Books

New York: Crosby Gaige, 1928. First edition. Very Good +. Octavo. First edition, number 638 of 861 copies, signed by the author in her customary purple ink on the verso of the half-title. Original black cloth, titles and English rose decoration to spine in gilt, publisher's device to front cover in gilt, cream endpapers, top edge gilt, others untrimmed. Frontispiece and 7 photographic illustrations, including one of her lover and muse Vita Sackville-West as Orlando. A Very Good + copy with minor chipping to the spine ends, cloth worn at the upper corners, and slight separation to the text block at the signed leaf. This signed edition preceded the first trade edition, published in the UK, by nine days, and consequently constitutes the first publication of the novel. Released at the height of Woolf's literary celebrity, Orlando was a thrill to contemporary reviewers: "Those who open Orlando expecting another novel in the vein of Mrs. Dalloway and To the Lighthouse will discover, to…

"Orlando: A Biography" by Virginia Woolf is a groundbreaking and imaginative novel that defies traditional narrative forms and explores themes of gender, identity, time, and literary history. Published in 1928, the novel traces the life and adventures of its protagonist, Orlando, across several centuries and continents. The story begins in Elizabethan England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Orlando, a young nobleman, is portrayed as a handsome and romantic figure who aspires to become a poet. As the narrative unfolds, Orlando's life undergoes a remarkable transformation: he mysteriously stops aging and changes gender, becoming a woman while retaining his memories and identity. The novel follows Orlando through various historical periods, including the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, and the Victorian era. As he navigates these different epochs, Orlando encounters key historical figures and witnesses significant social and cultural changes. Through Orlando's experiences, Woolf explores the fluidity of gender and the constructed nature of identity, challenging conventional notions of masculinity and femininity. In addition to its exploration of gender and identity, "Orlando" is also a meditation on the nature of time and the passage of history. Woolf's narrative blurs the boundaries between past and present, reality and fantasy, as Orlando's long life allows him to witness centuries of human history while remaining fundamentally unchanged. One of the novel's most striking features is its metafictional elements, as Woolf frequently interrupts the narrative to comment on the process of storytelling and the relationship between author and character. Through these self-reflexive moments, Woolf invites readers to reflect on the nature of fiction and the ways in which literature shapes our understanding of the world. "Orlando" is also celebrated for its lush prose and vivid imagery, as Woolf demonstrates her mastery of language and narrative technique. The novel's rich descriptions of landscapes, interiors, and characters create a vibrant and immersive world that captivates the reader from beginning to end. At its core, "Orlando" is a celebration of the power of imagination and the possibilities of literature to transcend the limitations of time, gender, and identity. Through its innovative narrative structure and thought-provoking themes, Virginia Woolf's novel continues to captivate readers and inspire generations of writers to explore new forms of storytelling.

This version was preceded only by the signed limited edition, published in New York nine days before the publication of the UK version.