Jane de Gay

Reveals Virginia Woolf's interest in Christianity, its ideas and cultural artefactsThis wide-ranging study demonstrates that Woolf, despite her agnostic upbringing, was profoundly interested in, and knowledgeable about, Christianity as a faith and a socio-political movement. Jane de Gay provides a strongly contextual approach, first revealing the extent of the Christian influences on Woolf's upbringing, including an analysis of the far-reaching influence of the Clapham Sect, and then drawing attention to the importance of Christianity among Woolf's friends and associates. It shows that Woolf's awareness of the ongoing influence of Christian ideas and institutions informed her feminist critique of society in Three Guineas. The book sheds new light on works including Mrs Dalloway, To the Lighthouse and The Waves by revealing her fascination with the clergy, the Madonna, churches and cathedrals; her interest in the Bible as artefact and literary text; and her wrestling with questions about salvation and the nature of God. Key Features:Reveals the extent of Woolf's knowledge of Christianity and her interest in it Presents fresh readings of Woolf's works by throwing light on this neglected aspect of her thought Takes a strongly contextual approach, looking at Woolf's engagement with contemporary religious debatesReveals the extent of the Christian influences on Woolf's upbringing, including an analysis of the far-reaching and multi-dimensional influence of the Clapham SectTakes a wide-ranging and comprehensive approach to the topic, considering the social and political dimensions of religion as well as questions of spirituality and theology

There is growing critical interest in the connections between literature and Christianity, but Virginia Woolf's work has so far attracted little attention because of her agnostic upbringing and her famous statement that 'certainly and emphatically there is no god.' This study fills a gap by revealing that Woolf was profoundly interested in, and knowledgeable about, Christianity even though she was not convinced by it. The book sheds new light on her work by examining her allusions to Christian ideas, art, architecture and literature. The book takes a strongly contextual approach, first revealing the extent of the Christian influences on Woolf's upbringing, including an analysis of the far-reaching and multi-dimensional influence of the Clapham Sect, and then drawing attention to the continuing influence of Christianity on modernism and within Woolf's circle. It shows that Woolf's feminist criticism draws on a highly-informed critique of religious ideas about gender and that her explorations of the 'mystic' and 'spiritual' engage with theological debates about sacred space, time and eternity, the soul, salvation and deity.

REVIEWS FROM HARDBACK EDITION: 'A number of interesting and powerful themes emerge in this study of Virginia Woolf's relation to the literary past...The strong account of Woolf's relation to tradition in Virginia Woolf's Novels and the Literary Past will surely facilitate further study of the gender politics of Modernism.' - Times Literary Supplement 'An important intervention at a time in which there is particular interest in Woolf's relationship to the past.' Professor Laura Marcus, University of Sussex 'Essential and intellectually provocative reading for Woolf scholars and for common readers alike.' Vara Neverow, University of Connecticut Now available in paperback, this is the first book to explore Virginia Woolf's preoccupation with the literary past and its profound impact on the content and structure of her novels. It analyses Woolf's reading and writing practices via her essays, diaries and reading notebooks and presents chronological studies of eight of her novels, exploring how Woolf's intensive reading surfaced in her fiction. The book sheds light on Woolf's varied and intricate use of literary allusions; examines ways in which Woolf revisited and revised plots and tropes from earlier fiction; and looks at how she used parody as a means both of critical comment and homage. Key Features * The first book-length study of intertextuality in Virginia Woolf's novels * Offers a challenging and provocative new perspective on Woolf's art as a novelist * Develops detailed close readings offering fresh insights into individual works * Presents complex ideas in a lucid and accessible fashion

The first book to explore Virginia Woolf's preoccupation with the literary past and its profound impact on the content and structure of her novels. It analyses Woolf's reading and writing practices via her essays, diaries and reading notebooks and presents chronological studies of eight of her novels, exploring how Woolf's intensive reading surfaced in her fiction. The book sheds light on Woolf's varied and intricate use of literary allusions; examines ways in which Woolf revisited and revised plots and tropes from earlier fiction; and looks at how she used parody as a means both of critical comment and homage. Key Features * The first book-length study of intertextuality in Virginia Woolf's novels; * Offers a challenging and provocative new perspective on Woolf's art as a novelist; * Develops detailed close readings offering fresh insights into individual works; * Presents complex ideas in a lucid and accessible fashion.

This volume is a collection of interviews that spans feminist views from 1968 to the 1990s. Including over eight years of research. Part of the Comtemporary Theatre Studies series, it will be of special interest to everyone involved in theatre and useful to students and those who oare interested in women's theatre.