DL/REVIEWS//WOOLF - [Reviews of the work of Virginia Woolf]

DL/REVIEWS//WOOLF

File

[Reviews of the work of Virginia Woolf]

1992

7 Letters (typescript)
2 Article

Lessing, Doris May, 1919-2013
Bell, Quentin

9 items, some highlighted. Correspondence between Professor Quentin Bell and Doris Lessing, regarding Virginia Woolf and an article written about her by Louise DeSalvo entitled 'Virginia Woolf: The Impact of Childhood Sexual Abuse on Her Life and Work'. Includes a copy of Quentin Bell's review of the article (item 004), a letter written to the editor of the Virginia Woolf Miscellany by Anne Olivier Bell (item 005) and the published letter alongside DeSalvo's response in the VWM (item 007).

DL/REVIEWS//WOOLF/001 [from Quentin Bell to Doris Lessing, 29/01/1992]

Letter, 1 leaf recto and verso, typed.
Writes that he listened to Lessing's broadcast on Radio 4 "with admiration, enthusiasm, and some despair". Writes that Lessing agrees with the "widespread" opinion that Woolf's childhood was "horrible and obscene and that she was incessantly sexually abused by both her half-brothers for a period of about 15 years". References Louise DeSalvo's article, 'Virginia Woolf: The Impact of Childhood Sexual Abuse on Her Life and Work' as the source of this misinformation.

DL/REVIEWS//WOOLF/002 [from Doris Lessing to Quentin Bell, 03/03/1992]

Letter, 4 leaves, typed.
Explains her opinion on Woolf's childhood. Mentions feminism and discusses their "man-hating". Discusses Woolf's family and upbringing in detail. Writes that "the truth doesn't "blacken" -- it only makes us understand".

DL/REVIEWS//WOOLF/003 [from Quentin Bell to Doris Lessing, 19/03/1992]

Letter, 1 leaf recto and verso, typed.
Encloses the article he wrote on DeSalvo (item 004) and a letter his wife, Anne Olivier Bell, wrote to the editor of the Virginia Woolf Miscellany (item 005), which criticises DeSalvo's article. References To the Lighthouse. Gives detailed biographical descriptions of Woolf.