The Oxford Handbook of Virginia Woolf

The Oxford Handbook of Virginia Woolf is a comprehensive collection of essays by renowned scholars that explores various aspects of Woolf's life, writings, experiments, professional career, contexts, and afterlife. It offers a feminist perspective and examines her achievements and legacy, with a focus on her practice of writing essays and reviews alongside fiction. The handbook also explores Woolf's experimentalism, engagement with the natural world, political and cultural contexts, and the enduring influence of her work on literature and artistic expression.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 688 pages
Publication date: 24 August 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press

The Oxford Handbook of Virginia Woolf is a comprehensive and authoritative resource for scholars and graduate students interested in exploring the rich and complex world of Virginia Woolf's writing. With thirty-nine original chapters contributed by internationally renowned scholars, this handbook offers a comprehensive examination of Woolf's achievement and legacy. At its core, the handbook is firmly rooted in feminist scholarship, with each chapter delving into a specific aspect of Woolf's work. The contributions are insightful and well-researched, providing a fresh perspective on Woolf's writings while also firmly grounding them in prior scholarship.

The handbook is organized into six sections, each focusing on different aspects of Woolf's life, texts, experiments, professional career, contexts, and afterlife. The opening chapters provide an insightful exploration of the powerful influences that shaped Woolf's life, including her family, friends, and home. The section on her works follows a chronological order, highlighting Woolf's practice of writing essays and reviews alongside her fiction. Chapters on Woolf's experimentalism delve into the literary qualities of her writing, exploring her distinctive watermark and its impact on the literary landscape.

Professions of Writing, another section of the handbook, explores Woolf's engagement with cultural fields beyond the Hogarth Press and the TLS. It examines her relationships with publishers, editors, and other professionals, shedding light on the processes and challenges involved in her writing career. The Contexts section extends Woolf's exploration beyond writing, depicting her engagement with the natural world, political, artistic, and popular culture of her time. It provides a rich tapestry of insights into the social and cultural contexts that shaped her work.

The final section on afterlives showcases the enduring influence of Woolf's reputation on global ideas and artistic expression. Chapters explore three distinct Woolfian traditions in fiction: the novel of manners, magical realism, and the feminist novel. These traditions continue to resonate with readers and artists, shaping the way we interpret and interpret Woolf's work.

In conclusion, The Oxford Handbook of Virginia Woolf is an essential resource for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of Virginia Woolf's writing. With its comprehensive coverage, insightful contributions, and rigorous scholarship, this handbook provides a valuable contribution to the field of literary studies. It will be of interest to scholars, graduate students, and anyone with a passion for Woolf's work.

Weight: 1194g
Dimension: 172 x 247 x 43 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198885511