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Ti dico un segreto: Virginia Woolf e l'amore per le donne

Eleonora Tarabella

Iacobellieditore

2019

Italian

Nonfictional

"Much has been written about Virginia Woolf – one of the greatest and brightest figures of the twentieth-century literature – making her an almost unapproachable monument. But perhaps, suggests Eleonora Tarabella, it is necessary to give back to Virginia what belongs to her. First of all, it is necessary to deconstruct the consolidated image of the depressed woman who ended up committing suicide: she was actually very lively and strongly ironical, as many of her contemporaries testify. Then the idea of her cold and intimidating personality has to be abandoned, as she knew how to enjoy big and small pleasures of life such as a good glass of red wine, or a walk in the countryside. But above all, rather neglected in Italy, are the aspects concerning the life and works of a writer who established deep relationships with women, either loving them intensely or making good friends, always writing about them with a sharp capacity of understanding, strong empathy and admiration. The books delves into lesbian, bisexual and queer aspect of Virginia Woolf as a person – who never declared herself a lesbian, despite living in an environment in which sexual inclinations were not hidden – forcing the reticence of the writer herself, and taking distance from the silence of many of her biographers and critics. This passionate and non-academic study, although well documented, focuses on 'some important men in her life but, above all, on many women, and on the love Virginia showed for them in different forms. Whether sincere and pure, or just literally imagined, it was always, and in any case, love.'”

Snail, WAA
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