Hanging out in Virginia Woolf’s bedroom was one of the best day of my literary life! Exactly two weeks ago I experienced the most intense and in depth #WoolfWednesday. I went to visit Monk’s House in East Essex for the first time. In 1919 for just £700, Virginia and Leonard purchased this picturesque cottage as their country home. They loved it so much that it eventually became their permanent home. Touring the house, writing lodge and garden, where Virginia’s ashes are buried (see photo here of bronze bust), I swear I could feel her presence. It was so easy to imagine her living in this intimate space especially since it was decorated with furniture and art painted by her sister, Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant and of course there were books in every room. Did you know that if the weather was bad or she wasn’t feeling well she would often write from her bed? This bed, pictured behind me! If you slide to the next photo, you will see the slim bookshelf in her bedroom which holds 39 of her personal Arden editions of Shakespeare. They were all hand-covered by Virginia herself. The Chinese embroidered shall which is draped on her armchair was a gift from her friend, Lady Ottoline Morrell. It took everything in me to resist picking up her beautiful shall and wrapping it around me! Okay, I admit it, I am completely enamoured, maybe slightly obsessed, by this literary icon! I would love to know how you feel about Virginia Woolf and if you have visited Monk’s House. . . Thank you Triin @wordchild and Echo @ink.on.us for sharing this very special day with me! * * * * * * * #VirginiaWoolf #vwoolf #leonardwoolf #adelinevirginiawoolf #monkshouse @monkshousent #nationaltrust #bloomsburygroup #hogarthpress #hogarthpress100 #bloomsburyset #bloomsburygroup #englishliterature #TheWaves #MrsDalloway #ARoomOfOnesOwn (at Monk's House)
