Virginia: A Play – Woolf's Relationships with Leonard and Vita Sackville-West

by Edna O'Brien

An evocative play about Virginia Woolf's life and relationships with her husband, Leonard, and her lover, Vita Sackville-West.

Genres: Plays, Drama

84 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Edna O’Brien was an award-winning Irish author of novels, plays, and short stories. She has been hailed as one of the greatest chroniclers of the female experience in the twentieth century. She was the 2011 recipient of the Frank O’Connor Prize, awarded for her short story collection Saints and Sinners. She also received, among other honors, the Irish PEN Award for Literature, the Ulysses Medal from University College Dublin, and a lifetime achievement award from the Irish Literary Academy. Her 1960 debut novel, The Country Girls, was banned in her native Ireland for its groundbreaking depictions of female sexuality. Notable works also include August Is a Wicked Month (1965), A Pagan Place (1970), Lantern Slides (1990), and The Light of Evening (2006). O’Brien lived in London until her death.

Reviews

[Jonfaith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terse--with a striking simplicity in terms of staging and characters. It is Ms. Woolf in monologue with occasional conversations with her father, her husband and her love. That's it. I found the play incredibly evocative. Asking the Mrs. to read it tomorrow.

[julieta · Rating 2 out of 5]

I guess I wanted something more universal, I love Virginia Woolf yet I don´t know that much about her life, and this just seemed invasive and gossipy. Besides that, the story was very vague, and I suppose artsy, with no linearity of any kind. No, I would not go see this. Also, it was my mistake to read this first book by Edna O´brien, who I´ve been curious to read. I will try something else, just not any of her plays, if she has more.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

An autobiographical play about Virginia Woolf, this play is too much telling and not enough showing. The play spans decades, occasionally dropping in for brief moments or insights into Woolf’s life. I didn’t love it, but I’ll admit I would have happily sat through its premiere just for the opportunity watch Maggie Smith on stage for a few hours. Quasi-recommended.

[Alisa Cupcakeland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Virginia Woolf's and I had previously loved The Country Girls trilogy by Edna O'Brien so I was very excited to read this play. I liked it, but at moments I felt like it is the kind of book who is hard to get if you are not familiar with Virginia's biography. Nevertheless, I enjoyed many passages and I felt it captured some of Woolf's etherealness.

[GrosvenorMedia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Only gave it a 2 because it really went over my head! I don't think I have a sufficient reference base to process this one. But I like the structure and the concept and of course all the Woolf bits, strung together. It's impossible to read something that was not written to be read; it was written to be performed! And the more conceptual, the more confusing. To me, at least. Today, at least.

[Kyle · Rating 2 out of 5]

VIRGINIA
How does the light return to the world?

LEONARD
Miraculously, then normally, always with a great sense of relief.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Una breve pieza teatral que empieza como sabemos que acabará: con Virginia bajo el agua. Sin llegar a parecerme brillante, me gustó ver la visión que Edna O'Brien tenía de Virginia Woolf. Creo que hay que tomarlo como un homenaje literario entre mujeres escritoras.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

69 pages - A brief, episodic play encompassing certain points in her life. I thought it was a tad overbearing and the thought of a live performance would be dreadful.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

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