There are some who don’t care for Virginia Woolf’s books. Especially her stream-of-conscious narratives such as The Waves.
However, besides writing novels, she was a prolific critic and essay writer. One of her most famous is A Room of One’s Own.
It is this essay, and many others, that make me wonder why they aren’t more highly regarded outside of academia.
Yet I know I am not the only one discovering and discussing the joys of essays. Thank goodness!
To give you a glimpse into the beauty of Woolf’s writing, let me share a passage:
That collar I have spoken of, women and fiction, the need of coming to some conclusion on a subject that raises all sorts of prejudices and passions, bowed my head to the ground. To the right and left bushes of some sort, golden and crimson, glowed with the color, even it seemed burnt with the heat, of fire. On the further bank the willows wept in perpetual lamentation, their hair about their shoulders. The river reflected whatever it chose of the sky and bridge an burning tree, and when the undergraduate had oared his boat through the reflections they closed again, completely, as if he had never been. There one might have sat the clock round lost in thought. Thought – to call it by a prouder name than it deserved – had let its line down into the stream. It swayed, minute after minute, hither and thither among the reflections and the weeds, letting the water lift it and sink it, until – you know the little tug – the sudden conglomeration of an idea at the end of one’s line: and then the cautions hauling of it in, and the careful laying of it out? Alas, laid on the grass how small, how insignificant this thought of mine looked; the sort of fish that a good fisherman puts back into the water so that it may grow fatter and be one day worth cooking and eating.
As one who reads, and occasionally tries to write, this passage spoke volumes. And there are many others in this amazing essay. At a little over one hundred pages, it isn’t too hard of a read, and well worth a purchase or checking out from your library.
I really love essays as well, but find that since I teach them, I don’t read as many in my free time as I do in preparation for a school assignment. These look good though, and I’ll have to look at this book. Thanks for pointing this one out!
A classic example indeed, and a staple in any woman’s library.
I am ashamed to say that I have not read many essays in my lifetime – but this summer, while experimenting with some writing of my own, I have discovered that I enjoy essay writing more than anything else.
I plan to start reading some collections of essays this fall. Do you have any that you would particularly recommend besides this one?
I love Virginia Woolf’s novels – but actually I think that I prefer her letters and essays – I particuarly love her essays on life writing and memoir – they are superb. She must have been a wonderful person with whom to exchange letters – so funny and true and incisive.
I read a lot of essays in my English classes (and write a lot of essays)but I never really thought of reading them on my own – you know, to learn something and absorb some good writing. You’ve inspired me to give it a try.