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Virginia Woolf: Illustrated Anthologies
Virginia Woolf (1882-1941), the central figure among the authors & painters known as the Bloomsbury Group, is numbered among the most original writers of the 20th century. Her work as both critic & novelist was exceptional & important. This elegant anthology was compiled by Jane Dunn, author of A Very Close Conspiracy (on the relationship of Woolf & her sister, the artist Vanessa Bell). It contains extracts from Woolfs novels & other works, her letters & diaries, as well as descriptive accounts & criticism by those associated with her. These are illustrated throughout, mostly in color, by a superb array of paintings & photographs.
- GenresNonfictionBiography
56 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1995
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About the author
Virginia Woolf
1,996 books29.3k 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 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 2, 2022
Small masterpiece introducing the life and work of Virginia Woolf.
Comprising short extracts from her works - among them Mrs Dalloway, Orlando, A Room of One’s Own and To The Lighthouse, together with diary entries and correspondence between Woolf and her sister Vanessa Bell and with Vita Sackville West. Woolf was close to both. The Bloomsbury Group features prominently, as it should, being a supportive as well as a creative group, prone to intermingling.
Overall an excellent introduction to Woolf and her work, life and friends. I’m not sure the extracts do her complete justice. I suspect the novels need to be read complete to be fully appreciated. But really worthwhile nevertheless.
Appropriately, many of the illustrations, carefully selected, come from key Bloomsbury figures Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant. The most poignant painting however, comes from a non–Bloomsbury artist, Percy Shakespeare; an idyllic pastoral scene of exaggerated rolling hills with a blonde Land Army woman refueling a tractor in a field. It’s very specific, yet timeless, but the Crescent Books edition covers a portion of the painting with a block of text. It’s worth seeking out the full painting which is called, poetically ‘December in the Downs’.
Percy Shakespeare is a painter unknown to me and his story is a sad one although sad differently to Woolf’s own. A portrait and landscape painter, who also specialized in depictions of outdoor leisure activities, this work was painted in 1942, just a year after Woolf took her own life. Shakespeare was killed in 1943. He was walking in Brighton when a Heinkel dumped it’s remaining bombs after a London bombing raid. He was 37.
Comprising short extracts from her works - among them Mrs Dalloway, Orlando, A Room of One’s Own and To The Lighthouse, together with diary entries and correspondence between Woolf and her sister Vanessa Bell and with Vita Sackville West. Woolf was close to both. The Bloomsbury Group features prominently, as it should, being a supportive as well as a creative group, prone to intermingling.
Overall an excellent introduction to Woolf and her work, life and friends. I’m not sure the extracts do her complete justice. I suspect the novels need to be read complete to be fully appreciated. But really worthwhile nevertheless.
Appropriately, many of the illustrations, carefully selected, come from key Bloomsbury figures Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant. The most poignant painting however, comes from a non–Bloomsbury artist, Percy Shakespeare; an idyllic pastoral scene of exaggerated rolling hills with a blonde Land Army woman refueling a tractor in a field. It’s very specific, yet timeless, but the Crescent Books edition covers a portion of the painting with a block of text. It’s worth seeking out the full painting which is called, poetically ‘December in the Downs’.
Percy Shakespeare is a painter unknown to me and his story is a sad one although sad differently to Woolf’s own. A portrait and landscape painter, who also specialized in depictions of outdoor leisure activities, this work was painted in 1942, just a year after Woolf took her own life. Shakespeare was killed in 1943. He was walking in Brighton when a Heinkel dumped it’s remaining bombs after a London bombing raid. He was 37.
October 15, 2019
This has been sitting on my shelf for a while and I finally picked it up and I’m so glad I did! This book was my first introduction to Virginia Woolf’s writing (I knew the name but little else) and I definitely feel inspired to check out some more!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews