Orlando (ePub)

Virginia Woolf (1882-1941) remains one of the most innovative and influential writers of the 20th century. Woolf was born into an intellectual family in London and grew up amidst the influences of her father, Sir Leslie Stephen's literary society. As a central figure in the Bloomsbury Group, Woolf revolutionized narrative forms and introduced new ways of exploring the human consciousness. She is admired for her contributions to modernist literature, particularly her use of stream-of-consciousness and lyrical prose. Her works frequently examine the complexities of time, memory, and individual perception, artfully collapsing boundaries between the internal and external worlds of her characters. 'Orlando: A Biography' (1928), one of her most celebrated novels, playfully crosses genre divides and breaks traditional narratives regarding sex and gender, as it traces the centuries-long adventures of its androgynous protagonist. This work exemplifies Woolf's literary style, characterized by wit and a flair for the poetic. Beyond 'Orlando,' Woolf authored numerous novels, essays, and short stories of critical acclaim such as 'Mrs. Dalloway' (1925), 'To the Lighthouse' (1927), and 'A Room of One's Own' (1929), in which she famously asserted, 'A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction.' Woolf's contributions to literature and feminist discourse remain profound, and her writing continues to be extensively studied, admired, and enjoyed for its depth, innovation, and beauty.