"The Common Reader" by Virginia Woolf is a collection of essays written in the early 20th century. The book is a thoughtful examination of literature through the lens of the ordinary reader, emphasizing the value of reading for pleasure and the unique perspective that non-experts bring to literary criticism. Woolf's exploration includes both historical and contemporary figures in literature, focusing on the experiences, thoughts, and opinions of the common reader in relation
to the complexities of literary appreciation. The opening of "The Common Reader" begins with a quote from Dr. Johnson that sets the tone for Woolf’s reflection on the role of the common reader, who, unencumbered by academic prejudice, has a genuine intuition towards what constitutes good poetry and literature. Woolf contrasts the common reader with critics and scholars, suggesting that the former possess a unique insight born from personal engagement with texts. She introduces this theme by discussing the history of the Paston family and their correspondence, which encapsulates the everyday aspirations, concerns, and lives of individuals from a particular era, highlighting how these narratives shape the larger tapestry of literary history. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Reading ease score: 64.1 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read.
Contents
The common reader -- The Pastons and Chaucer -- On not knowing Greek -- The Elizabethan lumber room -- Notes on an Elizabethan play -- Montaigne -- The Duchess of Newcastle -- Rambling round Evelyn -- Defoe -- Addison -- Lives of the obscure: The Taylors and the Edgeworths. Laetitia Pilkington. Miss Ormerod -- Jane Austen -- Modern fiction -- "Jane Eyre" and "Wuthering Heights" -- George Eliot -- The Russian point view -- Outlines: Miss Mitford. Dr. Bentley. Lady Dorothy Nevill. Archbishop Thomson -- The patron and the crocus -- The modern essay -- Joseph Conrad -- How it strikes a contemporary.
Credits
Laura Natal Rodrigues at Free Literature (Images generously made available by Hathi Trust Digital Library.)
