I love Virginia Woolf. (She's far more readable than her modernist rival James Joyce. I recall she wasn't that taken with Ulysses. Me neither.) Even the name rocks: "Virginia" - suggesting virginal innocence; and "Woolf" - suggesting the untamed, wild canine. Nice combo. In July 1902 she sat for a series of photos. Something magical in the combination of the ambient light, her contemplative mood, the balance of chemicals used in the plate, . . ., made the image one of the most beautiful portraits ever captured. Eat your heart out Katherine Mansfield.
She wrote an essay called "Am I a Snob?" trying to clear herself of the charge. But, of course, she was a snob. That's part of her appeal. And to be a snob must feature quite low on the list of vices - we probably need some snobs to remind us peasants of our place! If you enjoyed Orlando you should enjoy the film version starring Tilda Swinton. It follows the book quite closely. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MorOaD61KUI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MorOaD61KUI
