Bloomsbury Women: Distinct Figures in Life and Art

by Jan Marsh

More than an artistic and literary style, the world of Bloomsbury was a group of original and creative individuals whose lives have long captured the public imagination. Virginia Woolf, Vanessa Bell, Dora Carrington, Vita Sackville-West, Lydia Lopokova, Katherine Mansfield, Frances Partridge, Angelica these were the exceptional women of Bloomsbury. Their writings, letters, diaries, and memoirs offer vivid accounts of friendship, love, art, jealousy, suicide, gossip, and day-to-day affairs over 40 years. Biographer Jan Marsh traces the Bloomsbury Group, from its beginnings in the early years of the 20th century to the old age of its founders. Illustrated throughout with archival material, Bloomsbury Women presents a delightful collection of portraits, decorative images, drawings, and photos that complement the story of the lives and loves, the art and ideas of this legendary group of friends.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Art, History, British Literature

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Relatively short, this accessible and well-researched portrait of the Bloomsbury group is enjoyable and informative and although it doesn’t offer any new revelations or discoveries is a perfect introduction to anyone new to the group as well as being a readable overview for those more familiar with this extraordinary group of people.

[Gill · Rating 3 out of 5]

'Bloomsbury Women - Distinct Figures in Life and Art' by Jan Marsh

3 stars/ 6 out of 10

This is a re-publication by Endeavour Press, with the original edition having been published by Pavilion Books in 1995.
I was interested in reading this book, since I have recently been reading about Vita Sackville-West.

Although the book is entitled 'Bloomsbury Women', it also contains a lot of information about 'Bloomsbury Men', with all of their stories intertwined.. I would have preferred there to have been more of a specific concentration on each of the 4 women of the cover photograph.

I very much enjoyed the Foreward by Frances Partridge. There is plenty of information in this book, and some new things to learn relating to many aspects of the Bloomsbury Set's lives. The most interesting section for me was about Dora Carrington. I was interested in the section relating to Katherine Mansfield, who, according to this book, had a better relationship with Virginia Woolf than I had previously understood.

The book is dated in some ways in the language it uses, and I wish that there had been detailed reference notes. However, it is well worth a read, and I am glad that, by being republished, it is available to a new audience.

Thank you to Endeavour Press and to NetGalley for an ARC.

[Roman Clodia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a relatively short and compressed biography of the ever-fascinating Bloomsbury Group which gives more detail than Wikipedia but still skims through the kind of detail available in individual biographies and the volumes of letters, journals and memoirs that are available.

The title is somewhat of a misnomer since this doesn't particularly concentrate on the women any more than similar books, and takes a cool look at the men and various love affairs that both bonded and separated this network of writers, artists and thinkers.

Marsh selects her material judiciously and quotes from letters etc. to give a sense of voices - good if you want an overview of the people and personalities as a taster before exploring more deeply.

Thanks to the publisher for a review copy via NetGalley

[Joseph Spuckler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bloomsbury Women : Distinct Figures in Life and Art by Jan Marsh. Marsh has written a number of ground-breaking biographies, including PreRaphaelite Sisterhood, Jane and May Morris, The Legend of Elizabeth Siddal and her highly acclaimed work, Christina Rossetti. She has also scripted arts documentary programmes for radio and television, and has curated exhibitions of work by women painters of the PreRaphaelite movement. She is a contributor to the Dictionary of Women Artists and a frequent lecturer in Britain, North America and Japan. This is a reprint of the original 1995 book by Endeavour Press.

After reading Virginia Woolf's diaries and letters I thought I had everything I needed to know about the Bloomsbury Group. I also touched on Leonard Woolf's writing and dug into Vita Sackville-West. I knew of Vanessa Bell because of the care she gave Virginia Woolf during her breakdowns. I didn't know about Vanessa Bell and her relationship and child with Duncan Grant. It seems the group was very fluid in their sexual relationships as well as gender roles and identities. Acceptance was both hetero and homosexual. Their openness was unheard of at the time and much was done far from the prying eyes of society.

Marsh centers her study on Virginia Woolf and even more so on Vanessa Bell. Despite the title men are prominent in the reading; This is the first I noted David "Bunny" Garnett and a few others from the group. Bloomsbury was also important and unique in that women were treated as equals. Wealth and education seemed to not to play a major role either. It was a matter of art, writing, and painting, that showed one's worth to the group.

An interesting aspect that I picked up on in this book was in the style of both sisters. Vanessa was inspired by the post-impressionist painters of the group, Duncan Grant, and Roger Fry. Her heavy strokes and "blank faces" left the observer understanding from the color and shape rather than facial expressions. Virginia Woolf attempted to capture effect in her writing. She described her writing as visual impressionistic. Vanessa Bell chose not to use the most telling part of human emotion, the face. Virginia Woolf did the same by avoiding a narrative story in her writing.

A short, but very informative, book showing the inner workings and people of The Bloomsbury Group -- those who stayed, those who made it happen, and those who didn't measure up. Its demise is also shared by the tragedies experienced by the remaining members. Although there were children and members to carry on, the final loss of Virginia Woolf darkened the group and the remaining members went their own ways.

[Sherry Cohen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd read about the members of the Bloomsbury group many years ago, and thought this would be a refresher. Alas, it disappointed me. There was relatively little written about or insighful on the women other than the Stephens sisters.

Also, the author repeated the myth that Roger Fry's wife was insane. In actuality, she suffered from a condition in which the skull thickens and presses on the brain and affects it as madness. For decades since Mrs. Fry had this condition, they've had medicine to reduce the thickening and avoid the unfortunate symptoms.

[Michele Cacano · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative but Busy

This does a good job of showing us who the people were and what they did (artistically and personally, or, did I say, sexually?), but I would have loved some space around them. It was us to keep track of who's who, behind the Woolfe sisters, Vanessa and Virginia. And photos, please? Dear god, I didn't so much the job my phone looking up paintings and faces and places.

[Alayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting account of the Bloomsbury Group of the early part of the 20th century in England. I would have liked some photographs and a list of the people involved to make it clearer. However it was informative.

[M.J. Compton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing. Devoid of any detail to connect reader to subject matter. I'm not sure why the title includes the phrase "distinct figures." Yes, these women were distinct, but you wouldn't know it from reading this flat rendition of what had to have been an exciting time.

[eleanor · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was very well written & very informative- i feel as though pictures may have helped jan a little bit- just to place examples of text and painting, but i did enjoy it! and it was set out in a really readable and accessible way

[Amy in the Desert · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't focus on the women at all, and seemed kind of all over the place

[Debumere · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was ok, it was interesting but it should have been called ‘Bloomsbury Women and their men.’ I get that the men are central to the movement but just a little too much in what I expected to be generally just about the women.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

In 1904 Virginia Woolf and her brothers moved from Kensington to the quieter district of Bloomsbury. Here they conceived ‘Bloomsbury’, a meeting place where very talented people gathered once a week to talk and discuss freely on all subjects.

Among these people there were Dora Carrington (painter), Vita Sackville-West (poet and novelist), Katherine Mansfield (writer), Frances Partridge (writer), Lytton Strachey (writer) and E.M. Forster (writer).

Bloomsbury Women by Jan Marsh covers 40 years of personal story of the Bloomsbury Group, from its beginnings in the early years of the twentieth century to the old age of its members – women and men.

The style is very colloquial and familiar, light but yet informative. It is like listening to a friend telling the story of the lives and loves of an extraordinary bunch of people. You can’t help but rejoicing in their successes and feeling sorry for their sorrows.

It is a fascinating and intriguing short reading. These people were so close to the Victorian Era and yet so visionary, so vibrantly modern. It is amazing how emancipated Bloomsbury women were for their time! They were treated as equals and it is surprising how freely they lived their sexual life, how self-conscious of their body they were.

I think this books might be a good introduction for anyone wants to know about the Bloomsbury Group. For sure, I would like to know more about an unusual group of people like this. Especially on Virginia Woolf and her sister, Vanessa. It is such a pity the book doesn’t say much about Virginia’s depression and suicide.

Last, but not least, I would like to thank NetGalley and Endeavour Press for having provided me and ARC copy of this book.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book that accurately and succinctly covers the lives of the female Bloomsbury artists and the Post-Impressionist movement that took place during the early years of their careers. Vanessa Bell's art is contrasted with that of her male peers, including her partner, Duncan Grant and her lover, Roger Fry, and her development as a painter and decorative designer is well documented. Bell's relationship with her sister, Virginia Woolf, had a huge impact on Virginia and this is covered nicely in first and second chapters of the book.

The chapters about the Omega Workshop, Vanessa's life with Duncan Grant at the Charleston Farmhouse, and their artistic life in southern France are well-written. The book copiously illustrated with both full-color and black-and-white photos.

This is a wonderful book for anyone interested in the English Post-Impressionist movement and the lives and art of Vanessa Bell, Carrington, and many other women associated with them.

[Arja Salafranca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This slim volume, first published in 1995 and re-released serves an introduction to the women of Bloomsbury. If you know little about this loosely-formed group of creatives and visionaries from the early 19th century, this book will guide in you with its short chapters on the women who were so central to the ideas of the group – from, of course Virginia Woolf and her sister the painter Vanessa Woolf, to the more obscure painter Dora Carrington, who lived in a life-long sexless union with the homosexual writer, Lytton Strachey. For the Bloomsbury members turned ordinary mores on their head, talking sex and living in unusual threesomes at a time when conventional morality took centre-stage. If you’re more familiar with the Group, this volumes serves as a reminder and reference.

[Victoria Sadler · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a disappointment. Not only is this book as much about the men of this influential set as it is about the women (very misleading title) but Jan Marsh really does not get under the skin of the women, in particular Vanessa and Virginia - the latter's depression and suicide barely mentioned. Bizarre.

[Eileen Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating book about the women of the Bloomsbury Group.
These talented free spirited women were ahead of their time in some respects, on a par with the noted men including Rossetti the artist.
A great history of a most unusual, group of people.
Very highly recommended.
I was given a digital copy of this book by the publisher Endeavour via Netgalley in return for an honest unbiased review.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Detailed account of The Bloomsbury Group. Author needed an editor as tended to be all over the place in time periods and facts. Artists and writers suddenly mentioned with no former knowledge of who they were and how they necessarily fitted in. Needs a cast of characters.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the subject interesting, but the book a bit disjointed. Also, I think that the title is misleading; it is not only about the women of Bloomsbury, but the entire group of artists, writers and thinkers.

[Georgina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clear, concise overview of Bloomsbury. A good range of plates illustrate the text. A useful, easy read.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continuing my quest of the art, writing and people of the Bloomsbury area.

[gnarlyhiker · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent and insightful introduction into the Bloomsbury phenomenon.

**ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book about fascinating lives, that gave a good sense of the relationships between the members of the Bloomsbury Group. I felt like it should have been longer though, as some parts, especially transitions between people, places and time, were rushed and, as a result, the book felt a little disconnected in places.