Born in 1882, Adeline Virginia Woolf was a British modernist author. She is considered one of the most desirable and finest writers of the 20th century.
She was the first author to use the stream of consciousness as a narrative device. Her father encouraged her to write, and she started writing professionally in the year 1900. She got married to Leonard Woolf, and in 1917, with her partner, they launched Hogarth Press. Most of her work got published in this press only. So, without further ado, here is a list of the best books by Virginia Woolf.
A Room of One’s Own
Written in 1989, this book is noble like no other. The author says that Shakespeare had a sister who had no less talent than Shakespeare himself in this book. But her legacy is completely different. This woman never wrote a word and died on her own hand. Through this novel, The author wanted to spread the message that she did not have the resources to reach the same height as her immortal sibling. She spreads the message that women must be financially independent and have a room of their own to achieve the freedom to create.
Orlando: A Biography
“Come, come! I’m sick to death of this particular self. I want another.”
This novel is about the story of a man who is a passionate 16-year-old guy. His life was filled with the colorful delights of Queen Elizabeth’s court. His journey is also an internal one where he is forced to look inward. He used to be an impulsive poet but learned to be patient and calm. It is a very unusual creation of Virginia Woolf.
Mrs Dalloway
“Mrs. Dalloway was the first novel to split the atom. … It is one of the most moving, revolutionary artworks of the twentieth century.” (Michael Cunningham, author of The Hours.)
This novel is considered to be a revolutionary artwork of the 20th century. Virginia is one of the finest innovators of the century. Search novels made it evident how one can experiment with writing and give a new shape to literature. This novel describes a day in 1923 in the life of an upper-class lady. The author tells the ladies’ memories, regrets, and fears in securities past, present, and future. The novel travels backward and forward through time, making it a gripping story.
Moments of Being
Published in 1985, it is a very moving book and one of the best books Virginia has ever written about her life. It is a collection of 5 pieces. All these five pieces belong to different periods. Her work reveals an impeccable unity of her art, thought, and sensibility. One of the pieces indicates her childhood, 1 indicates her relationship with her father, and one is about her memoir club. The rest you have to figure out by reading it. It is a classic novel by her.
The Waves
“I am made and remade continually. Different people draw different words from me.”
It is a poetic book. It is a story about six children, three boys, and three girls, who were playing in a garden by the sea. They experience a lot of things throughout their life like friendship, love, and the loss of a loved one. Instead of showing what they felt external, the author tried to bring their internal feelings to light. This is a must-read book for everyone.
The Common Reader
The book is about a boy who is a book nerd. He is currently reading a book by Virginia Woolf. He believes that the author is different from a critic. He is a casual reader who reads just for pleasure and with no specific objective. This guy had the desire to create a theory of the art of writing and a sketch of a man. It is under this title that the author wrote a collection of essays.
A Writer’s Diary
This book is a guide to the art and mind of the author. She kept a personal record of things for over a period of 27 years. This is a piece of her personal writing which can also be referred to as writing exercises or simply how one writes a diary. It includes the record of events and people and also some scenes which are relevant to the raw material of work. It also includes the comments and her views about different books she read.
Virginia Woolf: Inspiring Quotes from an Original Feminist Icon
It is a collection of most inspirational quotes by Virginia Woolf. It consists of over a hundred quotes on love, literature, feminism, food, work, aging, authenticity, which are carefully chosen from the author’s timeless novels, essays, and speeches. It is a small format gift book.
Between the Acts
“Love. Hate. Peace. Three emotions made the ply of human life.”
Written in co-authorship with Frank Kermode, the story takes place at points hall on a June day in 1939. The family’s country house is situated in the heart of England. Everyone from the village has gathered in their garden for the annual pageant. And there is a play going on based on England’s history. As the history of England unwraps, it saves the life of the villagers gathered there. It brings in a narrative of inventions, affection, and lyricism.
To the Lighthouse
This novel dates back to 1927. It is about the family and their visits to the Isle of Skye in Scotland. Their visits mostly took place between the years 1910 to 1920. The modern library named this book among the top hundred best English novels of the 20th century listed on number 15. Also, Time Magazine considered this book as one of the best-selling English language novels in 2005. It is definitely a worth reading.
I hope you find our recommendations helpful and worth your time. Please do share it with your reader friends. We will come up with more such recommendations. Till then, stay tuned. Happy Reading.
