A Room of One's Own
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Average rating4.5
"A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction." First published in 1929, Virginia Woolf's pioneering work on women in literature is an accessible yet fiercely astute essay. It is a crystallization of the intelligent analysis behind her novels, and confirms her as a writer not only of style, but of undeniable substance. Ranging from discussing Austen's pandering to a male writing style, to imagining the dreadful fate of Shakespeare's talented, intelligent sister, Woolf makes the topic an enjoyable journey through her imagination, filling in for the undocumented in female history, and exploring the loss to the literary landscape in her own entertaining, convincing prose. The recording also includes a booklet with further information, including a contribution by Ali Smith, author of "The Accidental." Unabridged.
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As I am pretty much interested in gender studies, especially feminism(sociology and politics)It may seem like it doesn't contain many contemporary take-ups on feminism, especially in the field of creating art but by no means it is irrelevant in this day and age. I was mesmerized by the 2nd chapter, some specific concepts she presented here which I am very much fond of would be -
1. Refuting why any 'Women' couldn't have written plays like William Shakespeare in that age 2. Why any intellectual creation should be sexless/androgynous "man-womanly," or "woman-manly," 3. Exploration of critics calling Austen, Gaskell, and Bronte sisters' works 'Shallow', 'carnal', 'mundane'(reminds me of VS Naipaul saying no woman has written anything so far that has suppressed his level of genius. Narcissistic much eh??)
The first work of Woolf's I have read. I didn't find it the easiest book to read, but I think it gave me a lot to think about, both her own situation and her contemporaries, as well as me and my own time. So many rousing thoughts and speeches, she sounds like an incredible person.
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