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The Virginia Woolf Collection
Length: 30 hrs and 13 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 2021-03-02
Language: English
Four books...one groundbreaking author.
Mrs Dalloway (1925)
One day; two lives. Mrs Dalloway prepares for a party, whilst a First World War veteran treads the same streets. Follow 24 hours in the lives of two extraordinary people, each of them recovering from the First World War. A hostess and a soldier come together...in the most unexpected of ways. Kristin Scott Thomas performs.
To the Lighthouse (1927)
A family’s summer holidays see them return to the Isle of Skye over days and years, sailing boats and enduring wars. As we follow the slow unfolding of the Ramsays' fortunes, both children and adults grow, love, lose. Listed as one of the best novels of the 20th century. Jessie Buckley performs.
A Room of One’s Own (1929)
Based on a series of lectures to women’s colleges, this collection of essays first published in 1929 explores a female’s need to have space to create, exist...survive. A must-listen for anyone exploring the roots of feminism - or simply what it is to be a woman. A provocative and pervasive listen that remains relevant to listeners of any age. Tilda Swinton performs.
The Waves (1931)
A dreamscape novel that follows six characters united by a single friend. Set against a stunning English coastal landscape, the novel dares to be one of Woolf’s most inventive narratives as it explores the journey from childhood to adulthood and beyond that - death, and all that we may learn. Vanessa Kirby, Adetomiwa Edun, Andrea Riseborough, Tracy Ifeachor, Samuel Barnett, Johnny Flynn and Juliet Stevenson perform.
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 2021-03-02
Language: English
Four books...one groundbreaking author.
Mrs Dalloway (1925)
One day; two lives. Mrs Dalloway prepares for a party, whilst a First World War veteran treads the same streets. Follow 24 hours in the lives of two extraordinary people, each of them recovering from the First World War. A hostess and a soldier come together...in the most unexpected of ways. Kristin Scott Thomas performs.
To the Lighthouse (1927)
A family’s summer holidays see them return to the Isle of Skye over days and years, sailing boats and enduring wars. As we follow the slow unfolding of the Ramsays' fortunes, both children and adults grow, love, lose. Listed as one of the best novels of the 20th century. Jessie Buckley performs.
A Room of One’s Own (1929)
Based on a series of lectures to women’s colleges, this collection of essays first published in 1929 explores a female’s need to have space to create, exist...survive. A must-listen for anyone exploring the roots of feminism - or simply what it is to be a woman. A provocative and pervasive listen that remains relevant to listeners of any age. Tilda Swinton performs.
The Waves (1931)
A dreamscape novel that follows six characters united by a single friend. Set against a stunning English coastal landscape, the novel dares to be one of Woolf’s most inventive narratives as it explores the journey from childhood to adulthood and beyond that - death, and all that we may learn. Vanessa Kirby, Adetomiwa Edun, Andrea Riseborough, Tracy Ifeachor, Samuel Barnett, Johnny Flynn and Juliet Stevenson perform.
1000 pages, Audible Audio
Published March 2, 2021
14 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
Virginia Woolf
1,851 books28.9k 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 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 2, 2021
The narration in each of these books is absolutely perfect. I skipped Mrs Dalloway, as I’d already read that, but am sure to return to it at some point, as I’d love to see what it’s like via narration. I listened just enough to know that it’s got a wonderful performance.
To the Lighthouse 5 stars
An easy 5 stars too. I read that the prose are quite dense on page? Well try it narrated, because it absolutely flew when read aloud. Jessie Buckley did a phenomenal job. I had my covid shot and was feeling sick, so just lay in bed listening, doing nothing else whatsoever, and consumed it whole in one sitting.
A Room of One’s Own: 4 stars
I liked this quite a bit but it is, literally, listening to an essay, so while it’s got Woolf’s prose and an engaging subject, it’s not as meaningful to me as others. This was more like 3.5 rounded up, for me. Especially because it followed To the Lighthouse, which completely took me by surprise.
The Waves 5 Stars
Another easy 5 stars, cementing Woolf as a favourite of mine. I suspect just through prose work alone I could read anything by her, and plan to consume more of her work. Structurally engaging, fantastic character work, meaningful, poignant. I can’t say enough good things about this. It has To the Lighthouse beat, probably. But mostly because of the interesting concept and structure and genre bending weirdness that works.
To the Lighthouse 5 stars
An easy 5 stars too. I read that the prose are quite dense on page? Well try it narrated, because it absolutely flew when read aloud. Jessie Buckley did a phenomenal job. I had my covid shot and was feeling sick, so just lay in bed listening, doing nothing else whatsoever, and consumed it whole in one sitting.
A Room of One’s Own: 4 stars
I liked this quite a bit but it is, literally, listening to an essay, so while it’s got Woolf’s prose and an engaging subject, it’s not as meaningful to me as others. This was more like 3.5 rounded up, for me. Especially because it followed To the Lighthouse, which completely took me by surprise.
The Waves 5 Stars
Another easy 5 stars, cementing Woolf as a favourite of mine. I suspect just through prose work alone I could read anything by her, and plan to consume more of her work. Structurally engaging, fantastic character work, meaningful, poignant. I can’t say enough good things about this. It has To the Lighthouse beat, probably. But mostly because of the interesting concept and structure and genre bending weirdness that works.
September 24, 2024
Mrs Dalloway - I enjoyed this tale of relatable people living in central London with their servants. The title was deceptive since it is a dizzying head-hop around the viewpoint of multiple characters. This was done with great skill, though they had the similarity that they all tended to have interesting things to say about the world. Her description of a descent into psychosis was particularly interesting. This narration of multiple perspectives on a single day has been compared to Ulysses, which Woolf was sniffy about, and it's interesting to compare the two novels. There's something to admire in Woolf's restraint and ability to get out of her characters' way, whereas Joyce's avant-garde maximalism can have Joyce cast a shadow over his story. It's like a whisper compared to a shout.
To The Lighthouse - I struggled to get into this one and never quite succeeded or cared much about the characters. It's a similar style to Mrs Dalloway but I enjoyed it less - I'm not sure if it was harder to follow or not. I noticed how heavy it is on introspection and thinking. Some of Woolf's characters are way too in their heads and it boggles my mind to think of Woolf thinking all their different thoughts for them. The macro-structure of the three parts was interesting. Woolf was up to something with the short and long chapters too, but I couldn't see the scheme there.
A Room of One's Own - this is a famous polemic but its hella waffly. This is a great book if you just want to hang out with Woolf for a few hours, as she talks in great detail about what she had at a luncheon party in an Oxbridge college and so on; sometimes it felt more like a Twitch stream than an essay - but the second half got a lot more interesting perhaps as she went more into literary criticism. All the gender essentialism was pretty galling but I think it was allowed in 1929.
The Waves - this is proper modernist High Art. A series of monologues in an unrealistic, abstract style. I had a journey with this. The first half I respected but didn't warm to. The beginning is probably the hardest bit since it seems to be narrating the perceptions of infants. About half-way through something happens, and the emotional impact of that helped engage me. A bit later, I started to notice I was really enjoying it, and then I found the final chapter magnificent (and particularly interesting in terms of form, compared with the other chapters). The Audible production had different actors for each character, which was really well done and probably made this a lot easier than reading off the page.
To The Lighthouse - I struggled to get into this one and never quite succeeded or cared much about the characters. It's a similar style to Mrs Dalloway but I enjoyed it less - I'm not sure if it was harder to follow or not. I noticed how heavy it is on introspection and thinking. Some of Woolf's characters are way too in their heads and it boggles my mind to think of Woolf thinking all their different thoughts for them. The macro-structure of the three parts was interesting. Woolf was up to something with the short and long chapters too, but I couldn't see the scheme there.
A Room of One's Own - this is a famous polemic but its hella waffly. This is a great book if you just want to hang out with Woolf for a few hours, as she talks in great detail about what she had at a luncheon party in an Oxbridge college and so on; sometimes it felt more like a Twitch stream than an essay - but the second half got a lot more interesting perhaps as she went more into literary criticism. All the gender essentialism was pretty galling but I think it was allowed in 1929.
The Waves - this is proper modernist High Art. A series of monologues in an unrealistic, abstract style. I had a journey with this. The first half I respected but didn't warm to. The beginning is probably the hardest bit since it seems to be narrating the perceptions of infants. About half-way through something happens, and the emotional impact of that helped engage me. A bit later, I started to notice I was really enjoying it, and then I found the final chapter magnificent (and particularly interesting in terms of form, compared with the other chapters). The Audible production had different actors for each character, which was really well done and probably made this a lot easier than reading off the page.
October 1, 2021
I went on to "read" A Room Of One's Own after finishing To The Lighthouse. I have read the paperback version previously and found it enlightening. And now, Tilda Swinton's narration of the book. It is simply marvellous. Somehow, her reading adds depth to VW's observations in her essay/book, especially the part about that (fictional) book at the end of the bookshelf in the British Library. I want to read Orlando next but it is not included in this collection, so it's back to paperback then.
April 9, 2023
I should not have read this - I am not a prose driven reader, much more a plot one, and so Virginia was never going to be an author for me. But at least I know this for sure now.
September 30, 2025
Four pieces, Mrs Dalloway, To the Lighthouse, A Room of One's Own, and The Waves. Thoroughly enjoyed the two rereads, bit the unfamiliar pieces needed a print version as well.
shelved
January 8, 2026Shelved at the end of Ch11. Lovely writing, but just too uninteresting for me at the moment.
October 18, 2023
Whoo boy, that was a lot.
4 books by Virginia Woolf back to back was demanding mentally, yet rewarding in the end. Woolf doesn't serve a plot on a plate to be tasted, she doesn't allow you to develop feelings on your own. No, she dictates, she tells you what to feel, and if you give her the attention required, by the time you're done you'll be grateful for it.
Mrs Dalloway 5/5
Kristin Scott Thomas does a marvelous job of narrating this masterpiece, I can't say anything here that hasn't been said before.
To the Lighthouse 4,5/5
A little harder to follow, but no less satisfying
A Room of One's Own 5/5
I can't imagine anyone else but Tilda Swinton narrating this one. Even though addressed towards a female audience, and me being a male listener, I got the urge to start writing too, under a female pen name.
The Waves 3/5
This was the hardest one to finish. Maybe because I should have taken a break after the previous three, or because of its experimental style, while the narration was top notch, sometimes I blanked out and had to rewind to catch up.
4 books by Virginia Woolf back to back was demanding mentally, yet rewarding in the end. Woolf doesn't serve a plot on a plate to be tasted, she doesn't allow you to develop feelings on your own. No, she dictates, she tells you what to feel, and if you give her the attention required, by the time you're done you'll be grateful for it.
Mrs Dalloway 5/5
Kristin Scott Thomas does a marvelous job of narrating this masterpiece, I can't say anything here that hasn't been said before.
To the Lighthouse 4,5/5
A little harder to follow, but no less satisfying
A Room of One's Own 5/5
I can't imagine anyone else but Tilda Swinton narrating this one. Even though addressed towards a female audience, and me being a male listener, I got the urge to start writing too, under a female pen name.
The Waves 3/5
This was the hardest one to finish. Maybe because I should have taken a break after the previous three, or because of its experimental style, while the narration was top notch, sometimes I blanked out and had to rewind to catch up.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews