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Among Roses and the Ash inspired by Woolf

Tuesday 26 January 2010 by Paula Maggio

From Fernham’s way comes news of a play inspired by Virginia Woolf. Titled Among Roses and the Ash, it will be staged  in New York City Jan. 27-31.

According to the play’s Web site, the play is a “meditation on the power, beauty, and limitations of the English language, seen through the eyes of an author. It is described as incorporating “movement, sound and image to explore the work of a literary artist.”

Performances are at 8 p.m. Jan. 27 to 30 and at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Jan. 31 at the WOW Cafe Theater, 59-61 E. Fourth St. 
on the fourth floor. Tickets are $10 at door, or online at fabnyc.org.

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Happy birthday, dear Virginia, in music

Monday 25 January 2010 by Paula Maggio

Virginia Woolf is in my thoughts on Jan. 25. And this year, the 128th anniversary of her birth, Paste Magazine celebrates her life and legacy with a list of 10 songs that reflect her life and work.

Below are a few other places to read birthday wishes to the grand dame of the modernist novel.

Posted in Happy birthday, music, Woolf's birthday, You Tube | Tagged , | 5 Comments »

Details about the voices of Bloomsbury now on CD

Sunday 24 January 2010 by Paula Maggio

Like many of you, I have shelves full of books at home that I have not yet read. Some have been in my possession for decades, some for years or months.

Now I am starting to stockpile DVDs and CDs as well. I am embarassed to say that among the latter is the recent release from the BBC of “The Spoken Word: The Bloomsbury Group.”

This two-disc set, which features voices of Bloomsbury that have long remained unheard, has been sitting on my shelf for months. And I have yet to peel off the cellophane.

But after reading the details on the Mantex Web site, I expect I will soon pop one in my CD player.

According to Roy Johnson, here are some of the treats that await those who own the set, which comes with a 16-page explanatory booklet:

  • Leonard Woolf with a Who’s Who of the Bloomsbury Group
  • Duncan Grant talking about the infamous Dreadnought Hoax
  • Frances Partridge speaking about the group’s broad influence
  • David Cecil detailing Virginia’s appearance and Quentin Bell describing her fashions
  • Angelica Garnett on various attitudes towards members of the Group
  • Vita Sackville-West talking about the inspiration behind Virginia Woolf’s Orlando
  • Benedict Nicholson remembering Virginia Woolf’s visits to Sissinghurst
  • Elizabeth Bowen recalling Bloomsbury parties and Virginia’s antics
  • Ralph Partridge reminiscing about time spent with Leonard and Virginia Woolf

    • Posted in Bloomsbury, Woolf audio | Tagged | 2 Comments »

    December 1910 Centenary Conference issues call for papers

    Sunday 24 January 2010 by Paula Maggio

    Two newly formed networks, the Scottish Network of Modernist Studies and the British Association of Modernist Studies, will host their first major international conference at the University of Glasgow Dec. 10-12.

    This inaugural conference is based around Virginia Woolf’s famous and controversial statement in an essay of 1923, often taken as indicating a possible starting-point for modernity, that

    on or about December 1910, human character changed.

     The groups invite scholars and practitioners from all disciplines to respond to any aspect of this statement. Relevant disciplines might include but are not restricted to literature, history of art, cultural history and the history of ideas.

    Topics might include but are not restricted to:

    • glossing the symptoms of change in 1910 that Woolf cites in her explanation of that slogan.
    • broader contexts and tangents, literary, cultural, political, historical, which might include:
      • death of the King; Asquith government crisis; suffragettes and other political unrest;
      • Post-Impressionist show; Dreadnought hoax;
      • events beyond Britain in Europe, Mexico, Africa etc.;
      • books published in 1910;
      • activities of key cultural figures at that moment;
      • 1910 diary entries.
    • philosophy on or about 1910 – idealism, pragmatism and beyond.
    • religion, spirituality, modernity.
    • periodization and theories of change.
    • theories and representations of ‘human character’.
    • 1910 seen from the 1920s.
    • ‘in or about’ or ‘on or about’?
      • Prepositions and temporality.
      • Versions of Woolf – Leonard Woolf as editor.
    • accuracy and arbitrariness.

    Organizers have already received panel proposals in the following areas and would also welcome expressions of interest in these areas:

    • Scotland 1910
    • Film around 1910
    • Modernism and Theory
    • Women at 1910
    • On or about December 2010: Human Character in the Age of Climate Change
    • Politics 1910
    • The periodical scene in 1910
    • Literature and the visual arts
    • The book in 1910
    • 1910 and middlebrow culture
    • Music and 1910
    • Europe 1910
    • 1910 and intermodernism
    • Periodising the century
    • Theatre and 1910

    Paper abstracts of 200 words; or proposals for panels, round-tables, seminars or other expressions of interest, should be sent to conference organizers Bryony Randall and Matthew Creasy via e-mail at snms@arts.gla.ac.uk by May 1

    Visit the conference Web site for more details.

    Posted in Virginia Woolf | Tagged , , | Leave a Comment »

    Tea party and book swap celebrate Virginia’s birthday

    Tuesday 19 January 2010 by Paula Maggio

    You have been cordially invited to tea at 6 p.m. on Jan. 25.

    In celebration of Virginia Woolf’s 128th Birthday, the Shakespeare’s Sister Company is hosting a High Tea Literary Book Swap in proper British style.

    The event will be held at Lady Mendle’s, 56 Irving Place, between 17th and 18th streets in New York City.

    Patrons will enjoy the following:

    6 – 6:30 p.m. -Tea and Mingling
    Enjoy an assortment of teas, a buffet of tea sandwiches and scones with clotted cream and jam.

    6:30 – 7:10 p.m. – Literary Book Discussions
    Each guest will introduce the title/author of the book, one sentence describing what the book is about, an interesting fact about their favorite part of the book and what kind of book they are looking to swap for.

    For those who prefer not to speak, we will provide ink and paper for you to write down your details and an SSC member would be happy to read it aloud on your behalf. We’re all friends here.

    7:10 – 7:30 p.m. – Literary Book Swap
    Guests will have the opportunity to trade their book as many times as they’d like. Additionally, the SSC will provide a program listing all of the books being traded for patrons to reference.

    7:30 – 8 p.m.  – Tea and Mingling
    The event concludes at 8 p.m. However, patrons are welcome to migrate downstairs to the martini bar and heated outdoor garden for cocktails.

    Regarding attire, please come dressed in your British Best! Dresses and suits are encouraged. Hats and gloves are not required, but are encouraged.

    All-inclusive admission runs $35 per person.

    Please RSVP no later than Thursday, Jan. 21. All payments are kindly accepted in advance via PayPal to info@shakespearessister.org.

    Posted in Woolf events | Tagged , | 6 Comments »

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