Orlando

Virginia Woolf

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Author Description

'i Feel The Need Of An Escapade After These Serious Poetic Experimental Books...i Want To Kick Up My Heels & Be Off.' Orlando Tells The Tale Of An Extraordinary Individual Who Lives Through Centuries Of English History, First As A Man, Then As A Woman; Of His/her Encounters With Queens, Kings, Novelists, Playwrights, And Poets, And Of His/her Struggle To Find Fame And Immortality Not Through Actions, But Through The Written Word. At Its Heart Are The Life And Works Of Woolf's Friend And Lover, Vita Sackville-west, And Knole, The Historic Home Of The Sackvilles. But As Well As Being A Love Letter To Vita, Orlando Mocks The Conventions Of Biography And History, Teases The Pretensions Of Contemporary Men Of Letters, And Wryly Examines Sexual Double Standards. This New Edition Discusses Woolf's Stylistic Aims, The Biographical Parallels, And The Work's Literary Context, And Includes The Original Illustrations. About The Series: For Over 100 Years Oxford World's Classics Has Made Available The Widest Range Of Literature From Around The Globe. Each Affordable Volume Reflects Oxford's Commitment To Scholarship, Providing The Most Accurate Text Plus A Wealth Of Other Valuable Features, Including Expert Introductions By Leading Authorities, Helpful Notes To Clarify The Text, Up-to-date Bibliographies For Further Study, And Much More.

Menrva's Summary

THE PULSE

The protagonist, Orlando, navigates centuries of English history while undergoing a spontaneous transformation from a man into a woman. Orlando seeks to reconcile personal identity with the rigid expectations of society across different eras. The narrative follows the character's pursuit of literary immortality and self-expression, often clashing with the shifting gender roles and social norms of the time. The prose employs a playful, omniscient perspective that mocks the traditional structure of historical biography.

INSIDE THE PAGES

Non-linear progression through several centuries of history
Gender fluidity as a central thematic device
Satirical commentary on the conventions of biography
Meta-fictional reflections on the act of writing
Stylized, lyrical prose reflecting modernist sensibilities
Inclusion of historical figures as fictionalized characters
Exploration of the relationship between private life and public legacy
Use of irony to critique sexual double standards

THE COLLECTIVE ECHO

Readers and critics frequently discuss the text as a playful subversion of the traditional biographical form. Discussion often centers on the fluidity of identity and how Woolf uses the protagonist's longevity to examine the evolution of social constraints. Many highlight the balance between the whimsical, imaginative narrative and the sharp, intellectual critique of literary pretension. The work is often cited for its innovative approach to time and gender, which continues to generate significant academic interest. Readers often note that the atmosphere remains light and witty despite the underlying serious inquiry into the nature of the self.

Page Count:
288

Publication Date:
2014-01-01

Publisher:
Oup Oxford

ISBN-10:
0191646091

ISBN-13:
9780191646096

Historical Fiction

Satire

Biographical fiction

Modernist

Nobility

LGBTQ

classic