Virginia Woolf 
The Complete Common Reader: First & Second Series (1925 & 1935) 

Virginia Woolf’s ‘The Complete Common Reader: First & Second Series (1925 & 1935)’ serves as a landmark collection of essays that showcase Woolf’s insightful literary criticism and her unique perspective on classic literature. Woolf’s writing style is characterized by its lyrical prose and intellectual depth, making the essays in this collection a compelling read for anyone interested in literature. By exploring a wide range of authors and works, Woolf delves into the complexities of storytelling and the impact of literature on society, offering a profound analysis that continues to resonate with readers today. The inclusion of both the first and second series in this comprehensive edition allows readers to fully appreciate Woolf’s evolution as a critic throughout the years. Virginia Woolf’s background as a prominent modernist writer and feminist thinker informs her critical approach in ‘The Complete Common Reader.’ Her position as a prominent figure in the Bloomsbury Group, a collective of writers, intellectuals, and artists, gives her insights a distinct perspective that adds richness to her essays. Woolf’s own experiences and struggles as a woman in a male-dominated literary world also influence her perspectives on literature and culture, providing readers with a unique and compelling viewpoint. I highly recommend ‘The Complete Common Reader’ to anyone looking to delve deeper into the world of literature and gain valuable insights from one of the most esteemed literary figures of the 20th century.

A propos de l’auteur

Virginia Woolf, born Adeline Virginia Stephen on January 25, 1882, was a prominent modernist writer, renowned for her innovative narrative techniques and a pioneering feminist voice. Woolf’s contributions to literature span novels, essays, and criticism, with an emphasis on the stream-of-consciousness style, evident in her works such as ‘Mrs. Dalloway’ (1925) and ‘To the Lighthouse’ (1927). Her keenly felt narratives often explore the inner lives of her characters and the broader social issues of her time. In ‘The Complete Common Reader: First & Second Series’ (1925 & 1935), Woolf compiles her astute literary essays, reflecting an accessible, yet scholarly engagement with reading. These works accentuate Woolf’s deep reverence for literature and her skill in balancing erudition with an impassioned plea for the literary appreciation among the common readership. Woolf, a central figure of the Bloomsbury Group, has been widely regarded for her lyrical prose and her contribution to breaking away from the traditional novelistic form. Tragically, her life was marked by mental illness, leading to her suicide in 1941. Nonetheless, her literary legacy continues to be celebrated for its profound insight into human consciousness and society. Her work not only shaped modernist literature but also inspired generations of writers to follow in her exploratory narrative footsteps.