The Voyage Out

Virginias first published novel was The Voyage Out. The story focuses around Rachel Vinrace, a young woman whose father is a Ships Captain. She is travelling with him to a tropical port where she disembarks and stays with her Uncle and Aunty.

She falls in love with a young man…

I won’t spoil the plot, but the writing is lovely and clearly stamped with her views and philosophy.

I will start today sharing the portions I have enjoyed. My only qualification for doing this is that I’m an avid albeit common reader. Don’t expect any literary or critical gymnastics!

This quote is on p6

Observing that they passed no other hansom cab, but only vans and waggons, and that not one of the thousand men and women she saw was either a gentleman or a lady, Mrs. Ambrose understood that after all it is the ordinary thing to be poor, and that London is the city of innumerable poor people. Startled by this discovery and seeing herself pacing a circle all the days of her life round Picadilly Circus she was greatly relieved to pass a building put up by the London County Council for Night Schools. “Lord, how gloomy it is!” her husband groaned. “Poor creatures!” What with the misery for her children, the poor, and the rain, her mind was like a wound exposed to dry in the air.

This observation is made by Helen Ambrose, Rachel’s Aunty.

In her writings Woolf often mentions vehicles. She was a keen driver and enjoyed jaunting around Sussex and London in her car. Often Leonard and Virginia went touring abroad as well by car. Three modes of transport are mentioned here but for most people in London were poor and had to walk. The reference to Night Schools expresses the interest she had for such institutions and she herself lectured to WEA members.