I love what you show us here, Beth. That we are just like her, in love with our words one day, and then looking at them as silly, trivial, and unworthy the next. We have to keep going though, get our words outside of us, and maybe even into the world. Thank you for sharing this wonderful essay!
A revelatory essay. It’s been a while since I considered the nature of Woolf’s torment, which transcended the personal to encompass a time of existential dread for her country.
How she listened for those bombs. How she imagined the atrocities. How she couldn't find paper, couldn't stay warm, didn't perhaps believe in her own last book — and yet. She took solace from it, Rona. As we do. As we must. I love your intellgent comments, always.
Yes. So much exactly. Virginia Woolf is perpetually relevant. She is one to look at when we wish to throw up our arms and say, The world is too noisy, too unsettling, why write?
What do you think of Leonard publishing her final book without her permission, in fact, against her wishes? It makes me think of the debate about Kafka's editor publishing "The Castle" after Kafka had expressly asked him to burn all his documents upon his death, including "The Castle."
We could have a very very long conversation about Leonard, dear Marianna. His life after Virginia, including his words to Trekkie, his lover then, break my heart.
Nancy, I think we find the writers who guide us to the wisdom we need in the moment. Virginia is often that for me, on many topics, but you are such a reader yourself and I suspect that there are many writers who are already speaking to you in this way.
Stunning essay, Beth! I have been looking forward to it ever since you told me it was in the works. What does a writer do, what do we do, when the world is under siege? Thank you for bringing her and Leonard to life for us at this time.
I love this because you've put her in the context of her life. She's a part of, and writing through, something bigger as we all are. Often an author is presented as just a writer and her book.
Char, this is so wonderful of you to say this. For this is what I seek, not just when reading another’s work (who they were, the why; how many times do I close a book and then spend a day listening to interviews with the author) but when teaching, when looking at the manuscripts of others. I need to know the broader context before I can say, with some assurance, this.
I love what you show us here, Beth. That we are just like her, in love with our words one day, and then looking at them as silly, trivial, and unworthy the next. We have to keep going though, get our words outside of us, and maybe even into the world. Thank you for sharing this wonderful essay!
I am just like her and just like you—self doubting, determined, and finally happiest when the sentence on my page is working. Thank you, Cindy.
A revelatory essay. It’s been a while since I considered the nature of Woolf’s torment, which transcended the personal to encompass a time of existential dread for her country.
How she listened for those bombs. How she imagined the atrocities. How she couldn't find paper, couldn't stay warm, didn't perhaps believe in her own last book — and yet. She took solace from it, Rona. As we do. As we must. I love your intellgent comments, always.
A significant (and pressing) question: "What, in fact, is any writer to do when their world—private or public—feels under siege?"
Yes. So much exactly. Virginia Woolf is perpetually relevant. She is one to look at when we wish to throw up our arms and say, The world is too noisy, too unsettling, why write?
What do you think of Leonard publishing her final book without her permission, in fact, against her wishes? It makes me think of the debate about Kafka's editor publishing "The Castle" after Kafka had expressly asked him to burn all his documents upon his death, including "The Castle."
We could have a very very long conversation about Leonard, dear Marianna. His life after Virginia, including his words to Trekkie, his lover then, break my heart.
Timely! What do we do now with our world under siege? I'm ashamed to admit I've spent little time with Virginia Woolf. That needs to change.
Nancy, I think we find the writers who guide us to the wisdom we need in the moment. Virginia is often that for me, on many topics, but you are such a reader yourself and I suspect that there are many writers who are already speaking to you in this way.
Good perspective.
Stunning essay, Beth! I have been looking forward to it ever since you told me it was in the works. What does a writer do, what do we do, when the world is under siege? Thank you for bringing her and Leonard to life for us at this time.
We have words words in tumultuous times. We have each other. We work to make the combination exponential. Thank you, Karen.
I love this because you've put her in the context of her life. She's a part of, and writing through, something bigger as we all are. Often an author is presented as just a writer and her book.
Char, this is so wonderful of you to say this. For this is what I seek, not just when reading another’s work (who they were, the why; how many times do I close a book and then spend a day listening to interviews with the author) but when teaching, when looking at the manuscripts of others. I need to know the broader context before I can say, with some assurance, this.
This is wonderful - thank you. Makes me want to re-read Between the Acts.