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Modern Fiction
Virginia Woolf's essay contained in "The Common Reader", 1925
9 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 1925
6 people are currently reading
247 people want to read
About the author
Virginia Woolf
1,908 books29.1k followers(Adeline) Virginia Woolf was an English novelist and essayist regarded as one of the foremost modernist literary figures of the twentieth century.
During the interwar period, Woolf was a significant figure in London literary society and a member of the Bloomsbury Group. Her most famous works include the novels Mrs. Dalloway (1925), To the Lighthouse (1927), and Orlando (1928), and the book-length essay A Room of One's Own (1929) with its famous dictum, "a woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction."
During the interwar period, Woolf was a significant figure in London literary society and a member of the Bloomsbury Group. Her most famous works include the novels Mrs. Dalloway (1925), To the Lighthouse (1927), and Orlando (1928), and the book-length essay A Room of One's Own (1929) with its famous dictum, "a woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
October 8, 2025
3,5*
"A vida não é uma série de lanternas de trem simetricamente dispostas. A vida é um halo luminoso, um envelope semi-transparente que nos envolve do primeiro ao último momento de consciência. Não consistirá a tarefa do escritor em nos comunicar esse espírito mutável, desconhecido, sem limites definidos, qualquer que seja a aberração ou complexidade que apresente, confundindo-o o mínimo possível com tudo aquilo que lhe é exterior e alheio? Não nos limitamos a defender a coragem e a sinceridade - estamos a sugerir que a matéria própria da ficção é algo diferente daquilo que temos sido habituados a pensar."
Se Virginia Woolf fosse viva, seria genial a dar Master Classes ou até mesmo Ted Talks. Tanto que os escrevinhadores contemporâneos poderiam aprender com ela...
"Apesar de ao longo dos séculos, termos aprendido muito acerca do fabrico de máquinas é duvidoso que tenhamos aprendido alguma coisa acerca do fazer da literatura. Não chegamos a escrever melhor; quanto muito (sic) cá vamos seguindo, ora nesta direcção, ora naquela, mas se fosse possível observar todo o percurso de um ponto suficientemente alto verificar-se-ia um movimento de tendência circular."
"A matéria própria da ficção" não existe; tudo é matéria própria para a ficção, cada sentimento, cada pensamento; cada qualidade do cérebro e do espírito deve ser utilizada; todas as percepções são bem acolhidas. E, se conseguimos imaginar a arte da ficção ganhando vida e estando aqui de pé entre nós, não tenhamos dúvida de que ela nos exortaria a maltratá-la e a forçá-la tanto quanto a amá-la e honrá-la pois somente assim a sua juventude pode ser renovada e a sua soberania garantida."
"A vida não é uma série de lanternas de trem simetricamente dispostas. A vida é um halo luminoso, um envelope semi-transparente que nos envolve do primeiro ao último momento de consciência. Não consistirá a tarefa do escritor em nos comunicar esse espírito mutável, desconhecido, sem limites definidos, qualquer que seja a aberração ou complexidade que apresente, confundindo-o o mínimo possível com tudo aquilo que lhe é exterior e alheio? Não nos limitamos a defender a coragem e a sinceridade - estamos a sugerir que a matéria própria da ficção é algo diferente daquilo que temos sido habituados a pensar."
Se Virginia Woolf fosse viva, seria genial a dar Master Classes ou até mesmo Ted Talks. Tanto que os escrevinhadores contemporâneos poderiam aprender com ela...
"Apesar de ao longo dos séculos, termos aprendido muito acerca do fabrico de máquinas é duvidoso que tenhamos aprendido alguma coisa acerca do fazer da literatura. Não chegamos a escrever melhor; quanto muito (sic) cá vamos seguindo, ora nesta direcção, ora naquela, mas se fosse possível observar todo o percurso de um ponto suficientemente alto verificar-se-ia um movimento de tendência circular."
"A matéria própria da ficção" não existe; tudo é matéria própria para a ficção, cada sentimento, cada pensamento; cada qualidade do cérebro e do espírito deve ser utilizada; todas as percepções são bem acolhidas. E, se conseguimos imaginar a arte da ficção ganhando vida e estando aqui de pé entre nós, não tenhamos dúvida de que ela nos exortaria a maltratá-la e a forçá-la tanto quanto a amá-la e honrá-la pois somente assim a sua juventude pode ser renovada e a sua soberania garantida."
May 11, 2020
I don't have too much to say.
Woolf really focuses on how literature mimics life, and to what effect. She also takes the time to discuss what the relevance or point of this is - how much literature mimicking life makes a good story.
However, I feel like there is so much to literature. And while she talks about a variety of authors, she didn't have enough time to hammer down on what the relevance or point is in literature mimicking life.
Woolf really focuses on how literature mimics life, and to what effect. She also takes the time to discuss what the relevance or point of this is - how much literature mimicking life makes a good story.
However, I feel like there is so much to literature. And while she talks about a variety of authors, she didn't have enough time to hammer down on what the relevance or point is in literature mimicking life.
November 7, 2021
A beautifully written essay about modern literature. It should be considered as one of the most significant essays on Modern Literature. Woolf’s essay contains an obvious and important message for the contemporary and future writers and they should work on it! Woolf suggests that writers should give some attention to ‘ordinary life’ and ‘ordinary mind’; it is the way the fiction should be.
"The proper stuff of fiction" does not exist; everything is the proper stuff of fiction, every feeling, every thought; every quality of brain and spirit is drawn upon; no perception comes amiss. And if we can imagine the art of fiction come alive and standing in our midst, she would undoubtedly bid us break her and bully her, as well as honour and love her, for so her youth is renewed and her sovereignty assured.”
“Life is not a series of gig lamps symmetrically arranged; life is a luminous halo, a semi-transparent envelope surrounding us from the beginning of consciousness to the end. Is it not the task of the novelist to convey this varying, this unknown and uncircumscribed spirit, whatever aberration or complexity it may display, with as little mixture of the alien and external as possible? We are not pleading merely for courage and sincerity; we are suggesting that the proper stuff of fiction is a little other than custom would have us believe it.”
"The proper stuff of fiction" does not exist; everything is the proper stuff of fiction, every feeling, every thought; every quality of brain and spirit is drawn upon; no perception comes amiss. And if we can imagine the art of fiction come alive and standing in our midst, she would undoubtedly bid us break her and bully her, as well as honour and love her, for so her youth is renewed and her sovereignty assured.”
“Life is not a series of gig lamps symmetrically arranged; life is a luminous halo, a semi-transparent envelope surrounding us from the beginning of consciousness to the end. Is it not the task of the novelist to convey this varying, this unknown and uncircumscribed spirit, whatever aberration or complexity it may display, with as little mixture of the alien and external as possible? We are not pleading merely for courage and sincerity; we are suggesting that the proper stuff of fiction is a little other than custom would have us believe it.”
February 23, 2025
és un dels textos que més m'han agradat de la virginia woolf. un assaig que parla de com s'ha de fer literatura i fa referència als clàssics i als seus contemporanis, com el joyce.
February 23, 2022
(read for my british lit module) 3’75 ⭐️
May 2, 2024
Yo tmb haría un essay sobre como Joyce es el único modernista que vale la pena
December 14, 2020
Beautifully written. Woolf wants to emphasize the lacking qualities in the ‘modern fiction’ of the early 20th century. She discusses how they do not capture an ‘ordinary mind’ of an ‘ordinary day’. Rather, they narrow their narratives upon this ostentatious and luxurious lifestyle that never even ruffles the question, ‘How am I suppose to live?’ She chastises Arnold Bennet, along with Galsworthy and Wells. She calls those three ‘materialist’ for reasons already mentioned. She does, however, praise James Joyce for his writings touching upon the spirit. Lastly, she discusses the Russians authors great ability to, “... discern the features of a saint, if sympathy for the sufferings of others, love towards them, endeavour to reach some goal worthy of the most exacting demands of the spirit constitute saintliness.” Really a great critique.
November 27, 2019
Woolf's Modern Fiction can be regarded as one of the most important essays on Modern literature. In Modern Fiction, Woolf attempts to explain what is really needed to create modern literature, and why the old way of writing (belonging to "Edwardian" authors) is outdated. She criticises H.G. Wells, Arnold Bennett, and John Galsworthy for writing about "unimportant things", while praising authors such as James Joyce and Thomas Hardy.
At the same time, the importance of writing about life, and writing on your own interests in your own way (that is, not following a particular method) is stressed. We have advanced in terms of techniques and technology - so it is time to make progress, is basically her message to contemporary and future writers.
At the same time, the importance of writing about life, and writing on your own interests in your own way (that is, not following a particular method) is stressed. We have advanced in terms of techniques and technology - so it is time to make progress, is basically her message to contemporary and future writers.
October 13, 2020
Very good short essay to understand and appreciate Modernism. While it is one of my least favourite genres in English Literature, Woolf's essay makes me want to read Joyce's Ulysses and actually think of it as something enjoyable instead of a punishment.
March 24, 2021
For a program-type essay, I feel like it gave across pretty well the aims of the modernists. And as a bonus (or maybe as expected from Woolf), it was also pretty poetic and pleasant to get through.
February 2, 2025
I needed an English professor to explain this to me. The 34 page edition I read was “The Art of Fiction” and “Modern Fiction” in one, the biographical note at the end was the most engaging part (unfortunately).
November 19, 2024
Based. Let the atoms fall, motherfucker. I'm no slave to the weight of tradition on the pen.
January 29, 2025
read for english lit: women and modernism
she writes about english fiction in a way that you can only want to read many many more fiction books immediately after you finish reading this essay
she writes about english fiction in a way that you can only want to read many many more fiction books immediately after you finish reading this essay
October 20, 2020
With this essay Virginia Woolf enlightens the path towards a better understanding of English fiction. I specially liked the way she depicts the art of fiction as a SHE that is ready to be broken and bullied but also to be honoured and loved.
February 24, 2024
Til bachelor.
"is it the method that inhibits the creative power"
"...if a writer could write what he chose, not what he must, if he could base his work upon his own feeling and not upon convention, there would be no plot, no comedy, no tragedy, no love interest or catastrophe in the accepted style..."
"is it the method that inhibits the creative power"
"...if a writer could write what he chose, not what he must, if he could base his work upon his own feeling and not upon convention, there would be no plot, no comedy, no tragedy, no love interest or catastrophe in the accepted style..."
November 7, 2016
I gave this essay two stars not because it was a bad thing to read but because it's - mostly- an informative essay and it was, well, ok.
I read this to write another essay for my english literature class and I have yet to read "The Dead" by James Joyce.
Still I'm looking forward to read more Virginia Woolf.
I read this to write another essay for my english literature class and I have yet to read "The Dead" by James Joyce.
Still I'm looking forward to read more Virginia Woolf.
November 4, 2021
In ‘Modern Fiction’ (1919), Virginia Woolf takes issue with those Edwardian novelists writing in the early years of the twentieth century who, in a way, might be seen as relics of the nineteenth-century realism outlined above: her three targets, Arnold Bennett, John Galsworthy, and H. G. Wells, are all labeled ‘materialists’ because of their preoccupation with predictable and plausible plots and their interest in describing the exterior details – the clothes a character wears, the furniture in a room – when what Woolf, as a reader, really wants to know is what is going on the heads of their characters, she more focused on the interior of a character. Woolf wanted writers to focus on the awkwardness of life and craved originality in their work. Woolf's overall hope was to inspire modern fiction writers to write what interested them, wherever it may lead .
But we never get this from Arnold Bennett and his ‘materialist’ peers. In the essay she labels these Edwardian writers as materialistic, she says: “If we tried to formulate our meaning in one word we should say that these writers are materialistic.”
Writers need to turn away from the material and instead embrace what she calls the ‘spiritual’ in order to make fiction new and relevant. Woolf mentions a short story by the Russian writer Anton Chekhov (1860-1904), ‘Gusev’, in which nothing much happens: the story is based on mood and character rather than action or plot. Such a story points a way forward for Woolf and other writers, whom she labels ‘Georgian’ – i.e. more ‘modern’ and progressive than the materialist Edwardians.
In short, we can say that Virginia Woolf is demanding the writers to acknowledge that the thoughts and ideas of individuals are more important than the thoughts and desires of the society. And that there should not be this idea that writers are different from normal people, they too have the same feelings so they should attempt to describe the feeling of their fictional characters since they are supposedly real in a literary sort of way.
But we never get this from Arnold Bennett and his ‘materialist’ peers. In the essay she labels these Edwardian writers as materialistic, she says: “If we tried to formulate our meaning in one word we should say that these writers are materialistic.”
Writers need to turn away from the material and instead embrace what she calls the ‘spiritual’ in order to make fiction new and relevant. Woolf mentions a short story by the Russian writer Anton Chekhov (1860-1904), ‘Gusev’, in which nothing much happens: the story is based on mood and character rather than action or plot. Such a story points a way forward for Woolf and other writers, whom she labels ‘Georgian’ – i.e. more ‘modern’ and progressive than the materialist Edwardians.
In short, we can say that Virginia Woolf is demanding the writers to acknowledge that the thoughts and ideas of individuals are more important than the thoughts and desires of the society. And that there should not be this idea that writers are different from normal people, they too have the same feelings so they should attempt to describe the feeling of their fictional characters since they are supposedly real in a literary sort of way.
January 10, 2022
i don’t think i will **ever** be able to articulate the feeling i get reading woolf talk about the mind. just wow, 4 stars purely for the quote:
“The mind receives a myriad of impressions: from all sides they come, an incessant shower of innumerable atoms, and as they fall, they shape themselves into the life of Monday or Tuesday […] Let us record the atoms as they fall upon the mind in the order in which they fall, let us trace the pattern, however disconnected and incoherent in appearance, which each aight or incident scores upon the consciousness.”
“The mind receives a myriad of impressions: from all sides they come, an incessant shower of innumerable atoms, and as they fall, they shape themselves into the life of Monday or Tuesday […] Let us record the atoms as they fall upon the mind in the order in which they fall, let us trace the pattern, however disconnected and incoherent in appearance, which each aight or incident scores upon the consciousness.”
February 12, 2023
m'ha agradat prou, és molt fàcil de llegir!
m'ha semblat que va molt lligat a l'assaig de "how should one read a book?"
em quedo amb la reflexió que no hi ha una forma correcta d'escriure sinó que ha de seguir la mateixa forma que la ment. tot el que la forma i ens envolta és material prou bo sobre el qual escriure, la literatura ha de reflectir el que l'autor vulgui expressar sense imposicions.
tmb em sembla xulo que digui de deixar enrere el materialisme i començar a escriure des de l'espiritualisme com fa el james joyce.
m'ha semblat que va molt lligat a l'assaig de "how should one read a book?"
em quedo amb la reflexió que no hi ha una forma correcta d'escriure sinó que ha de seguir la mateixa forma que la ment. tot el que la forma i ens envolta és material prou bo sobre el qual escriure, la literatura ha de reflectir el que l'autor vulgui expressar sense imposicions.
tmb em sembla xulo que digui de deixar enrere el materialisme i començar a escriure des de l'espiritualisme com fa el james joyce.
September 15, 2022
"(When it comes to art) No method, no experiment is forbidden. The proper stuff of fiction does not exist; everything is the proper stuff of fiction, every feeling, every thought; every quality of brain and spirit is drawn upon. And if we can imagine the art of fiction come alive and standing in our midst, she would undoubtedly bid ud break her and bully her, as well as honour her and love her."
Virginia Woolf haciendo llorar a los artistas desde el siglo XIX
Virginia Woolf haciendo llorar a los artistas desde el siglo XIX
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December 5, 2023I am considering this essay anti-Dickens sentiment (anti-omniscient narrator with a moral compass, not really into chronologically ordered novels or highly detailed physical descriptions) which I approve of. But then again, it is technically pro-Conrad, and reading Heart of Darkness was a pain. So I am conflicted. It also took me a while to understand what she meant by modern fiction, and "spiritual".
May 12, 2024
First to note that VW wrote this at an interesting time with Ulysses freshly out and Chekhov relatively recently dead. Of course, the course of fiction is more complicated than as VW suggests, and her conclusion seems rushed to these modern eyes.
But sure she is right. Authors should write what interests them, not what they feel they must to satisfy some material demands.
And we could spend all day arguing what "unimportant things" are.
But sure she is right. Authors should write what interests them, not what they feel they must to satisfy some material demands.
And we could spend all day arguing what "unimportant things" are.
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May 26, 2024I may have a hot take, and makes me question whether ai’m standing in the right place in the world. Can you study eng lit without being completely in love with virginia woolf? Also with such an important essay. I didn’t enjoy it. Some part of me even felt frustrated while reading it. Please don’t take my word for it but this is definitely giving me a bit of an existential crisis.
February 23, 2021
I think I will forever be fascinated about what this woman writes, at what time she wrote it and with the talent she develops everything, every single point is completely understandable and easy to comprehend.
August 25, 2019
There are some good remarks in this essay, but she ends up drawing red lines and making rules for something that she proposes should be limited by no bounds.
September 13, 2022
Hasta ahora no hay un solo ensayo de Woolf que no me deje recalculando por un rato largo, la claridad con la que escribe y lo que escribe es hermosa
September 19, 2022
I think I like it more for what it says about what Literature could be than for what it says about what it shouldn't be.
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September 21, 2022An essay almost made me cry. I wonder what's next.
January 9, 2023
Virginia ate with this fr.
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February 27, 2023
“Life is a luminous halo, a semi-transparent envelope surrounding us from the beginning of consciousness to the end”.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews