Did Lydia Lopokova serve as inspiration for the character of the Russian princess Sasha in Virginia Woolf’s Orlando?
That was the question that popped into my mind after reading a review in The Guardian of Judith Mackrell’s book, The Bloomsbury Ballerina, which tells the story of modernist ballerina Lydia Lopokova.
The Russian ballerina took London — and the Bloomsbury circle — by storm for the 11 months of her first tour there, beginning in September 1918.
But according to the Guardian article, her sudden flight from the ballet world to take up with a Russian lover in July of 1919 disappointed the Bloomsbury crowd. By the time she returned in 1921, they were no longer enamored of her.
The review says Woolf only once made “significant fictional use” of Lopokova — as the inspiration for Rezia in Mrs. Dalloway.
However, I see another. I am struck by the similarities between the single-minded ballerina Lydia Lopokova and the exciting Muscovite princess, Sasha of Orlando.
Both moved with great grace and energy — Lopokova on the stage and Sasha on the ice. Both were charismatic. Lopokova mesmerized her audiences, and Sasha enchanted Orlando. Both were unconventional, mysterious, adventurous, and well-traveleled. And both had a dangerous side.
Lopokova and Sasha both ran off to Russia after a brief stay in London. And each of them captured the heart of a quintessential Englishman. For Lopokova, it was John Maynard Keynes’s heart, which resulted in a long-lasting marriage. For Sasha, it was Orlando’s, which resulted in heartbreak for the young lord.
All of this just brushes the surface. Feel free to add some strokes of your own — on either side of the issue.
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[…] Virginia and Leonard are again at Monk’s House. In 1936, they have lunch and tea with Lydia and Maynard Keynes, beginning a Christmas tradition. This year, the tea is at Tilton. In 1937, the […]
Hello!
About Sasha; I cannot add more information about this item. But since you are so deeply interested in Virginia Woolf’s life & work, maybe you could help me find more information about something I am looking for since many, many years. Long ago, I saw an animated film about our hero Orlando. It was certainly one of the most marvellous animated films I ever saw; splendid drawings and perfect colors. But I never saw nor found it again. But I remember very vaguely that it was probably a Russian animation.
Do you know more about this film? (Not Sally Potter’s version with live actors!) Does it still exist somewhere? And if so, where can I find it?
Thank you so much for helping me rediscover this perfect work of art!
Greetings from
Hugo Mondelaers (Belgium)
A query to the VW Listserv produced this information in response to a similar question posted to the list in 2006:
An animated version of the “Great Frost” episode from Orlando is said to appear in an anthology/compilation program of amimated shorts with winter and Christmas themes — for instance, another film dealt with the legendary “Christmas truce” in No Man’s Land during WWI. I looked for those two events together and found an animated compilation called “Simple Gifts” or “A Simple Gift for Christmas”. Here’s the IMDB entry: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0258155/. However, we do not know whether this is the film you are looking for. It might be worth a try though.
Maitresse, thanks for your comments.
I know about the connection between Violet and Sasha, which is likely the primary one.
But I can’t help picturing Lydia as the model for Sasha’s Russian-ness.
that should obviously be *quintessential* (sorry, I’m a v bad typist)
Interesting, and likely, but not the only source– isn’t it commonly accepted that Sasha is based on Violet Trefusis, Vita’s first love? (with Orlando being based, of course, on VSW– another “quinessential Englishman,” if we allow for a fluid conception of gender, which Woolf does)
Of course in that relationship it was Vita who fled (back to her husband), but Vita felt deeply betrayed by Violet, who had very possibly consummated her recent marriage, despite promising Vita that she would not.