A Boy at the Hogarth Press
by Richard Kennedy
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Description
A charming coming of age memoir, shedding light on the workings of Leonard and Virginia Woolf's illustrious Hogarth Press "I know I was expected to say something brilliant for the benefit of the group that had collected round us. The truth was that I had only really read Orlando, Mrs Dalloway and The Common Reader . . . I said I didn't think she created character as well as a writer like Turgenev. I could see this didn't go down at all well and felt rather like Peter denying show more Christ." After a rather unsuccessful education at Marlborough College, in 1926 16-year old Richard Kennedy was put firmly under the wing of Leonard Woolf as his new protégé at the Woolfs' printing press. Some 40 years later, and by then a professional illustrator, he wrote his recollections of his time with Virginia and Leonard Woolf in candid and often hilarious detail. He tells of the success that Virginia enjoyed, of their chaotic office with its collapsing shelves and of his own often hapless attempts to keep pace with the literary giants around him. Illustrated throughout with Kennedy's own sketches, this is a delightful work that offers a unique peep into the Bloomsbury set. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
I enjoyed this book very much. It gave an amusing view of the Woolfs and their circle. One example: Duncan Grant had a charming smile, and Clive Bell smelled.
If you're at all interested in the Bloomsbury Set, this book will amuse you. Richard Kennedy worked for The Woolfs at the Hogarth Press for more than a year and this diary of short excerpts with his wonderful line drawings is a colorful glimpse into his coming of age and his naive and scathing observations on the Woolfs and their circle. It's a quick and enjoyable read. Since I've always had trouble getting through ANY Virginia Woolf book, his views of her and her works are a salve to my conscious. If I ever get a dog, I will name it Pinker, in honor of Leonard Woolf's dog of the same name.
Bevis Hillier was hired as general help. He was there to see Virginia Wolfe and her husband Leonard, and all the Bloomsbury greats. It's a competent memoir.
A delightfully honest look at working life on the Hogarth Press premises in 1928. Interesting illustrations, great floor plan.
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Author Information
6+ Works 241 Members
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Series
Belongs to Publisher Series
Common Knowledge
- People/Characters
- Leonard Woolf; Virginia Woolf
- First words
- 'What you need to do is get behind the counter, Richard.'
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- Members
- 168
- Popularity
- 194,413
- Reviews
- 5
- Rating
- (3.92)
- Languages
- English, French, Italian, Swedish
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 8
- ASINs
- 2
