The Common Reader - First Series - Virginia Woolf

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Résumé :
The Common Reader is a collection of classic essays by Virginia Woolf, originally published in two parts in 1925 and 1935. As the title suggests, the essays are intended for the average reader and deal with a variety of literary topics presented in layman's terms. The first series deals with various authors including Geoffrey Chaucer, Jane Austen, and Joseph Conrad, together with pieces on the Greek language and the modern essay. A fantastic collection of essays not to be missed by fans of Woolf's seminal work and literature lovers in general. Contents include: The Common Reader, The Pastons And Chaucer, On Not Knowing Greek, The Elizabethan Lumber Room, Notes On An Elizabethan Play, Montaigne, The Duchess Of Newcastle, Rambling Round Evelyn, etc. Adeline Virginia Woolf (1882-1941) was an English writer. She is widely hailed as being among the most influential modernist authors of the 20th century and a pioneer of stream of consciousness narration. She suffered numerous nervous breakdowns during her life primarily as a result of the deaths of family members, and it is now believed that she may have suffered from bipolar disorder. In 1941, Woolf drowned herself in the River Ouse at Lewes, aged 59. Other notable works by this author include: Pattledom (1925), A Room of One's Own (1929), The Captain's Death Bed: and Other Essays (1950). Read & Co. Great Essays is proudly republishing this classic collection now in a new edition complete with a specially-commissioned new biography of the author.

Biographie:
Virginia Woolf (1882-1941) was an English writer, born in South Kensington, London. Known for her feminist writings and pioneering work with the narrative style of stream of consciousness, Woolf is widely considered to be one of the most influential modernist writers of the 20th century. Some of her most famous works include Mrs. Dalloway, 1925, To the Lighthouse, 1927, and A Room of One's Own, 1929.

Sommaire:

The first volume of Virginia Woolf's The Common Reader is an engaging collection of literary essays addressing those who read for pleasure, rather than for academic purposes, as she reflects on literature, culture, and the art of reading.

Through these essays, Woolf explores the works of both well-known and obscure writers, from the classical genius of Homer and the nuanced wit of Jane Austen to the emotional depth of Russian novelists like Tolstoy and Dostoevsky. She also discusses the lives and minds of Samuel Johnson, George Eliot, and Michel de Montaigne, among others, revealing her keen appreciation for their contributions to literature.

Essays Include:

• The Common Reader
• The Pastons and Chaucer
• Montaigne
• Defoe
• Jane Austen
• Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights
• George Eliot
• The Russian Point of View

First published in 1925, The Common Reader is as much an exploration of Woolf's own thoughts and experiences as it is a critique of the works she discusses, blending scholarly insight with personal reflection in a way that is both engaging and accessible.