The Mrs Dalloway Reader
by Virginia Woolf, Francine Prose (Editor)
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This first volume of its kind contains the complete text of and guide to Virginia Woolf's masterpiece, plus Mrs. Dalloway's Party and numerous journal entries and letters by Virginia Woolf relating to the book's genesis and writing. The distinguished novelist Francine Prose has selected these pieces as well as essays and appreciations, critical views, and commentary by writers famous and unknown. Now with additional scholarly commentary by Mark Hussey, professor of English at Pace show more University, this complete volume illuminates the creation of a celebrated story and the genius of its author. Includes essays and commentary from: Michael Cunningham E. M. Forster Margo Jefferson James Wood Mary Gordon Elaine Showalter Daniel Mendelsohn Sigrid Nunez Deborah Eisenberg Elissa Schappell show lessTags
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A pairing, that of Virginia Woolf--who elevated literature to new heights with her glimmeringly beautiful prose and acute renderings of human consciousness but whose life has become the stuff of myth and speculation--and Francine Prose, a novelist and scholar of the creative process and women's lives. Prose's incisive introduction is worth the price of admission to this well-conceived study of the evolution and impact of Woolf's revolutionary novel, Mrs. Dalloway. Prose neatly characterizes what exactly Woolf achieves in this masterpiece, invaluable commentary that paves the way for Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway's Party, the sequence of seven stories that seeded the novel, and relevant entries from Woolf's diaries. Prose wisely includes the show more short story "The Garden Party," by Katherine Mansfield, the only writer Woolf envied, and presents a set of suitably eloquent critical essays by the likes of Michael Cunningham, Margo Jefferson, Mary Gordon, James Woods, and Sigrid Nunez. And then there's the jewel in question, Mrs. Dalloway itself, which completes this reader. show less
In Mrs. Dalloway, Virginia Woolf captures a woman’s joys and frustrations in a single day by revealing her thought processes. Although some other character’s thoughts are captured as well, it was Clarissa Dalloway that I related to.
thoughts on first read
I believe Woolf is an acquired tasted, and she is meant to be read slowly, ponderously. She is meant to be reread. No, she’s not for everyone.
Thoughts on a reread
thoughts on first read
I believe Woolf is an acquired tasted, and she is meant to be read slowly, ponderously. She is meant to be reread. No, she’s not for everyone.
Thoughts on a reread
This was my first Virginia Woolf novel. It took me a while to get through it, but I'm glad I did. :)
This was my first Virginia Woolf novel. It took me a while to get through it, but I'm glad I did. :)
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652+ Works 119,070 Members
Virginia Woolf was born in London, England on January 25, 1882. She was the daughter of the prominent literary critic Leslie Stephen. Her early education was obtained at home through her parents and governesses. After death of her father in 1904, her family moved to Bloomsbury, where they formed the nucleus of the Bloomsbury Group, a circle of show more philosophers, writers, and artists. During her lifetime, she wrote both fiction and non-fiction works. Her novels included Jacob's Room, Mrs. Dalloway, To the Lighthouse, Orlando, and Between the Acts. Her non-fiction books included The Common Reader, A Room of One's Own, Three Guineas, The Captain's Death Bed and Other Essays, and The Death of the Moth and Other Essays. Having had periods of depression throughout her life and fearing a final mental breakdown from which she might not recover, Woolf drowned herself on March 28, 1941 at the age of 59. Her husband published part of her farewell letter to deny that she had taken her life because she could not face the terrible times of war. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Francine Prose was born on April 1, 1947. She graduated from Radcliffe College in 1968. She received the PEN Translation Prize in 1988 and received a Guggenheim fellowship in 1991. Francine Prose novel The Glorious Ones, has been adapted into a musical with the same title by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty. It ran at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater show more at Lincoln Center in New York City in the fall of 2007. Prose has served as president of PEN American Center, a New York City based literary society of writers, editors, and translators that works to advance literature in 2007 and 2008. Prose novel, Blue Angel, a satire about sexual harassment on college campuses, was a finalist for the National Book Award. One of her novels, Household Saints, was adapted for a movie by Nancy Savoca. In 2014 her title Lovers at the Chameleon Club - Paris 1932, made The New York Times Best Seller List. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Work Relationships
Reference guide/companion to
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Mrs Dalloway Reader
- Original publication date
- 2003
- People/Characters
- Clarissa Dalloway
- Related movies
- Mrs Dalloway (1997 | IMDb)
- Original language
- English
- Disambiguation notice
- This contains the complete text of the novel Mrs Dalloway and other related writings by Virginia Woolf together with essays/commentaries.
Not to be combined with all the other editions of Mrs Dalloway.
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- Reviews
- 4
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- (4.27)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 2
- ASINs
- 1
