Overview

In a world struggling with 'fundamentalisms', media consolidation and the stifling of dissent, there is an urgent need for scepticism, critical thinking, and ultimately, a greater understanding of the complexities and functions of language. This timely study explores the relevance of Virginia Woolf's texts to questions regarding the dissemination and the deciphering of 'information' in our current political situation. Judith Allen approaches Woolf as a theorist of language as well as a theorist of the reading process. Closely examining her narrative and rhetorical strategies she shows how Woolf's texts both express and enact her politics. The book ranges from Michel de Montaigne to the Dixie Chicks, from the newspaper empire of World War I - the Northcliffe Press - to today's mainstream newspapers, Rupert Murdoch's empire and the 'blogosphere'. Close readings of Woolf's essays including A Room of One's Own, Three Guineas and 'Thoughts on Peace in an Air Raid', as well as several novels, focus on Woolf's interrogation of language - sometimes single resonant words - to show how she awakens her readers to new ways of reading, to new questions of their own.

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9780748664856

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Reviews

<p>A thoughtful and provocative book which ranges widely across Virginia Woolf's work, paying particular attention to her essays and to her essayistic writings.... Allen's book is a timely and welcome addition to Woolf scholarship and to a growing body of work on the essay itself.--Randi Saloman Woolf Studies Annual (01/01/0001)

"A passionate, political and provocative study.--Patricia Clements, Professor emeritus, University of Alberta, and founding director of The Orlando Project Guided by Montaigne's trenchant question, 'What do I know?', Judith Allen shows how the lexicon of war in the twenty-first century can be revealed in all its lamentable 'truthiness' by paying attention to what Virginia Woolf's essays have to say about the power of language to transform our world. This is a book that makes refreshingly clear Woolf's deep political engagement with the urgent issues of war and peace.--Mark Hussey, Editor, Woolf Studies Annual The distillation of many years of sparklingly erudite scholarship and continuing incisive debate, Judith Allen's book is essential reading for anyone concerned by current and disturbing ramifications of the politics of language and the language of politics in the modern world. She provides a generously open guide to many of Woolf's most influential essays as well as to her major manifestos, ""A Room of One's Own"" and ""Three Guineas"".--Dr. Jane Goldman, Reader in English Literature, University of Glasgow, UK A thoughtful and provocative book which ranges widely across Virginia Woolf's work, paying particular attention to her essays and to her ""essayistic"" writings.... Allen's book is a timely and welcome addition to Woolf scholarship and to a growing body of work on the essay itself.--Randi Saloman""Woolf Studies Annual"" (01/01/0001)"

<p>Guided by Montaigne's trenchant question, 'What do I know?', Judith Allen shows how the lexicon of war in the twenty-first century can be revealed in all its lamentable 'truthiness' by paying attention to what Virginia Woolf's essays have to say about the power of language to transform our world. This is a book that makes refreshingly clear Woolf's deep political engagement with the urgent issues of war and peace.--Mark Hussey, Editor, Woolf Studies Annual

Author Information

Judith Allen leads the Virginia Woolf Discussion Group at Kelly Writers House at the University of Pennsylvania.

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