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Between the Acts

Annotated Edition
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( 8,684 ratings, 808 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Between the Acts by Virginia Woolf is set in a small English village just before World War II. The novel captures the events of a pageant performance, where the villagers are both audience and participants, reflecting humanity's enduring cycle of creation and destruction. Woolf explores themes of time, history, and human connection, painting a vivid picture of communal and interpersonal interactions.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you enjoy thought-provoking narratives that explore the nuances of human interaction and the passage of time. Set against the backdrop of a country house pageant, the story intricately weaves themes of identity, art, and societal change, offering a rich tapestry of language and emotion that is classic to Virginia Woolf's style. If you appreciate literary fiction that delves into the depths of everyday life with poetic brilliance, this might be your perfect read.

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Highly symbolic, and dealing with many of the themes that were most dear to Virginia Woolf, such as the condition of the individual in the current of history, sexual ambiguity and the tension between life and art, Between the Acts was the author's final novel. This edition includes notes and extra material.

Brand-new edition of Virginia Woolf's last novel to include pictures and an extensive section on Virginia Woolf’s life and works.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

It is a variable early summer’s day, and there is an unusual bustle in the grounds of Pointz Hall, a country house in a remote village in the very heart of England. The local community is all astir, intent on putting the finishing touches to preparations for the annual pageant, which is to be performed there that evening.

Among the medley of attendees are Mr Oliver, the owner of the house; the flirtatious Mrs Manresa and her friend William Dodge, who is rumoured to be homosexual; the troubled married couple Giles and Isa; as well as the eccentric spinster Miss La Trobe, the author of the pageant – an ambitious journey through England’s past and literature.

Highly symbolic, and dealing with many of the themes that were most dear to Virginia Woolf, such as the condition of the individual in the current of history, sexual ambiguity, and the tension between life and art, Between the Acts was the author’s final novel, offering a tantalising glimpse of the direction her fiction might have taken.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Between the Acts by Virginia Woolf is considered a poignant and reflective exploration of pre-war England's societal and personal tensions. Critics often praise Woolf's innovative narrative style and her intricate character development. The novel's focus on a village's pageant serves as a microcosm for the larger changes and anxieties of its time, drawing admiration for Woolf's deft handling of themes like impermanence, communal life, and individual introspection.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781847498908

Publisher: Alma Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 14 October 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Alma Classics

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 16.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 180g

Pages: 192

About the Author

The most famous member of the Bloomsbury Group, Virginia Woolf (1882–1941) was a novelist, essayist and critic. Her writing established her as one of Modernism’s leading exponents, as well as a pioneering feminist. Her most famous works include To the Lighthouse, Orlando and Mrs Dalloway.

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