Description
Book SynopsisWoolf's fine character studies of several authors, among them Samuel Taylor Coleridge, who 'seems not a man, but a swarm, a cloud, a buzz of words, darting this way and that, clustering, quivering and hanging suspended'. He is, Woolf adds,so complex, so eccentric, that we 'become dazed in the labyrinth of what we call Coleridge'. He was incapable of adopting requisite social modes, of suppressing his obsessive urge to talk, of pandering to the expectations of others. Woolf tries to capture a 'clear picture' of Coleridge but this metaphor is skewed and what she really reveals is a voice - mad and beautiful - never to be heard again:
Trade Review"The book explores the idea of the self in a very thought-provoking way and is a real treat for Woolf fans who like to analyze the more complex themes and ideas in her works.” —
Virginia Woolf Blog “Underpinning all of the essays is the question of what it means to have a sense of self. A question that, in the age of the selfie, seems utterly topical.” —Julia Bell, Writers’ Hub, University College London
“The essays...are sublime moments in intellectual history, while also being entertaining and accessible.” —
Shiny New Books Table of ContentsIntroduction by Joanna Kavenna Note on the Text and Select Bibliography Modern Fiction Character in Fiction A Letter to a Young Poet How Should One Read a Book? The Man at the Gate Sara Coleridge William Hazlitt Professions for Women Evening over Sussex: Reflections in a Motor Car The Sun and the Fish Thoughts on Peace in an Air Raid The Humane Art From A Writer's Diary Notes
