Virginia Woolf's Queer Masterpiece

Brrrrrr! It's cold outside! So cold the River Thames is frozen over. People are skating from bank to bank and horse drawn carriages are wheeling over the river’s icy depths. But while the cold is vicious, the heat of romance burns brightly for gender fluid time-traveler, Orlando.

This is the story of the River Thames Frost Fairs of days gone by, but it's also a celebration of Virginia Woolf's startling, challenging, and beautiful prose. Want to find out how Woolf used the enchanting Frost Fair setting to bring out Orlando’s queerness, moving the protagonist of her esteemed 1928 novel into a space beyond gender? You're in the right place.

Written, presented, and edited by Rosie Whitcombe
@books_ncats

Directed, produced, and edited by Matty Phillips
@ma_ps_

Bibliography
Biswas, Pooja Mittal, 'Queering Time: The Temporal Body as Queer Chronotope in Virginia Woolf’s Orlando', Anglia, vol. 138 (2020)
Evelyn, John, The Diary of John Evelyn, ed. William Bray, 2 vols. (London: J. M. Dent & Sons, 1907)
Woolf, Virgina, Orlando: A Biography, ed. Rachel Bowlby (Oxford: OUP, 1992)

[MrDiego]

You are like that one literature teacher that everyone remembers fondly, the one whose passion for the subject was so infectious that made you want to keep reading and discovering new authors

[jdbachelder]

I'm a trans man, and we read Orlando in college and I fell so in love I took Orlando as my middle name

[teaumanport]

This sets my little gay heart ablaze. So happy this channel exists and that you share your joy with the world.

[pidgeon]

i remember reading this in highschool and how it opened my eyes to how beautiful and free gender can be

[jenford]

I can't decide if I enjoy your narration, choice of tales or cat more... This channel is perfection!

[nirmalakankaria]

The first thing I discovered about Wolfe was her mode of ending, and I have ever been fascinated by that. I read Mrs. Dalloway and To the lighthouse much later.
Am yet to read Orlando

[charlygodwin]

20 seconds in and already hit the like button. So glad I found your channel! Thank you for the perfect combo of education and cat.

[ClaudiaRichmann]

Mouse is a Virginia Wolf fan! I was so excited to see a new video. Well done!

[grooveonthehillside]

Orlando is one of my all time favourites! Time for a revisit, once I finish Middlemarch!

[BlackKara]

A banner day to discover this channel. I love the little set of the snowflakes and the cold costume. I didn't even know of this book and am so happy to hear about it.
Thank you, I love this.

[CasuallyFeral]

Aw shit, I'm so early! I have never been this early before!

Cuddling up with my crochet to listen right away. This is perfect. Thank you for this moment.

[saraht]

Guess I have no choice now but to binge all your content. Thanks algorithm!
My poor TBR 😢 ❤

[Ellenmd]

Thank you so much for the content that you make. It is inspiring and thought-provoking.

[flux.aeterna]

Love the little editing bit around the 7min mark of having the years pinned to the moving hands!

[juliomouraodepaiva]

I’d love to hear you talk more about Woolf’s works, specially The Waves and To The Lighthouse ❤ keep doing great videos like these

[badfaithu]

A wonderful video. Also, your cat is adorable. 🐈‍⬛

[leitmotif]

Keep at it, you’re making incredible content and will blow up in no time ❤ you’re awesome!

[trollnystan]

I saw the movie Orlando as a child/pre-teen on telly and it certainly had a part in shaping who I am today.

[craisins]

I remember reading my friend’s essay about Orlando in college and being so fascinated by their retelling of the story to me. I haven’t read it myself but I think I may one day.

[MagdaleneDivine]

I ALSO LOVE YOUR CAT! I WOULD BUY A PLUSHIE TOY OF YOUR CAT AS MERCH BTW!