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Leonard and Virginia Woolf: A Literary Partnership
This new study of the relationship of Leonard and Virginia Woolf is based on two controversial that 'Bloomsbury' never existed and that Virginia Woolf does not deserve her reputation as one of the greatest figures of English literary history. Aiming to restore perceptions of Leonard and Virginia Woolf to a more realistic level, without undermining their considerable achievements, Peter Alexander focuses on the surprising literary influence which Leonard and Virginia had on each other and the difficult yet fruitful partnership which they forged.
Clearly, Leonard Woolf had a profound effect on Virginia's writing, not merely in caring for her and providing the circumstances in which she could write, but in offering her a model of sensibility so different from her own that she was continually reacting against it, or (more damagingly) trying to emulate it. For her part, Virginia stimulated Leonard into writing novels, provided him with compelling subject matter through her prejudiced reactions to himself, and ultimately influenced not only the course of his writing, but even the style of his late autobiography.
Making extensive use of both unpublished and recently published material, including Leonard Woolf's letters and Virginia Woolf's early journals, this illustrated book combines the intellectual energy of a critical study with the excitement and narrative drive of a groundbreaking biography.
Clearly, Leonard Woolf had a profound effect on Virginia's writing, not merely in caring for her and providing the circumstances in which she could write, but in offering her a model of sensibility so different from her own that she was continually reacting against it, or (more damagingly) trying to emulate it. For her part, Virginia stimulated Leonard into writing novels, provided him with compelling subject matter through her prejudiced reactions to himself, and ultimately influenced not only the course of his writing, but even the style of his late autobiography.
Making extensive use of both unpublished and recently published material, including Leonard Woolf's letters and Virginia Woolf's early journals, this illustrated book combines the intellectual energy of a critical study with the excitement and narrative drive of a groundbreaking biography.
- GenresBiographyNonfiction
265 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1993
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March 21, 2026
Bought this for Virginia, stayed for Leonard. This is an incredibly bold piece of non-fiction in that the author acts as authority on these events and people beyond the participants and subjects, which tends to be quite funny, but is (thankfully) usually well backed up, and also in the breadth he feels comfortable covering, unflinchingly. Extremely well researched and it totally carries you through their lives at a wonderful pace; at no point does one feel that Alexander has lingered on one area for too long, nor that he has held back in any regard.
As I see my mother in Virginia and I see my father in Leonard, I particularly connected with this. Two deeply interesting psychologies. A very good sign of the books quality is that I am in no way bored of its subjects, even having reached the end of a very full account of their entire lives, and I have an even stronger desire to read more of their works (in Leonard's case, any of them).
As I see my mother in Virginia and I see my father in Leonard, I particularly connected with this. Two deeply interesting psychologies. A very good sign of the books quality is that I am in no way bored of its subjects, even having reached the end of a very full account of their entire lives, and I have an even stronger desire to read more of their works (in Leonard's case, any of them).
Displaying 1 of 1 review