This course follows the chronological pattern of Woolf’s career as a novelist, exploring the ways in which her writing experiments with narrative form and contributes to the development of the English novel. The cultural and historical contexts of Woolf’s work will be explored in detail.

We will also examine Woolf’s ideas about gender and feminism. The novels will form the focus of the course, although reference will also be made to Woolf’s essays and short stories when relevant.

Finally, we will consider Woolf’s legacy and the complex nature of her reputation.

Related study trip

We visit two homes linked closely with Virginia Woolf, her family and immediate circle, which provide valuable insights into their lifestyles and preoccupations. Monk's House, Rodmell was bought by Virginia and her husband Leonard Woolf in 1919; Charleston Farmhouse in Sussex was the nearby home of Vanessa Bell (Virginia Woolf’s sister) and a country meeting place for the writers, painters and intellectuals known as the Bloomsbury Group.

ASE reserves the right to change the content of course-specific study trips where necessary.