Feminism and the Reader

Sep 21, 2026

Examining Virginia Woolf through feminist perspectives on reading, the work explores how Woolf’s writing reshapes intellectual exchange between author, text, and audience. It traces concepts such as sapphic fragments and revision practices, evaluates Woolf’s role in a feminist public sphere, and considers performance, fame, and intertextual continuities. The volume also extends inquiry into later authors in its epilogue, connecting feminism, literary interpretation, and the lived act of reading.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages236

Reading Time6 h 3 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction: Woolfian Resonances

Chapter 1 O Sister Swallow: Sapphic Fragments as English

Chapter 2 Literature in Virginia Woolf

Chapter 3 The Memory Palace and the Lumber Room: Woolf’s Renaissance Miscellany; A Feminist Public Sphere?; Virginia Woolf’s Revisions of the Eighteenth Century

Chapter 4 A Very Sincere Performance: Woolf, Byron, and Fame

Epilogue: Woolfin Africa: Lessing, El Saadawi, and Aidoo

Appendix

Notes

Bibliography

Index

Virginia Woolf This page intentionally left blank Feminism and the Reader Anne E. Fernald VIRGINIA WOOLF © Anne E. Fernald, 2006. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. First published in 2006 by PALGRAVE MACMILLAN™ 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010 and Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire, England RG21 6XS Companies and representatives throughout the world. PALGRAVE MACMILLAN is the global academic imprint of the Palgrave Macmillan division of St. Martin’s Press, LLC and of Palgrave Macmillan Ltd. Macmillan® is a registered trademark in the United States, United Kingdom and other countries. Palgrave is a registered trademark in the European Union and other countries. ISBN-13: 978–1–4039–6965–1 ISBN-10: 1–4039–6965–5 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Fernald, Anne E. Virginia Woolf : feminism and the reader / Anne E. Fernald. [p. cm](p. cm). Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 1–4039–6965–5 (alk. paper) 1. Woolf, Virginia, 1882–1941—Criticism and interpretation. 2. Woolf, Virginia, 1882–1941—Knowledge and learning. 3. Woolf, Virginia, 1882–1941—Books and reading. 4. Feminism in literature. I. Title. PR6045.O72 Z5-Z999 823 􀀂 .912—dc22 2005057636 A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. Design by Newgen Imaging Systems (P) Ltd., Chennai, India. First edition: September 2006 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Printed in the United States of America. To my parents, Graham and Greta Fernald This page intentionally left blank Content s Acknowledgments ix Abbreviations xi Introduction: Woolfian Resonances 1 Chapter 1 O Sister Swallow: Sapphic Fragments as English Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Literature in Virginia Woolf The Memory Palace and the Lumber Room: Woolf’s Renaissance Miscellany A Feminist Public Sphere? Virginia Woolf’s Revisions 17 51 of the Eighteenth Century 85 Chapter 4 A Very Sincere Performance: Woolf, Byron, and Fame 117 Epilogue: Woolfin Africa: Lessing, El Saadawi, and Aidoo 161 Appendix 169 Notes 171 Bibliography 199 Index 217 This page intentionally left blank Ac knowledgment s This book has been long—too long—in the writing and, in consequence, my debts are great. In the years since I first imagined a book on Woolf, I have taught at five different institutions. One community, however, has been constant: the global one of Woolf scholars. Thus, my first and deepest debt must go to Virginia Woolf and the readers whom she has inspired. In particular, I thank Mark Hussey and Vara Neverow for turning a virtual community into an annual conference: from the very first conference at Pace University in 1991, I have been welcomed, challenged, and encouraged. These conferences have been my intellectual home, and, through them as well as through other gatherings, I have met, talked with, and befriended many great thinkers on Woolf. It is marvelous and humbling to remember how deeply even single conversations have enriched my work. It is wonderful to remember the many who read my work and talked to me about this project over the years. My debts are too great to count or repay. I would like to single out Jessica Berman, Julia Briggs, Beth Rigel Daugherty, Maria DiBattista, Jay Dickson, Jeanne Dubino, Jed Esty, Christine Froula, Jane Garrity, Jane Goldman, Sally Greene, Leslie Hankins, Ed Hungerford, Jeri Johnson, Andrew McNeillie, James Najarian, Beth Rosenberg, the late Lucio Ruotolo, Brenda Silver, and Alice Staveley for sharing their intellectual gifts with me. Most recently, my writing group has been alifeline, so I thank Manya Steinkoler and Sarah Zimmerman for great conversation and for reading, reading, and reading some more. This project began in Harriet Chessman’s graduate class on Woolf and Stein at Yale and

FAQs

What is the focus of the book Feminism and the Reader?

The book investigates Virginia Woolf from feminist viewpoints, emphasizing how reading and interpretation shape the relationship among Woolf, the text, and its audience.

Which topics are covered in the chapters?

Chapters address sapphic fragments, Woolf’s literary engagement, the memory palace and the lumber room, feminist public sphere questions, and Woolf’s revisions of eighteenth-century materials.

What does the epilogue explore?

The epilogue extends the inquiry into “Woolfin Africa,” discussing Lessing, El Saadawi, and Aidoo.

Sep 21, 2026

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