The Diary of Virginia Woolf: Volume 5: 1936-1941

The concluding volume of Virginia Woolf's diary covers the last five years of her life, ending four days before she committed suicide at the age of 59. This period saw the publication of her novel The Years, the polemical essay Three Guineas, the biography of her friend Roger Fry, and the writing of Between the Acts. This volume stands as a monument to Woolf's life and the enduring friendships of the Bloomsbury group.

Format: Hardback
Length: 544 pages
Publication date: 01 June 2023
Publisher: Granta Books

Here is the rephrased text:

Friday, October 30, 1936. I do not wish, for reasons I cannot now develop, to analyze that extraordinary summer. It will be more helpful and healthy for me to write scenes; to take up my pen and describe actual events: good practice too for my stumbling and doubting pen. Can I still write? That is the question, you see. And now I will try to prove if the gift is dead, or dormant.

The concluding volume of Virginia Woolf's diary covers the last five years of her life, ending four days before she committed suicide at the age of 59. These final years were overshadowed by the untimely death of her nephew Julian Bell in the Spanish Civil War, and her own intermittent mental fragility. As another World War began to seem inevitable, writing itself often felt like a battle. Nevertheless, this period saw the publication of her novel The Years, the polemical essay Three Guineas, the biography of her friend Roger Fry, and the writing of Between the Acts. This volume stands as a monument to Woolf's life and the enduring friendships of the Bloomsbury group.

This Granta edition of Volume 5 contains the unexpurgated text for the first time.

Introduction:
Virginia Woolf's diary, spanning the years from 1915 to 1941, offers a unique and intimate glimpse into the life and thoughts of one of the most influential writers of the 20th century. In this concluding volume, covering the period from 1936 to 1941, we witness the final years of Woolf's life, marked by personal struggles, social uphevelments, and the looming shadow of World War II.

The Last Five Years:
The concluding volume of Woolf's diary begins with her reflections on the extraordinary summer of 1936, which she chooses not to analyze for reasons that remain unclear. Instead, she opts to write scenes and describe actual events, believing that this practice will be beneficial and healthy for her. It serves as a way for her to overcome her doubts and continue her writing journey.

However, the question of whether she can still write looms large in her mind. This period was marked by personal tragedies, including the untimely death of her nephew Julian Bell in the Spanish Civil War and her own intermittent mental fragility. The onset of another World War further exacerbated her concerns, making writing itself feel like a battle. Nevertheless, Woolf persevered, using her writing to navigate through these challenging times.

During these final years, Woolf published several significant works. Her novel The Years, which was completed in 1937, marked a departure from her earlier style and explored the lives of a group of friends living in London during the 1920s. The polemical essay Three Guineas, published in 1938, addressed the issue of war and the role of women in society. Additionally, she wrote the biography of her friend Roger Fry, titled Roger Fry: A Biography (1938), and the writing of Between the Acts, a series of essays that delved into the nature of writing and the creative process.

Conclusion:
The concluding volume of Virginia Woolf's diary stands as a testament to her life and the enduring friendships of the Bloomsbury group. Despite the personal tragedies and challenges she faced, Woolf continued to write and publish her works, which continue to resonate with readers worldwide. This Granta edition of Volume 5 contains the unexpurgated text for the first time, allowing us to appreciate the depth and complexity of Woolf's writing even more.

In conclusion, Virginia Woolf's diary offers a profound insight into the life and thoughts of a remarkable writer. The concluding volume, covering the last five years of her life, provides a window into her personal struggles, social upheavals, and the looming shadow of World War II. Through her writing, Woolf navigated these challenges and continued to produce significant works that continue to inspire and influence readers today.

Weight: 918g
Dimension: 165 x 243 x 48 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781783788781