A Room of One's Own

Summary

'Women have served all these centuries as looking glasses possessing the magic and delicious power of reflecting the figure of man at twice its natural size.'

Based on two lectures Woolf delivered at the University of Cambridge, A Room of One's Own compellingly argues for women's intellectual freedom and the importance of financial independence. It is still considered one of the most powerful pieces of feminist writing to this day.

Published in 1929, A Room of One's Own asserts a simple message: in order for women to reach their full creative potential, they must have their own money and space with which to do it with. Drawing from the careers of the extraordinary female authors who came before her – such as Jane Austen, the Brontë sisters and Aphra Behn – Woolf stresses just how crucial access to education is, particularly in an environment which fails to support women's liberty. She cleverly asks us to imagine that Shakespeare had a sister – equal in genius, talent – and poses the question: would her legacy be the same if her means to create were stumped? As incisive as it is intelligent, A Room of One's Own is a searing social commentary for the ages. This audiobook edition is brilliantly read by Karen Cass.
Virginia Woolf (1882 – 1941) was one of the most significant novelists of the twentieth century. A modernist writer and progressive thinker, she is known for her stream of consciousness narrative style and influence on feminist criticism. Her works have been translated into over fifty languages and are widely read and adapted to this day.