The Common Reader - First Series

The first volume of Virginia Woolf's The Common Reader is an engaging collection of literary essays addressing those who read for pleasure, rather than for academic purposes, as she reflects on literature, culture, and the art of reading.

Through these essays, Woolf explores the works of both well-known and obscure writers, from the classical genius of Homer and the nuanced wit of Jane Austen to the emotional depth of Russian novelists like Tolstoy and Dostoevsky. She also discusses the lives and minds of Samuel Johnson, George Eliot, and Michel de Montaigne, among others, revealing her keen appreciation for their contributions to literature.

Essays Include:

The Common Reader
The Pastons and Chaucer
Montaigne
Defoe
Jane Austen
"Jane Eyre" and "Wuthering Heights"
George Eliot
The Russian Point of View


First published in 1925, The Common Reader is as much an exploration of Woolf's own thoughts and experiences as it is a critique of the works she discusses, blending scholarly insight with personal reflection in a way that is both engaging and accessible.