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The Waves

Annotated Edition (Alma Classics Evergreens)
Series: Evergreens
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( 51,909 ratings, 6,306 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
The Waves by Virginia Woolf is an innovative and poetic exploration of six intertwined lives, tracing their personal thoughts and experiences from childhood through to old age. The narrative unfolds through a series of soliloquies, where each character reflects on their inner emotions and the passing of time. Woolf's unique use of language crafts a fluid, dream-like portrayal of identity and the human condition.
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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?

You might enjoy this book if you appreciate poetic and experimental prose that delves deeply into the inner thoughts and lives of its characters. This novel captures the ebb and flow of life through interconnected soliloquies from six friends, offering a profound meditation on identity, time, and existence.

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A commercial and critical success when it was first published in 1931, and now considered by some to be Virginia Woolf's most ambitious novel. This new edition includes pictures and a section on Virginia Woolf's life and works.

A commercial and critical success when it was first published in 1931, and now considered by some to be Virginia Woolf’s most ambitious novel, showcasing her Modernist narrative techniques at their finest, The Waves casts a visionary and lyrical light on everyday life.

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

Through a series of connected monologues, The Waves tells the story of six very different friends – Bernard, Louis, Neville, Jinny, Susan and Rhoda – as they progress from childhood to middle age.

Interspersed with evocative descriptions of the seaside at different times of day, the poignant personal histories coalesce into a poetic tapestry of human experience.

A commercial and critical success when it was first published in 1931, and now considered by some to be Virginia Woolf’s most ambitious novel, showcasing her Modernist narrative techniques at their finest, The Waves casts a visionary and lyrical light on everyday life.

Series: Evergreens

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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?

The Waves is celebrated for its innovative narrative style and poetic language, often compared to the artistry of a musical virtuoso like Jimi Hendrix. Virginia Woolf's novel is praised for its exploration of consciousness and complex character development, weaving together the inner voices of six characters in a seamless flow. Critics highlight the book’s lyrical quality and its contribution to modernist literature.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781847497819

Publisher: Alma Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 13 December 2018

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Alma Classics

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 20.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 229g

Pages: 256

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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