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Virginia Woolf
The 1941 Rede Lecture.
- GenresNonfictionBiography
40 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1942
1 person is currently reading
104 people want to read
About the author
E.M. Forster
698 books4,284 followersEdward Morgan Forster, generally published as E.M. Forster, was an English novelist, essayist, and short story writer. He is known best for his ironic and well-plotted novels examining class difference and hypocrisy in early 20th-century British society. His humanistic impulse toward understanding and sympathy may be aptly summed up in the epigraph to his 1910 novel Howards End: "Only connect".
He had five novels published in his lifetime, achieving his greatest success with A Passage to India (1924) which takes as its subject the relationship between East and West, seen through the lens of India in the later days of the British Raj.
Forster's views as a secular humanist are at the heart of his work, which often depicts the pursuit of personal connections in spite of the restrictions of contemporary society. He is noted for his use of symbolism as a technique in his novels, and he has been criticised for his attachment to mysticism. His other works include Where Angels Fear to Tread (1905), The Longest Journey (1907), A Room with a View (1908) and Maurice (1971), his posthumously published novel which tells of the coming of age of an explicitly gay male character.
He had five novels published in his lifetime, achieving his greatest success with A Passage to India (1924) which takes as its subject the relationship between East and West, seen through the lens of India in the later days of the British Raj.
Forster's views as a secular humanist are at the heart of his work, which often depicts the pursuit of personal connections in spite of the restrictions of contemporary society. He is noted for his use of symbolism as a technique in his novels, and he has been criticised for his attachment to mysticism. His other works include Where Angels Fear to Tread (1905), The Longest Journey (1907), A Room with a View (1908) and Maurice (1971), his posthumously published novel which tells of the coming of age of an explicitly gay male character.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
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May 17, 2020Superb little lecture, very warm and cozy.
It does bring an air of freshness, to read a friendly text on V. Woolf.
Why?
Because this take on Woolf`s lifelong works is not from afar and it is not afraid to be inquisitive (but not intrusive), to regard the novels not as works that are not to be even glanced at by eyes that have not known the classics, but it comes, rather, as a light voice that beckons the approach of the curious.
It does bring an air of freshness, to read a friendly text on V. Woolf.
Why?
Because this take on Woolf`s lifelong works is not from afar and it is not afraid to be inquisitive (but not intrusive), to regard the novels not as works that are not to be even glanced at by eyes that have not known the classics, but it comes, rather, as a light voice that beckons the approach of the curious.
January 24, 2017
Everything I had ever read on Virginia Woolf often felt either vague or pretentious. Of course people love her work, but often they try to become her as they write. Or else they over quote or over analyse. They take away the beauty of her work and life through their flamboyancy. But Forster got everything just right. As was he able to catch her as she was, and not just in a good light because they were friends.
With a clear voice and structure, we are given explanation of the importance of writing with evidence from the text of Woolf. As he states, there will never be another one of her. So it is important that we remember, that we look back and continue to be inspired by her marvellous words and love of writing. That is what is going to keep carrying literature forward. So much was spoken of that as Bernard says, I cannot 'summarise'. Here there is discussion of writing, poetry, the novel form, authors, critics, food, good Bach, architecture, the durability of history and death. But above all, this small lecture is a biography which captures Virginia Woolf and her life as I would wish my own to be captured were I her. Through this I heard her speak almost as much in her own pieces. A fine little book indeed.
With a clear voice and structure, we are given explanation of the importance of writing with evidence from the text of Woolf. As he states, there will never be another one of her. So it is important that we remember, that we look back and continue to be inspired by her marvellous words and love of writing. That is what is going to keep carrying literature forward. So much was spoken of that as Bernard says, I cannot 'summarise'. Here there is discussion of writing, poetry, the novel form, authors, critics, food, good Bach, architecture, the durability of history and death. But above all, this small lecture is a biography which captures Virginia Woolf and her life as I would wish my own to be captured were I her. Through this I heard her speak almost as much in her own pieces. A fine little book indeed.
December 26, 2022
This is a small book, but quite interesting if you are a fan of Virginia Woolf and E.M. Forster (which I am). I found an American first edition at a used book store, and I was instantly fascinated. The book is actually a lecture Forster gave a couple of months after Woolf's death. The book is dedicated to her husband, Leonard Woolf.
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October 19, 2024Very nice little lecture
March 11, 2016
a lecture given by EM after Virginia Woolf's death
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews