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Where to start reading Virginia Woolf

Where to start reading Virginia Woolf

19 December 2025

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Image: George Charles Beresford

Over a century has passed since Virginia Woolf published her first essays and novels, yet she's never been more relevant. Readers discovered and re-visited Mrs Dalloway during lockdown, finding solace and reflection in its pages, and Woolf’s lyrical and thought-provoking writing has continued to resonate in bookshops and on BookTok in the years since.

Woolf's personal life has made her as much of a subject of fascination as her writing. As a central figure of the influential Bloomsbury Group, she was embroiled in their complicated and, at the time, scandalous affairs (see: her lust and longing-filled correspondence with Vita Sackville-West). Woolf has become a revered figurehead whose life and thoughts have helped shape modern ideas about feminism, sexuality and mental health.

Yet, it’s in her artfully crafted books that we most feel her indomitable spirit. If you’re new to Woolf’s work, it can be a little overwhelming knowing where to start, as she has such an extensive oeuvre. That’s where we can help. Below is our proposed Virginia Woolf reading order for beginners, starting with her most accessible book and moving onto her more experimental work.

What book should I read first?

Mrs Dalloway (1925)

Although this novel was produced roughly mid-career, Mrs Dalloway epitomises Woolf’s distinct style and is the perfect entry point to her writing. Frequently cited as the easiest Virginia Woolf book to read first, the plot of the story is deceptively simple: Clarissa Dalloway is throwing a party, and the novel follows her preparations throughout the day, culminating in the event itself.

Twinned with her tale is the story of WWI veteran Septimus, who suffers from hallucinations and haunting memories. The details of this day expand voluminously to encompass their whole lives and celebrate the importance of our moment-to-moment thoughts and feelings.

At a glance: Mrs Dalloway may seem straightforward in its plot but its beauty lies in its introspective look at the deep, rich inner world of its characters. It is an undaunting, perfect introduction to Woolf’s work.

What is considered Virginia Woolf’s best book?

To the Lighthouse (1927)

Building upon the narrative style seen in Mrs Dalloway, To The Lighthouse is often considered Woolf’s best work because of the way it is written. Woolf has an extraordinary way of showing how experience is filtered through an individual’s perception at a particular time, through their stream of consciousness. This style works beautifully to create a story so emotionally moving you’ll feel the true poignancy of all that’s lost in the inevitable onward march of time.

To The Lighthouse is particularly moving in its exploration of love, legacy, and loss, as it is considered Woolf’s most personal book. Woolf’s mother died when she was just 13 and this novel memorialises her in the vibrant and boisterous character Mrs Ramsey, who tends to her family and guests while at their summer home.

At a glance: If you’re looking to read Virginia Woolf’s masterpiece, To the Lighthouse is a firm contender. With a story that spans over a decade, the inner worlds of the Ramseys are explored, as are their reflections on time, morality, and family dynamics.

The best Virginia Woolf books to read next

Orlando (1928)

We’ve placed Orlando third in our reading list because of its fascinating diversion from the first two titles. This playful and funny novella demonstrates the dazzling breadth of Woolf’s imagination. Written as an elaborate love letter to Woolf's friend and lover Vita Sackville-West, the book depicts a life that bursts through the boundaries of mortal limits with its title character traversing centuries and changing gender.

Orlando experiences life as a nobleman at the court of Elizabeth I, a diplomat in Constantinople and survives into the 20th Century to become a celebrated poet. The character is brilliantly portrayed by Tilda Swinton in the film adaptation of this novel, but the book itself must be read to experience the true exuberance of its astounding story.

At a glance: Bursting with a lively spirit, this novella explores gender identity and the nature of art and time over a 300-year period. Despite the narrative spanning multiple centuries, however, Orlando is a relatively accessible read.

The Waves (1931)

Woolf is at the height of her writing powers in The Waves, a book which crystallises the style and subjects of the previous three novels. Here, we see the lives of six characters as they grow from childhood to old age, with poetic language capturing each of their sensory experiences of the world.

Each section begins with a description of the sun as it moves across the sky, thereby framing their lives in a single day. The Waves may feel strange to read at first, but savour it slowly and its wisdom will seep in. It’s a book to be kept within reach at all stages of life and read at intervals; you’ll identify differently with its six distinct protagonists as they age and change alongside you.

At a glance: More experimental than the previous titles, The Waves explores the inner lives of a group of friends through streams of consciousness and meditations. The result is a lyrical, introspective and deeply reflective read.

A Room of One's Own (1929)

Now that you’ve appreciated the artfulness of Woolf’s novels, you can properly appreciate this extended essay, which remains a nuanced and triumphant feminist statement. Based on two lectures Woolf gave at Girton College, Cambridge, in 1928, A Room of One's Own is such a vital part of the feminist canon that its title alone has become a byword for independence.

Woolf considers the social and economic factors that prevent women from achieving their full creative potential with compelling logic and creativity. As an example, she imagines a fictional character, Judith, as Shakespeare's sister who possesses all his talent but is constrained by society’s expectations of women. It’s particularly poignant to read Woolf’s thoughts on the marginalisation of female writers and to realise the bravery required for her to write and publish her revelatory works of fiction.

At a glance: A juggernaut in women’s non-fiction, A Room of One’s Own is a call-to-action for gender equality and creative freedom. There’s a reason this essay has maintained such a legacy.

The Years (1937)

The Years encapsulates both the minutiae of everyday life and its grand, sweeping elements, simultaneously. Woolf uses a less poetic writing style in this novel, although details of the changing seasons and weather still colour the mood of each chapter.

The Years charts the lives of the genteel Pemberton family over 50 years, but only through particular moments in particular years. Interestingly, this was Woolf’s bestselling book during her lifetime, but its popularity has since diminished. However, it offers a panoramic view of how personalities change with the shifting sands of history.

At a glance: Following a family over multiple decades, The Years bears the hallmarks of Woolf’s introspective and reflective style, but is more linear than the previous titles on this list. It makes for an interesting comparison, especially considering it was written later.

Between the Acts (1941)

Considered by some critics to be an unfinished novel, Between the Acts is also Woolf's last and, as a result, is tinged with tragedy. The book, which tells of the goings-on around an amateur production of a play in a village, was published shortly after Woolf's suicide, and she found writing the book a challenge while in the grips of her final depressive episode.

Still, it's nevertheless a pertinent, insightful and underrated novel about the devastating impact of the two wars on Britain and its people. Like much of Woolf's writing, Between the Acts is fascinated by time, its passing and how it can shapeshift.

At a glance: Published posthumously, Between the Acts follows the inner lives of a village’s inhabitants on a single day, as they watch a pageant on the eve of WWII. With the looming threat of conflict, and the characters’ philosophical contemplations, there’s plenty to reflect upon here.

Frequently asked questions

Why is Virginia Woolf so famous?

Virginia Woolf is lauded as one of the 20th Century’s greatest writers, a pioneer of literary modernism and feminist thought. She’s probably best known for her innovative and experimental stream-of-consciousness writing techniques, interrogating the interior worlds of her characters whilst exploring concepts of perception, memory and time. All in all, she was a revolutionary writer whose influence is still felt today.

What is Literary Modernism?

Literary Modernism was an artistic and cultural movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that aimed to explore new and unique ways of representing reality and consciousness. It set itself in opposition to traditional literature, championing experimental writing that captured the intricacies of human existence – think non-linear narratives, shifting perspectives on time and character, moral ambiguity, and a greater focus on thoughts and feelings over anything more concrete. It was radical and exciting, marking a big shift in Western literature, and writers like Virginia Woolf, James Joyce and T. S. Eliot led the charge.

How should one read a book by Virginia Woolf?

When approaching a book by Virginia Woolf, the best thing to do is to set your expectations. This isn’t going to have a traditional narrative: the priority here is to explore the inner lives of the characters. Some of the sentence structures, especially in Woolf’s more experimental work, may be longer than you’re used to and can appear quite meandering. The aim here is to get a sense of perception, to capture a moment, rather than anything more definitive. In essence, go with the flow and reflect as you go.