Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf

Name: Mrs Dalloway
Author: Virginia Woolf

Mrs Dalloway is a novel by Virginia Woolf, first published in 1925. It follows the story of Clarissa Dalloway, a high-society woman in post-World War I England, as she prepares for a party she is hosting in the evening. Throughout the day, Clarissa reflects on her past and present life, and the choices she has made. The novel is set in a single day, and follows Clarissa as she goes about her day, from the morning when she wakes up to the evening when the party begins. Along the way, she interacts with a variety of people, including her husband Richard, her old friend Sally Seton, and her former suitor Peter Walsh. As the day progresses, Clarissa's thoughts and memories become increasingly intertwined with those of Septimus Warren Smith, a shell-shocked veteran of the war. The novel is a meditation on the nature of time, memory, and identity, and explores themes of love, loss, and the effects of war. It is considered a modernist classic, and is widely regarded as one of Woolf's greatest works.

By Virginia Woolf · First published 1925 · Genre: Modernist Literature, Fiction, Psychological Fiction · 63,009 words

First lines

Mrs. Dalloway said she would buy the flowers herself. For Lucy had her work cut out for her. The doors would be taken off their hinges; Rumpelmayer's men were coming. And then, thought Clarissa Dalloway, what a morning--fresh as if issued to children on a beach.

What this Textopian page supports

Mrs Dalloway is listed on Textopian as a novel by Virginia Woolf, dated 1925 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Novel
Author: Virginia Woolf
Date: 1925 CE
Language: English
Genres: Modernist Literature, Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Literary Fiction, Romance
Length: 63,009 words
Structure: 1 section, 1,916 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering Mrs Dalloway?
How does this novel by Virginia Woolf fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Modernist Literature first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Modernist Literature — Mrs Dalloway is a modernist novel, written by Virginia Woolf, a prominent modernist author. The novel is known for its stream-of-consciousness narrative style, which is a hallmark of modernist literature.
Fiction — Mrs Dalloway is a work of fiction, as it is a story that is made up and not based on real events or people.
Psychological Fiction — Mrs Dalloway is a psychological novel, as it explores the inner thoughts and feelings of its characters, and delves into their psychological states.
Literary Fiction — Mrs Dalloway is a literary novel, as it is written in a sophisticated and complex style, and is focused on exploring themes and ideas rather than simply telling a story.