The Duchess and the Jeweller
The Duchess and the Jeweller is a short story by Virginia Woolf, first published in 1938. It tells the story of a duchess who is in need of money and visits a jeweller to sell her jewels. The jeweller is a shrewd businessman who is determined to get the best deal for himself. He offers her a low price for her jewels, but the duchess is determined to get a better deal. She uses her wit and charm to outsmart the jeweller and get a better price for her jewels. In the end, the duchess gets the price she wants and the jeweller is left with a newfound respect for her. The story is a commentary on the power of wit and charm in a world where money is the ultimate currency.
By Virginia Woolf · First published 1938 · Genre: Modernist Literature, Fiction, Short Story · 2,486 words
First lines
Oliver Bacon lived at the top of a house overlooking the Green Park. He had a flat; chairs jutted out at the right angles--chairs covered in hide. Sofas filled the bays of the windows--sofas covered in tapestry.
What this Textopian page supports
The Duchess and the Jeweller is listed on Textopian as a short story by Virginia Woolf, dated 1938 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Virginia Woolf
- Date: 1938 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Modernist Literature, Fiction, Short Story, Romance
- Length: 2,486 words
- Structure: 1 section, 58 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Duchess and the Jeweller by Virginia Woolf
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Duchess and the Jeweller?
- How does this short story by Virginia Woolf fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Modernist Literature first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Dubliners by James Joyce
- The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens
- The Cooks Wedding And Other Stories by Anton Chekhov
- Out Of The Silence by Erle Cox
- The Bet And Other Stories by Anton Chekhov
- Monday Or Tuesday by Virginia Woolf
Genres
- Modernist Literature — The Duchess and the Jeweller is a short story written by Virginia Woolf, a prominent figure in the Modernist literary movement. The story follows a non-linear narrative structure and employs stream of consciousness writing, both of which are common features of Modernist literature.
- Fiction — The Duchess and the Jeweller is a work of fiction, as it is a story that is not based on real events or people.
- Short Story — The Duchess and the Jeweller is a short story, as it is a narrative work that is shorter than a novel and typically contains fewer characters and plotlines.
- Romance — The Duchess and the Jeweller contains elements of romance, as it follows the story of a duchess and a jeweller who develop a romantic relationship.
Tags
alley · bacon · bond · boy · camel · clock · diamonds · diana · door · duchess · eyes · finger