Orlando: A Biography

Orlando: A Biography by Virginia Woolf is a groundbreaking work that blends fiction, biography, and fantasy. The novel traces the life of Orlando, a nobleman in Elizabethan England, who mysteriously transforms into a woman midway through the book and lives for centuries without significantly aging. The story begins with Orlando as a young man in the 16th century, a favorite of Queen Elizabeth I. Orlando is a passionate, adventurous individual, deeply engaged in literature and arts. As a man, Orlando experiences the privileges and constraints of masculine society, engaging in love affairs and fulfilling societal expectations of his gender and class. In a surprising twist, Orlando falls into a deep sleep and awakens as a woman, continuing her life into the 18th and 19th centuries. This transformation allows Woolf to explore themes of gender, sexuality, and identity in a society rigidly bound by gender roles. As a woman, Orlando faces a different set of challenges and societal norms, providing a sharp contrast to her experiences as a man.

Adeline Virginia Woolf (1882–1941) was an English writer. She is considered one of the most important modernist 20th-century authors and a pioneer in the use of stream of consciousness as a narrative device.