Virginia Woolf's second novel that deals with two female friends Katherine and Mary, one the grand-daughter of a great poet and the other devoted to the burgeoning Woman's Movement. Enjoyable but a bit stolid. ( )

This early novel from Virginia Woolf is superficially a romantic comedy in the classic "Austen" mode. However, Woolf broaches issues of her time such as the liberation of women and the philosophy of G. E. Moore. Moore, popular with the Bloomsbury crowd, was noted for his 'Principia Ethica' which turned the question of morality from what ought to be done to what is good. With the confusion of sexual revolution and class warfare mixed in with the traditional comedic use of misunderstandings this book, while complicated at times, is a delight. It is a real change of pace from the style that Woolf would turn to in her more mature and famous novels. ( )

Of Woolf's more 'realistic' books, this is my favourite. Some wonderful characters, based on real life people like Thackeray's daughter, and an interesting plot centring on Katharine Hilbery and the decisions she has to make about her life and loves. Takes in literary heritage, clasds issues and the dilemmas facing women. ( )