A Woolf in Read’s Clothing
photo: imdb.com
My first vague acquaintance with Virginia Woolf is associated with Elizabeth Taylor. Both are pivotal influences in their chosen professions. As a last wave baby boomer cI recall a bit of a fuss when the movie Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? came out. Not being a Disney-generated flick my parents did not take me to see it. In my childhood bliss of perceptual naiveté I believed Elizabeth Taylor to be Virginia Woolf and from the TV trailers she appeared to be a daunting person. I could see why some might be afraid of her.
image: aroom.org
My second encounter with Virginia Woolf came way later when I began teaching high school English. Woolf’s essay “A Room of Her Own” was part of the senior lit curriculum, a prelude to a brief study in feminist writing. Still getting my bearings about Shakespeare, I discovered through Woolf’s essay Shakespeare had a sister! I thought him to be like Atlantis, known but unknown, shrouded in mystery, waiting to be actually proven. A sister? It sent me scurrying to dedicated research and though Woolf got it all wrong about Willie’s sis, I now know much more about the Bard.
image: etsy.com
The third encounter came way of Meryl Streep. She’s a fave, so I couldn’t resist picking up The Hours at the library. Fascinating film (I admit some parts tweaked my comfort zone and my daughter squeaked, “you watched The Hours!”–my prudery is too well-pegged by family members). What truly fascinated me was Nicole Kidman as Virginia Woolf. No wonder she received the Academy Award for her performance. A tortured artist always leaves me wondering the why/what behind the reason of taking his or her life instead of living it.
image: notreciinema.com
Finding Virginia a bit overwhelming I didn’t do my usual research and read on her. To be honest, although she intrigued me,she also made me nervous, much like James Joyce. So much, almost too much in their writing for me to comprehend and absorb. I felt unprepared to read her works.
At present I am a tiny bit more confident having an AP Institute training and one year of AP Senior Lit and Comp seated firmly on the resume. I thought, “Okay, Ginny, let’s give it a whirl.” I pulled down Orlando off the shelf and settled in for my summer chaise in the shade read.
Sigh.
I wonder if her writing would have been published if her husband had not set up Hogarth Press expressly for that purpose? Her writing is amazing, this is true. It’s rich, masterful, and paradigm pushing. Deemed ahead of its time, both Virginia and her writing nevertheless appeared to be respected and applauded. Overall, I will have to pass on Virginia Woolf and her modernist approach to literature. She and James Joyce are just enough of a different cup of tea to not be on my reread list.
I followed through on my research since I did not do my read on her. I will definitely include her in my overviews on modernists. Virginia Woolf may not be among my chosen authors; however, I do acknowledge her place in the literary hall of fame.
image: standrewsrarebooks.wordpress.com
Related articles
- ‘To The Lighthouse’ by Virginia Woolf (culturefromthecheapseats.wordpress.com)
- I don’t think two people could have been happier (quagliojenn.wordpress.com)
- The only known recording of Virginia Woolf’s voice (artsjournal.com)
- Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? (myoldaddiction2.wordpress.com)
- My Non-Academic Thoughts on Woolf’s The Voyage Out (anniepaige.wordpress.com)
Pam Webb 
I love Virginia Woolf but don’t love “Orlando” – maybe some other day you could try “Mrs Dalloway” – it’s a great read and a gentler introduction to Woolf’s work ….and then you can move on to “To the Lighthouse” if you liked Mrs. Dalloway… save “The Waves” for later as that’s a lot more experimental 🙂
I just watched Who’s afraid of Virginia Woolf a couple of months ago for the first time – Elizabeth Taylor is incredible!
I will give Mrs. Dalloway a whirl when it returns to the library. Thanks for the suggestions. I won’t give up yet!