Vince

Leonard Woolf, Letter to Virginia Stephens, January 11, 1912. REF SxMs-18/1/A/1/1/1 . Photo courtesy of The Keep

Letters between Virginia and Leonard Woolf

In the Keep, there were more documents directly written by the members of the Bloomsbury Group. It was enjoyable trying to find which documents I wanted to write about. During my time in the archives, I had the opportunity to examine the letters exchanged between Virginia and Leonard Woolf. Although I could not handle the documents directly, they appeared delicate and aged. These letters possessed a unique quality of thoughtfulness and creativity that can only come with time and patience. In today's fast-paced world, we have become accustomed to instant gratification through technology, whether it be quick answers to our questions or immediate responses to our messages. However, the letters between Virginia and Leonard show that the slowness of correspondence can lead to a more imaginative and meaningful exchange. The type of relationship that Virginia and Leonard had reminded me of the relationship between Clarissa and her relationship with Peter in Mrs. Dalloway. Virginia writes "His relations with Clarissa had not been simple. It had spoilt his life, he said..(pg. 37)" Clarissa feels a deep connection to this person and loves them, but their relationship is complicated by social expectations and the conventions of the time. Additionally, Clarissa's thoughts are interrupted by the appearance of Hugh Whitbread, a man she does not respect and who she sees as a "comedy figure." This contrast between the two men highlights the depth of Clarissa's feelings for her lover and the challenges she faces in navigating her emotions in a society that often prioritizes superficial appearances over genuine human connection. The deliberate pace of the archives mirrors the slowness of these letters, emphasizing the value of taking one's time and savoring the creative process. It was truly captivating to witness the emotional depth of these two influential figures, something that is not always evident in their published works. 

Woolf, Virginia, et al. The Annotated Mrs. Dalloway. Liveright Publishing Corporation, 2021.