Katherine Hilbery, torn between the past and the present, is a figure reflecting her own struggle with history. Both have glorious literary ancestors: in her case, her poet grandfather, and in Woolf's case, her father Leslie Stephen, a writer, philosopher, and publisher. Both wish to break free from the demands of the previous generation without completely rejecting it. Katherine must decide if she loves the iconoclast Ralph Denham, while Woolf seeks a way to experiment with the novel that allows her to express her love for the literature of the past.

This is the most traditional of Woolf's novels, yet even here one can see the beginning of her liberation. In this, her second novel, with its curious mix of comedy and high seriousness, Woolf has already found her distinctive voice.

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Pages: 592, Dimensions: 12.9x12.9cm