Virginia Woolf in Richmond

Peter Fullagar was raised in Kent and studied for a BA (Hons) in English and Sociology at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, before going on to complete an MA in English Language and Literature at the University of Westminster.He is a published writer and editor, formerly an English teacher who ventured to work in Tokyo and Moscow. His short stories and articles have been published in anthologies and magazines, including English Teaching Professional as well as The Huffington Post.He lives in Berkshire with his partner.

“Lively, diverse and readable, this book captures beautifully Virginia Woolf’s time in leafy Richmond, her mixed emotions over this exile from central London, and its influence on her life and work. This illuminating book is a valuable addition to literary history, and a must-read for every Virginia Woolf enthusiast…” Emma Woolf, writer, journalist, presenter and Virginia Woolf’s great niece; “Virginia Woolf in Richmond features an intriguing collection of Virginia Woolf’s thoughts and musings on daily life, work, and rest, revealed in evocative excerpts from Virginia’s diaries and letters, written between 1914 and 1924. These are complemented by Fullagar’s narrative commentary, which is crisp and informative.” The Modernist Review; “Fullagar’s book reveals what life was like during the First World War for the Woolfs… [it’s] an unusual addition to the Woolf library, however, published in association with the campaign to erect a life-sized sculpture of Woolf on the riverside. Book and statue together should help maintain awareness of the valuable literary legacy that Woolf left behind.” TLS; “If Fullagar’s book is light on analysis, it’s because it is really a vehicle for extended, contextualised snippets from her diaries and letters of this time, which show Woolf at her coruscating best, trying out techniques she would later adopt in her fiction, analysing herself and those around her, and charting the minutiae of everyday life with a sharp and curious eye. He concludes that “life in Richmond gave Virginia freedom in her writing, freedom to grow as a person and the freedom to think for herself again”: a worthy basis on which to call for a statue.” Prospect Magazine; “Virginia Woolf in Richmond is a great book for Woolf scholars and for laypersons with a general interest in her life and work. Fullagar shows how the time she spent in Richmond – and the events that took place in both her own life and the wider world during that time – influenced Woolf’s development as a writer and her personality in a more general sense. It is clear that Woolf’s life and work (and hence the books that so many of us love) would have been very different if she had not lived there.” Joseph Ludlow for NB Magazine; “Richmond allowed for social interaction but without the rush and bustle of a fast-paced London. It was a tranquil life. Fullagar presents a well-written case for Woolf’s love of Richmond. Although Woolf is permanently linked with Bloomsbury, she does have deep roots in Richmond.” Goodreads review; “It’s a well-written and well-researched book about the time she lived in Richmond. It’s a must-read for any person who likes Virginia Woolf. Highly recommended.” Goodreads review.

• Foreword by Paula Maggio Chronology of Virginia WoolfIntroductionVirginia's RichmondThe Hogarth PressWoolf on WritingFamily in the Richmond EraVirginia and her ServantsGatherings with WoolfHealthPhotographsVirginia at her LeisureWoolf on WarLeonard's ViewpointA Lasting LegacyRecommended ReadingEndnotesIndex