John Lehmann (1907–1987)

I read this book in one evening in Hay-On-Wye surrounded by 30 other book purchases - bliss. John Lehmann, the author, of this illustrated biography used to work for the Woolfs at their Hogarth Press so in many cases was speaking first hand on the facts he presented. This is an excellent introduction into the life and work of Virginia Woolf and her family and circle of Bloomsbury friends and associates and a great starting point for further reading. I have already read A Room of One's Own show more some time ago and was completely in awe - it was a ground-breaking oent for me in fact in my love of reading. I have also read other essays too which are so beautifully observed and erudite yet witty and accessible. Having read this I am less intimidated by Woolf's novels and can make an informed decision on what to choose to read first. This biography really allows the reader to appreciate Woolf's remarkable achievements in literature. Home-schooled ( being female ) and dogged with mental illness her prolific and unique output is remarkable. It is clear that Woolf is Bloomsbury and that all the others amongst her set - Strachey, Grant, Fry et al really are just a supporting cast. The illustrations including many photographs really add to the substance of this work which I felt was both sensitive, respectful and true to Woolf's work and memory. show less

In this, a delightful picaresque account of the search for pleasure in the Europe of the 1920s, the author provides a gay sexual memoir that evokes the character of that time. The search for an ideal provides a wealth of interesting information about the social milieu that was alive for men searching for a certain life in the world of pre-war homosexual haunts.

An excellent first introduction to the life of Virginia Woolf. Lehmann is highly qualified for the job as he worked for years at the Hogarth Press, the publishing House founded by Leonard and Virginia Woolf. Lehmann covers all the major events in Woolf's life and places her firmly in the context of the Bloomsbury group. Throughout the work Lehmann reveals himself as a keen enthusiast for both Woolf's fiction which he praises for its visionary nature and poetic language, and for her critical show more essays describing her as one of the greatest critics of her time. Occassionally, however, his biographical account is marred by a strong male bias. One example is his statement that in marriage Leonard Woolf had every right to expect that VW would respond to him sexually. Even more judgemental is his description of VW as sexually retarded. Here Lehmann clearly perceives sexuality as synonymous with intercourse, a view which VW herself considered as male-dominated. In her opinion female sexuality centered on intimacy which in its turn could take myriad forms (perhaps as many forms as there are people). Some of Lehmann's interpretations of VW's work also suffer from this male bias, most importantly his interpretation of the lighthouse in what is perhaps one of Woolf's most famous novels (To the Lighthouse). According to Lehmann, the lighthouse is 'phallic and a lonely image of male destiny ...; caressing and bringing ecstatic inner fulfilment to Mrs Ramsay (p. 59).' This reductionist interpretation is expressly contradicted by VW herself who explicitly states 'I meant nothing by the lighthouse. I can't manage symbolism except in this vague, generalised way ... directly I'm told what a thing means, it becomes hateful to me (p. 60).' Apart from these flaws, the book is as informative as one can expect of an introductory biography. Moreover, Lehmann's clear and accessible language make it a pleasure to read, a pleasure which is further enhanced by the great number of photographs and picture which sometimes give the book the appearance of a family album. show less

Is a loosely fictionalized memoir of John Lemann and his life during the early half of the 20th century. He's English born but spends much time in Austria pre-WWII. With a few close friends he finds the in place for boys "on the game," what Americans would call hustling. This book at a glance seems to be a catalog of his gay romances during this time. That being said each chapter details his affair and it's end with each of the boys and one woman. Very interesting novel as it's a time show more capsule of that time which we don't see often especially written in a first person way such as this novel. It reminded me frequently of Cabaret with him describing the various bars and such. show less