertaining and exciting book. The mock biography recounts the life of a sixteenth-century nobleman who ends up as a woman writer in 1920s England. Over the centuries Orlando lives through the gamut of human experience as both a man and a woman. It is an irreverent send-up of dutifully rendered biographies of great men, a tongue-in-cheek commentary on some formal innovations in Woolf's novels, and a carefully masked portrait of Vita Sackville-West, the real-life aristocrat who swept into Woolf's life and heart. Woolf's exuberance in realizing that a faux biography afforded her an entirely new inventive freedom animates this frolicsome gallop across four centuries.
In Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway, the bustling streets of post-World War I London become a canvas for introspection. As Clarissa Dallowayprepares for her evening party, the novel intricately weaves the threads of memory, societal expectations, and the fleeting nature of time. Adramatic exploration of the human psyche.
"Mrs. Dalloway," a literary masterpiece by Virginia Woolf, is a captivating exploration of a single day in the life of Clarissa Dalloway, an elegant and sophisticated woman living in post-World War I London. Published in 1925, this novel is a tour de force of modernist literature, offering readers a profound and intimate glimpse into the intricacies of human thought, emotion, and society.The novel unfolds over the course of a day as Clarissa prepares for an evening party she is hosting. However, this seemingly simple premise serves as a canvas for Woolf's groundbreaking narrative techniques. The story is not presented in a linear fashion but rather through a series of interconnected perspectives, capturing the inner lives of various characters. Woolf masterfully employs the stream-of-consciousness technique, allowing readers to delve into the minds of the characters and experience the ebb and flow of their thoughts in real-time.At the heart of "Mrs. Dalloway" is Clarissa Dalloway herself, a character of depth and complexity. As she moves through the bustling streets of London, preparing for her soirée, readers witness the subtle nuances of her reflections on life, love, and the passage of time. Woolf's portrayal of Clarissa is both empathetic and incisive, as she navigates the societal expectations placed upon her and grapples with the choices she has made.Woolf's depiction of London becomes a character in its own right, a vibrant and ever-changing backdrop that mirrors the flux of emotions experienced by the novel's protagonists. The city pulses with life, and as Clarissa moves through its streets, readers encounter a vivid tapestry of urban existence, from the bustling shops to the quiet corners where moments of introspection unfold.The supporting cast of characters adds layers of richness to the narrative. Septimus Warren Smith, a shell-shocked veteran, provides a poignant counterpoint to Clarissa's reflections, highlighting the profound impact of war on the human psyche. The intersections of these diverse perspectives create a mosaic of experiences, revealing the interconnectedness of lives and the shared humanity that transcends individual struggles."Mrs. Dalloway" is not merely a novel; it is a symphony of words, a kaleidoscope of emotions, and a profound meditation on the human condition. Woolf's prose is lyrical and evocative, immersing readers in a sensory experience that transcends the boundaries of conventional storytelling. Each sentence is a brushstroke, contributing to the larger canvas of the novel's themes - the fleeting nature of time, the complexity of identity, and the delicate dance between the individual and society.As readers accompany Clarissa on her journey, they become witnesses to the intricacies of existence, the beauty of fleeting moments, and the eternal quest for meaning. Woolf's narrative prowess invites readers to engage with the novel on a deeply personal level, prompting introspection and reflection on their own lives.In the tapestry of literary achievements, "Mrs. Dalloway" stands as a testament to Virginia Woolf's genius. It is a novel that transcends its time, offering a timeless exploration of the human experience. To read "Mrs. Dalloway" is to embark on a transformative journey through the corridors of consciousness, where the ordinary becomes extraordinary, and the mundane is elevated to the sublime. This is a novel that lingers in the mind, inviting readers to revisit its pages and discover new layers of meaning with each encounter-a true literary classic that continues to resonate and captivate generations of readers.
Orlando: A Biography is a novel by Virginia Woolf, first published on October 11, 1928. Inspired by the tumultuous family history of the aristocratic poet and novelist Vita Sackville-West, Woolf's lover and close friend, it is arguably one of her most famous novels. Orlando is a history of English literature in satiric form. The book describes the adventures of a poet who changes sex from man to woman and lives for centuries, meeting the key figures of English literary history. Considered a feminist classic, the book has been extensively written about by scholars of women's writing and gender and transgender studies.The novel has been adapted several times. In 1981, Ulrike Ottinger adapted it for her film Freak Orlando, with Magdalena Montezuma in the title role. In 1989, director Robert Wilson and writer Darryl Pinckney collaborated on a single-actor theatrical production.Woolf was born into an affluent household in South Kensington, London, the seventh child of Julia Prinsep Jackson and Leslie Stephen in a blended family of eight that included the modernist painter Vanessa Bell. She was home-schooled in English classics and Victorian literature from a young age. From 1897 to 1901, she attended the Ladies' Department of King's College London, where she studied classics and history and came into contact with early reformers of women's higher education and the women's rights movement.
"Orlando: A Biography" is a novel written by Virginia Woolf and was first published in 1928. The book is a unique and imaginative work that defies easy categorization. It is often considered a blend of historical fiction, fantasy, and satire. "Orlando" is notable for its exploration of gender, identity, and the passage of time.Plot Summary:The novel follows the life and adventures of Orlando, a young nobleman in Elizabethan England who lives for several centuries, experiencing a variety of historical and cultural changes. Early in the story, Orlando is granted the gift of immortality by Queen Elizabeth I, and the narrative takes the reader through different periods of English history, from the 16th century to the 20th century.As the centuries pass, Orlando undergoes a remarkable transformation from male to female without aging, providing a unique exploration of gender identity and fluidity. The novel combines historical events and characters with elements of fantasy and satire.Themes:Gender and Identity: One of the central themes of "Orlando" is the exploration of gender identity. The character of Orlando undergoes a sex change, and Woolf uses this transformation to comment on the fluidity of gender and challenge societal expectations.Time and Change: The novel spans several centuries, providing a commentary on the passage of time and the changing nature of society, culture, and politics. Through Orlando's experiences, Woolf explores the mutability of historical and social constructs.Literary Satire: Virginia Woolf uses "Orlando" to satirize various aspects of literature, including the conventions of historical biographies and the treatment of gender roles in literature. The novel is often seen as a playful and subversive take on traditional literary forms.Style and Narrative Experimentation:Virginia Woolf is known for her innovative narrative techniques, and "Orlando" is no exception. The novel employs a stream-of-consciousness style, and its structure is both experimental and non-linear. The narrative blends historical events with Woolf's own imaginative and fantastical elements.Legacy:"Orlando" has become a landmark work in the exploration of gender and identity in literature. Its experimental narrative techniques and themes of transformation have made it a subject of study and discussion in academic and literary circles. The novel's influence extends to discussions of feminism, LGBTQ+ literature, and the broader understanding of identity and time in literature. "Orlando" remains a significant and influential work in Virginia Woolf's body of writing.
2024 Reprint of the 1928 Edition. Inspired by the tumultuous family history of the aristocratic poet and novelist Vita Sackville-West, Woolf's lover and close friend, it is arguably one of her most popular novels. Orlando is a history of English literature in satiric form. The book describes the adventures of a poet who changes sex from man to woman and lives for centuries, meeting the key figures of English literary history. Considered a feminist classic, the book has been written about extensively by scholars of women's writing and gender and transgender studies.
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