Virginia Woolf’s Orlando is a genre-bending work that takes the form of a biography, following the life of the titular Orlando, a fictional poet born into English nobility. The novel spans several centuries of British literary history, following Orlando’s extraordinary journey, marked by a mysterious illness that both extends his life and transforms him into a woman. As Orlando navigates the complexities of life as a woman in English society, Woolf uses this fantastical premise to explore themes of identity, gender roles, and sexuality, encouraging readers to reflect on how societal expectations shape our understanding of self. Despite its deep, thought-provoking themes, Orlando remains a witty and lighthearted adventure through time.
Woolf was inspired to write Orlando by her close and complex relationship with fellow writer Vita Sackville-West. The novel incorporates elements of Sackville-West’s life, from her noble heritage to her fascination with Romani culture, and serves as both a playful homage and a subtle exploration of their bond. Sackville-West’s son, Nigel Nicolson, described the novel as "the longest and most charming love letter in literature," where Woolf, “weaves [Sackville-West] in and out of the centuries, tosses her from one sex to the other, plays with her, dresses her in furs, lace, and emeralds, teases her, flirts with her, drops a veil of mist around her."
We will be sending out one chapter every Monday and Thursday in June, starting with the preface and Chapter 1 on Thursday, June 12th and finishing with Chapter 6 on Monday, June 30th. Check it out each day on this site, or subscribe to the book club to get each chapter sent to your email inbox!
The text is provided by Standard Ebooks. If you want to read ahead or download the book to your ereader, there are multiple formats available on Standard Ebooks’ page for the novel. We are not affiliated with the organization, but they have put a significant amount of effort into making public domain works accessible to everyone. Go ahead and check them out.
If you prefer audiobooks, pick your favorite version from LibriVox and listen along. Or, if you like the feel of paper while you’re reading, support your local independent book store by buying a copy from Bookshop.org or take it out from your local library.
For summaries and analysis, check out the book’s pages on SparkNotes, Shmoop, and Wikipedia.
Thanks for joining the book club, and we hope you enjoy Orlando this month!