Virginia Woolf - To The Lighthouse/The Waves

Columbia Critical Guides

by Jane Goldman

In this readers' guide, Jane Goldman explores critical material on To the Lighthouse and The Waves , two of Woolf's most important novels. The reader is guided through the critical debates that have centred on the novels, and is given a clear view of the widening scope of 'Woolf Studies'. The guide includes extracts from the more recent innovatory work of Rachel Bowlby and Gillian Beer, as well as a significant revisionary essay from Jane Marcus, which has opened up important debates on race and Empire in 'Woolf Studies'.

Genres: Classics, Fiction

Paperback

First published January 6, 1999

Reviews

[Sir He-Man]

I couldn't find just To the Lighthouse listed anywhere here, so I'll just say Virginia Woolf is amazing. One of the best authors of the 20th century and a pure joy to read. I look forward to reading the Waves very much.

[Jo]

Having studied this at degree level it was nice to just listen to Nicole Kidman’s relaxed narration and not have to deconstruct anything!

[Maria]

TO the Lighthouse is a keystone book. I find something new and the meaning changes for me each time I read it. They say each person describes the Mona Lisa as they see themselves. I believe this piece does the same for the intrinsic values one has, for the soul.

[Toni]

I only read To the Lighthouse. I didn't like it as much as I thought I would. Interesting technique.

[Susan]

I was very glad to be rereading this work. The story is carried along by the characters' internal thoughts. It is the prose descriptions of those thoughts which are brilliant.

[Jesse]

For a (relatively brief) introduction to key critical/theoretical perspectives on these two texts, this is a pretty nifty little compilation, nicely selected and arranged by Goldman.