Leonard Woolf Libri

Growing is a portrait of a young man sent straight out from university to help govern Ceylon. It is doubtful that any Empire at any time has been served by such an intelligent, dutiful, hardworking and incorruptible civil servant as the young Leonard Wool

The classic novel of colonial Ceylon (Sri Lanka), first published in 1913 and written Virginia Woolf's husband. This novel, set in Ceylon, follows the lives of a handful of villagers hacking out a fragile existence in a jungle where indiscriminate growth, indifferent fate and malevolent neighbours constantly threaten to overwhelm them.

Written by a prominent member of the Bloomsbury group, this novel of colonial Ceylon (Sri Lanka) includes a biographical afterword by Sir Christopher Ondaatje, author of Woolf in Ceylon, and a short story, Pearls before Swine, which vividly draws on Woolf's experience as a young District Commissioner.

The narrative unfolds through a series of heartfelt confessions about first loves, culminating in Jessop's stark rejection of romantic ideals. He recounts a poignant tale of a tragic affair that highlights the cultural rift between East and West, serving as the central theme of the stories. Drawing from Woolf's personal experiences in Ceylon, these tales offer a vivid portrayal of colonial life. Leonard Woolf, a key figure in the Bloomsbury group, is celebrated not only for his marriage to Virginia but also for his significant literary contributions.

The Wise Virgins (1913) is a semi-autobiographical novel about a dilemma: whether Harry, the hero, should go into the family business and marry the suitable but dull girl next door or move in artistic circles and marry one of the entrancing 'Lawrence' girls. For, as Lyndall Gordon writes in her Persephone Preface: 'It is a truth widely acknowledged that Camilla Lawrence is a portrait of the author's wife - Virginia Woolf.' This is one reason why the novel is so intriguing. But it is also a Forsterian social comedy, funny, perceptive, highly intelligent, full of clever dialogue and at times bitterly satirical; while the dramatic and emotional denouement still retains a great deal of its power to shock. It was on his honeymoon in 1912 that Leonard Woolf began writing his second (and final) novel. He was 31, newly returned from seven years as a colonial administrator, and asking himself much the same questions as his hero. Helen Dunmore wrote in The Sunday Times: 'It's a passionate, cuttingly truthful story of a love affair between two people struggling against the prejudices of their time and place. Woolf's writing is almost unbearably honest.'

A series of letters commissioned by Virginia and Leonard Woolf in the early 1930s

Set in the aftermath of World War I, this two-volume work by Leonard Woolf explores the complexities of post-war society through the lens of personal relationships and social change. The narrative follows the lives of several characters as they navigate the shifting cultural landscape of England during the 1920s. Central to the story is the character of Edward, a disillusioned soldier grappling with the psychological scars of war, and his interactions with various figures representing different facets of society, including intellectuals, artists, and the emerging middle class. Themes of loss, recovery, and the search for meaning in a changed world are prevalent throughout the text. Woolf delves into the impact of war on individual psyches and the broader societal implications, examining how characters attempt to rebuild their lives amidst the ruins of their former existence. The interplay between personal ambition and collective experience is a recurring motif, as characters confront their own desires in the context of a society struggling to redefine itself. Through rich character development and a nuanced portrayal of the era, the work offers a reflective examination of the human condition in the face of adversity and change.