Orlando
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4.5 • 20 Ratings
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Publisher Description
"Orlando" by Virginia Woolf, published in 1928, is a unique and genre-defying novel that spans over four centuries and explores themes of gender, identity, time, and artistic expression. The story begins in the Elizabethan era with a young nobleman named Orlando, who becomes the favorite of Queen Elizabeth I. After falling into a deep sleep and waking up as a woman, Orlando experiences the world from a different perspective.
The novel then takes the reader through various historical periods, including the 17th century, the Enlightenment, the Victorian era, and finally, the 20th century. Throughout this journey, Orlando remains the same person despite changing genders and witnessing the evolution of society, politics, and culture.
"Orlando" is a playful and satirical exploration of the fluidity of gender roles and the constraints of societal expectations. Woolf uses Orlando's transformations to comment on the nature of identity, the passage of time, and the enduring power of love and art. The novel is also known for its rich language, lyrical prose, and the innovative blending of historical and fantastical elements.
Woolf's "Orlando" challenges traditional notions of gender and time, offering a thought-provoking and imaginative narrative that continues to captivate readers with its exploration of the complexities of human experience and the concept of self.
Customer Reviews
The most accessible Woolf
There’s a lot to like here if you know what you’re getting into. Understand it’s a satirical biography, a fanciful tribute to one of Woolf’s friends, a celebration of English history, and literature, and an examination of identity, self, and creativity. It’s widely considered a feminist work, but that definitely is not overt. If you want to read this as feminism or gender exploration you can—and academics have—but you don’t have to. I’d say that a wider audience could enjoy Woolf’s prose and tongue-in-cheek story in Orlando than Mrs Dalloway, though the latter continues to be her most read work.