Virginia Woolf
By
User:AllieCashel @timeAndDate(1278092826)
One of the most beloved female authors of all time, Virginia Woolf's work has continued to puzzle and amaze readers of all levels even decades after its original publication. Themes of isolation, feminism, lesbianism, war and class are explored with such grace and such a unique style throughout her work, providing brilliant insight into the complex and occasionally very dark mind of Virginia Woolf. Unfortunately, Woolf took her own life at the age of 59 leaving a note for her husband where she famously wrote "I feel certain I am going to go mad again... but please know that if anyone was going to save me it would have been you... I don't think two people could have been happier than we have been." Her tragic death however, did not take away from the popularity of her complex work, famous for its stream of consciousness style, interesting characters and its honesty.
Popular Works
'''''Mrs. Dalloway''''' - Published in 1925, ''Mrs. Dalloway'' details a day in the life of Clarissa Dalloway and her preparations for a party of which she is to be the hostess. The novel has a complex interior perspective and travels forwards and backwards through time, and in and out of different character's minds, constructing the image of Clarissa's life and of post World War I England. The structure of the plot makes this a challenging read, but once you read it you will never be able to forget the intricate mind of Clarissa Dalloway and will immediately understand why this is considered one of Woolf's best novels.
'''''To The Lighthouse''''' redirect in Scotland over a ten year period. The plot however, is not what makes this book so impressive but rather Woolf's ability to skillfully manipulate time, temporality and psychological exploration. It provides a touching insight into the power of childhood memory and the weakness of perspective and is a book that is known to change the way people read, almost always for the better.
'''''Orlando''''' West is normally considered to be one of Woolf's most accessible novels. Published in 1928, it tells the story of a young man named Orlando who decides he is not going to grow old. He is moved however, by an intense love affair with a Russian princes named Sasha, the character based on Virgina's friend. The novel itself has come to be somewhat of a symbol for the feminist movement of the time, and is a perfect choice for readers not entirely ready to throw themselves into the difficult worlds of ''Mrs. Dalloway'' or ''To The Lighthouse. ''
'''''A Room of Ones Own''''' fiction lectures. This is often considered to be Woolf's most famous work and is still regarded as one of the best feminist texts.
'''''The Waves''''' understand ways. If you're up for a challenge, this book was critically acclaimed but didn't reach as much of the general population as some of her other novels.
Some of her other popular work includes ''
On Being Ill''
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