Orlando: A Biography - Paperback

by Virginia Woolf (Author)

Virginia Woolf's satirical, prescient novel Orlando, published in 1928, is a groundbreaking work that explores themes of gender, identity, and time. The narrative features a nobleman named Orlando who lives over three centuries, beginning in the Elizabethan era and ending in the twentieth century, and, remarkably, changes from man to woman at the midpoint. With its fusion of masculinity and femininity, this transformation allows Woolf to critique societal norms and expectations tied to gender and class in different periods. Through Orlando's unique life span and gender fluidity, Woolf suggests that gender is not fixed or binary, challenging the traditional concepts of gender roles and stereotypes. A complex and multilayered novel that defies easy categorization, Orlando is lauded for its rich prose and its pioneering representation of gender and queer identity. It is a work of literature that continues to resonate with readers today.

Back Jacket

It would take decades for the singular, gender-evasive 'they' to take hold in the lexicon . . . and for the culture to catch up to Orlando's casual claim that 'in every human being a vacillation from one sex to the other takes place.' --Vulture

Virginia Woolf's satirical, prescient novel, published in 1928, is a groundbreaking work that explores themes of gender, identity, and time. The narrative features a nobleman named Orlando who lives over three centuries, beginning in the Elizabethan era and ending in the twentieth century, and changes from a man to a woman at the midpoint. With its fusion of masculinity and femininity, this transformation allows Woolf to critique societal norms and expectations tied to gender and class in different periods. Woolf suggests that gender is not fixed or binary, challenging traditional concepts of gender roles and stereotypes. Complex and multilayered, Orlando is lauded for its rich prose and pioneering representation of queer identity.