Where to Start With Virginia Woolf
Virginia Woolf. NYPL Digital Collections, Image ID: 1946992
One of the best-known and most preeminent writers of the modernist movement in literature, Virginia Woolf has made a lasting impact on 20th century fiction and feminism. Woolf's lyrical, stream-of-consciousness style may seem confusing or intimidating at first—but once you get accustomed to Woolf's characteristic approach, you'll find yourself reading some of the loveliest, smartest prose around. If you're open to trying out Virginia Woolf's writing for the first time, here are some great books to start you off:
Mrs Dalloway, 1925
Our first suggestion is to start with Mrs Dalloway, Woolf's 1925 novel about a day in the life of high-society English woman Clarissa Dalloway. The novel is a perfect example of Woolf's style, jumping from present to past, and between the thoughts of various characters in Dalloway's life to create a rich portrait of its central character and the societal milieu of England after World War I.
A Room of One's Own, 1929
In a departure from her fiction, Woolf's essay A Room of One's Own is an exploration of the role of women in fiction, both as authors and as characters. The title, which has since become a well-known phrase, refers to the need for women to occupy their own space in the world of letters, arguing that women are poorly represented in literature because of the financial and political difficulties imposed on them by patriarchal society.
To the Lighthouse, 1927
One of Woolf's most beloved novels, To The Lighthouse is a fascinating work about the Ramsay family and their friends, who are on vacation in the Ramsays' summer house. Taking place almost entirely inside the minds of various members of the group, Woolf plays with perspective and perception to give the reader both a bird's eye view and a profound understanding of the personalities of the vacationers -- and of the place itself.
The Waves, 1931
The Waves is one of Woolf's most mysterious novels, presenting a nebulous and impressionistic series of monologues delivered by six central characters. Not quite prose and not quite poetry, The Waves doesn't give you any easy answers in terms of story or character. But the writing is gorgeous -- hypnotic, rhythmic, and entrancing -- and we guarantee that you'll find exquisite lines that resonate with you long after you put it down.
Orlando, 1928
You've made it this far with Virginia Woolf, so now it's time for what may be her most complicated novel: Orlando is a wild ride, telling the story of a genderfluid English poet who lives from Elizabethan times to the 20th century. Orlando is considered a highly influential work in feminist, queer, and transgender literature, and at the time of its publication was highly unique in its interrogation of gender roles and sexuality. It isn't always an easy read, but if you stick with it, you'll be rewarded with an epic and spectacular story.