The History of Literature 735 Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf (with Mark Hussey) | My Last Book with Graham Watson
Sep 22, 2025
Mark Hussey, a Distinguished Professor of English Emeritus and expert on Virginia Woolf, delves into the significance of *Mrs Dalloway* on its centenary. He discusses the novel's vivid stream-of-consciousness, Woolf's struggles, and its revolutionary narrative techniques. Hussey highlights the changing student perspectives on Woolf, especially around themes of PTSD. Literary scholar Graham Watson shares his choice for his last book, *The Diary of Virginia Woolf*, reflecting on its intimacy and profound insights into the author's mind.
01:23:55
Interior Life Over External Detail
- Virginia Woolf's stream-of-consciousness immerses readers in characters' interior lives rather than external facts.
- Mrs Dalloway makes ordinary moments feel profound by exposing layered memories and associations.
Parallel Minds Reveal Social Critique
- Woolf aimed to show the social system at work and portray sane and insane minds side by side.
- Mrs Dalloway pairs Clarissa's party consciousness with Septimus's shell-shocked trauma to critique postwar society.
A Reader's Lifelong Attachment
- Mark Hussey first read Virginia Woolf in 1972 and then read Mrs Dalloway many times over decades.
- The novel became part of his mental landscape and a lifelong point of return.
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Intro
00:00 • 4min
Why Mrs Dalloway Feels So Vivid
03:48 • 12min
Where to Start with Virginia Woolf
15:45 • 2min
Ad break
17:44 • 3min
Mark Hussey on First Reading Mrs Dalloway
20:32 • 2min
How Student Approaches to Woolf Have Changed
22:52 • 3min
Virginia Woolf's Life When Writing Dalloway
26:18 • 2min
Jacob's Room as a Stylistic Breakthrough
28:40 • 9min
Woolf's Artistic Project for Mrs Dalloway
38:06 • 5min
Writing Interior Life Instead of External Detail
42:58 • 52sec
Ad break
43:50 • 22sec
Origins of Clarissa Dalloway
44:13 • 6min
Woolf's Narrative Texture and Time
49:49 • 4min
Initial Reception of Mrs Dalloway
53:51 • 5min
The Novel's Reputation Over Time
58:58 • 2min
Why Mrs Dalloway Resonates Today
01:01:12 • 8min
Ordinary Moments as Literary Subject
01:09:11 • 5min
Closing Reflections on Mrs Dalloway
01:13:56 • 28sec
Where to Go Next with Woolf
01:14:24 • 2min
Graham Watson's Last Book Choice
01:16:05 • 7min
Outro
01:23:21 • 3min
#51856
Mr. Bennett and Mrs. Brown
Virginia Woolf
Mr.
Bennett and Mrs. Brown is an essay by Virginia Woolf critiquing the Edwardian novelists and advocating for a focus on inner character rather than external details.
#44170
The Invention of Charlotte Bronte
Graham Watson
#40745
The Uncommon Reader
Alan Bennett
#61888
Mrs. Dalloway: Biography of a Novel
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Mark Hussey
#1918
• Mentioned in 18 episodes
A Room of One's Own
Virginia Woolf
In 'A Room of One's Own', Virginia Woolf delivers a groundbreaking essay that addresses the status of women in literature and society.
The essay, originally based on a series of lectures given at women's colleges, posits that for women to write fiction, they must have money and a room of their own.
Woolf explores the historical limitations faced by women in accessing education, careers, and artistic endeavors, and she critiques the societal structures that have hindered women's creative expression.
Through the fictional character of Judith Shakespeare, Woolf illustrates the tragic fate of a talented woman denied the opportunities available to men.
The essay concludes with an exhortation to women to claim their intellectual and creative freedom, advocating for economic and intellectual autonomy as essential for fostering creativity and self-expression.
#22030
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
The diary of Virginia Woolf
Volume 1
Virginia Woolf
The diary begins in January 1915, just before Woolf published her first novel, *The Voyage Out*, and ends in 1919.
It provides a unique insight into Woolf's life, including her daily activities, interactions with friends and contemporaries like Katherine Mansfield and T.S.
Eliot, and her reflections on writing and her state of mind.
The diary also serves as a civilian record of World War I, detailing events such as air raids, rationing, and the Spanish Flu. The entries are divided between her time in Richmond and East Sussex, reflecting different aspects of her life during this period.
#346
• Mentioned in 60 episodes
The Divine Comedy
Dante Alighieri
The Divine Comedy is an Italian narrative poem begun around 1308 and completed around 1321.
It is divided into three parts: Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso.
The poem discusses the state of the soul after death and presents an image of divine justice, describing Dante's travels through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven.
It is an allegory representing the soul's journey towards God, drawing on medieval Catholic theology and philosophy, especially Thomistic philosophy.
The work is considered one of the greatest in Italian literature and Western literature, and it helped establish the Tuscan language as the standardized Italian language.
#1950
• Mentioned in 17 episodes
Mrs. Dalloway
Virginia Woolf
Published in 1925, 'Mrs.
Dalloway' by Virginia Woolf explores the lives of its characters over a single day in post-World War I London.
The novel centers around Clarissa Dalloway, an upper-class housewife, as she prepares to host a party.
Her day is punctuated by a visit from Peter Walsh, an old suitor, and her reflections on her past choices.
The narrative also follows Septimus Warren Smith, a veteran struggling with shell shock and mental illness, whose story parallels and contrasts with Clarissa's.
The novel delves into themes of time, identity, social class, and the psychological impacts of war.
Woolf's stream-of-consciousness style provides a deep insight into the characters' inner lives, highlighting the complexities of human experience and the societal norms of the time.
#220
• Mentioned in 82 episodes
Hamlet
William Shakespeare
The play revolves around Prince Hamlet's journey to avenge his father's murder, which was committed by his uncle Claudius.
Hamlet's father's ghost appears and reveals that he was poisoned by Claudius, who then married Hamlet's mother, Gertrude.
Hamlet feigns madness while he investigates and plots his revenge.
The play explores themes of betrayal, mortality, and the human condition, culminating in a tragic finale where nearly all main characters die, including Hamlet, Claudius, Gertrude, and several others.
#829
• Mentioned in 33 episodes
Finnegans Wake
David Hayman
James Joyce
Finnegans Wake is James Joyce's final and most complex work, written over a period of seventeen years.
The novel is set in a dream world where the protagonist, Humphrey Chimpden Earwicker (HCE), and his family—wife Anna Livia Plurabelle (ALP) and their children Shem, Shaun, and Issy—undergo various transformations and identities.
The book is known for its innovative use of language, combining elements from multiple languages and creating new words through portmanteaus and puns.
It explores themes of identity, history, and the cyclical nature of life, drawing on Irish mythology, biblical narratives, and personal experiences.
The novel's structure is circular, ending with the sentence that begins the book, creating a continuous loop.
#29465
In the Waves
string
Rachel "Big Spinach" Lance
string
#1938
• Mentioned in 17 episodes
To the Lighthouse
Virginia Woolf
To the Lighthouse, published in 1927, is a groundbreaking work of modernist literature by Virginia Woolf.
The novel is divided into three sections: 'The Window,' 'Time Passes,' and 'The Lighthouse.
' It follows the Ramsay family during their summer visits to the Isle of Skye, delving into the inner thoughts and emotions of the characters through stream-of-consciousness techniques.
The novel reflects the impact of World War I on the family and society, and it explores themes such as loss, subjectivity, the nature of art, and the problem of perception.
Woolf's intricate prose and rich exploration of consciousness make this novel a masterpiece of world literature.
#747
• Mentioned in 35 episodes
Madame Bovary
Gustave Flaubert
Published in 1857, 'Madame Bovary' is a seminal work of literary realism that tells the story of Emma Bovary, a beautiful and intelligent young woman who marries Charles Bovary, a dull and unambitious doctor.
Emma's life is marked by boredom, romantic fantasies, and a series of ill-fated love affairs with men like Rodolphe and Léon.
Her inability to distinguish between her romantic ideals and the harsh realities of her life leads to financial ruin, public scandal, and ultimately, her tragic demise.
The novel is renowned for its masterful writing, detailed psychological insights, and its critique of bourgeois provincial life.
#9799
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
Three guineas
Virginia Woolf
Published in June 1938, *Three Guineas* is a non-fiction essay that responds to an imaginary letter from an educated gentleman asking for Woolf's opinion on how to prevent war.
The essay is structured as a series of responses to three different societal questions, addressing issues such as the prevention of war, the lack of support for women's education, and the barriers to women's professional employment.
Woolf critiques societal norms, patriarchal systems, and the role of women in society, advocating for gender equality and the eradication of war.
The book is characterized by its dialogue format and Woolf's pessimistic yet hopeful views on societal progression towards gender equality.
#18930
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Jacob's Room
Virginia Woolf
Jacob's Room is a novel by Virginia Woolf that innovatively portrays the life of Jacob Flanders through fragmented narratives and the observations of others.
The book explores themes of identity, loss, and the passage of time, reflecting on the impact of the First World War on a generation.
Woolf's experimental style in this work laid the groundwork for her later novels, such as 'Mrs.
Dalloway'.
#126
• Mentioned in 119 episodes
The Iliad
Homer
The Iliad is an epic poem attributed to Homer, set during the Trojan War. It begins in the ninth year of the war, where a quarrel between King Agamemnon and the warrior Achilles sets off a chain of events.
The poem explores themes of heroism, honor, and fate as it describes the battles and interactions between Greek warriors like Achilles, Diomedes, and Odysseus, and Trojan warriors like Hector and Paris.
The story is interspersed with divine interventions from Greek gods and goddesses, influencing the outcome of the war.
The poem culminates with Achilles' reconciliation with Agamemnon and his subsequent rage against the Trojans, leading to the death of Hector and the eventual funeral rites for Patroclus and Hector.
#10102
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
Kidnapped
Robert Louis Stevenson
Written by Robert Louis Stevenson and published in 1886, 'Kidnapped' is a coming-of-age tale set in Scotland during the Jacobite rebellion.
The story follows David Balfour, a young man from the Scottish Lowlands, who after his father's death, sets out to claim his inheritance from his uncle Ebenezer.
However, Ebenezer arranges for David to be kidnapped and sold into slavery in the Carolinas.
David's journey involves a shipwreck, his alliance with the Jacobite rebel Alan Breck Stewart, and their perilous trek across the Highlands to avoid capture by government soldiers and to clear their names after being accused of murder.
The novel is known for its high adventure, historical context, and themes of resilience and loyalty.
#9690
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
Voyage Out
Virginia Woolf
#17973
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Night and Day
Virginia Woolf
Night and Day is Virginia Woolf's second novel, published in 1919.
It delves into the lives of Katharine Hilbery and Mary Datchet, contrasting their experiences with love, marriage, and societal expectations in Edwardian London.
The novel explores themes of identity, class, and the evolving roles of women during this period.
Despite its traditional narrative structure, it subtly challenges conventional norms of love and marriage.
Jacke talks to author Mark Hussey (Mrs Dalloway: Biography of a Novel) about Virginia Woolf's beloved novel Mrs Dalloway, which turned 100 earlier this year. PLUS author Graham Watson (The Invention of Charlotte Bronte) stops by to discuss his choice for the last book he will ever read.
Join Jacke on a trip through literary England (signup open through the end of September)! The History of Literature Podcast Tour is happening in May 2026! Act now to join Jacke and fellow literature fans on an eight-day journey through literary England in partnership with John Shors Travel. Scheduled stops include The Charles Dickens Museum, Dr. Johnson's house, Jane Austen's Bath, Tolkien's Oxford, Shakespeare's Globe Theater, and more. Find out more by emailing jackewilsonauthor@gmail.com or masahiko@johnshorstravel.com, or by contacting us through our website historyofliterature.com. Or visit the History of Literature Podcast Tour itinerary at John Shors Travel.
The music in this episode is by Gabriel Ruiz-Bernal. Learn more at gabrielruizbernal.com.
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