Old Mrs. Grey by Virginia Woolf

Name: Old Mrs. Grey
Author: Virginia Woolf

Mrs. Grey is an elderly woman living in a small English village. She is a widow, and her only companion is her faithful dog, Toby. Mrs. Grey is a kind and gentle soul, and she is beloved by the villagers. One day, Mrs. Grey is visited by a young man named John, who is a distant relative of hers. John is a soldier, and he has come to tell Mrs. Grey that her son, who was also a soldier, has been killed in action. Mrs. Grey is devastated by the news, and she is further saddened when John tells her that her son had been engaged to be married. Mrs. Grey is determined to find out more about her son's fiancée, and she sets out on a journey to London to meet her. Along the way, she meets a variety of people, including a young girl named Mary, who helps her on her journey. When Mrs. Grey finally arrives in London, she discovers that her son's fiancée is a young woman named Alice. Alice is a kind and gentle soul, and Mrs. Grey is immediately taken with her. Mrs. Grey and Alice become close friends, and Mrs. Grey is able to find some solace in her grief. Mrs. Grey eventually returns to her village, and she is welcomed back with open arms. She is comforted by the love of her friends and neighbors, and she is able to find peace in her life once again.

By Virginia Woolf · First published 1917 · Genre: Modernist Literature, Feminist Literature, Realism · 629 words

First lines

There are moments even in England, now, when even the busiest, most contented suddenly let fall what they hold--it may be the week's washing.

Sheets and pyjamas crumble and dissolve in their hands, because, though they do not state this in so many words, it seems silly to take the washing round to Mrs. Peel when out there over the fields over the hills, there is no washing; no pinning of clothes to lines; mangling and ironing no work at all, but boundless rest. Stainless and boundless rest; space unlimited; untrodden grass; wild birds flying hills whose smooth uprise continue that wild flight.

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Old Mrs. Grey is listed on Textopian as a short story by Virginia Woolf, dated 1917 CE.

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Work type: Short story
Author: Virginia Woolf
Date: 1917 CE
Language: English
Genres: Modernist Literature, Feminist Literature, Realism, Romance
Length: 629 words
Structure: 1 section, 19 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

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Similar titles

Genres

Modernist Literature — Old Mrs. Grey is a novel by Virginia Woolf, a renowned modernist author. The novel follows the story of a woman's life and her struggles with aging, which are common themes in modernist literature.
Feminist Literature — Old Mrs. Grey is a novel by Virginia Woolf, a renowned feminist author. The novel follows the story of a woman's life and her struggles with aging, which are common themes in feminist literature.
Realism — Old Mrs. Grey is a novel by Virginia Woolf, which is written in a realistic style. The novel follows the story of a woman's life and her struggles with aging, which are common themes in realistic literature.
Romance — Old Mrs. Grey is a novel by Virginia Woolf, which contains some romantic elements. The novel follows the story of a woman's life and her struggles with aging, which are common themes in romantic literature.