Background
Adeline Virginia Stephen was born in London, England on January 25,1882 to Leslie Stephen and Julia Jackson. Her father was a famous literary personality and her mother made claims to French noble descent (Atwan 515-6). Instead of receiving any kind of formal education, Woolf was educated by her father's vast and ever growing library. He allowed her to read whatever she liked.
At the age of 13, her mother passed away, which sent her into the first of her many mental breakdowns. She was also subject to years of sexual abuse at the hands of her elder half-brother George Duckworth (Atwan 515-6).
She began writing professionally in 1900 for the Times Literary Supplement. A majority of her work went on to be essays and novels.
On August 10, 1912, Virginia married Leonard Woolf and soon became Virginia Woolf. They had no children and were married until her death.
Leonard and Virginia were said to be in a sexually open relationship which has sparked the questioning of her sexual tendencies.
After many attempts over the years, Woolf committed suicide on March 28, 1941 by drowning in the River Ouse in East Sussex, England (Wikipedia).
Here is the text for Virginia's final note to her husband:
Dearest, I feel certain that I am going mad again. I feel we can't go through another of those terrible times. And I shan't recover this time. I begin to hear voices, and I can't concentrate. So I am doing what seems the best thing to do. You have given me the greatest possible happiness. You have been in every way all that anyone could be. I don't think two people could have been happier 'til this terrible disease came. I can't fight any longer. I know that I am spoiling your life, that without me you could work. And you will I know. You see I can't even write this properly. I can't read. What I want to say is I owe all the happiness of my life to you. You have been entirely patient with me and incredibly good. I want to say that—everybody knows it. If anybody could have saved me it would have been you. Everything has gone from me but the certainty of your goodness. I can't go on spoiling your life any longer. I don't think two people could have been happier than we have been. V
At the age of 13, her mother passed away, which sent her into the first of her many mental breakdowns. She was also subject to years of sexual abuse at the hands of her elder half-brother George Duckworth (Atwan 515-6).
She began writing professionally in 1900 for the Times Literary Supplement. A majority of her work went on to be essays and novels.
On August 10, 1912, Virginia married Leonard Woolf and soon became Virginia Woolf. They had no children and were married until her death.
Leonard and Virginia were said to be in a sexually open relationship which has sparked the questioning of her sexual tendencies.
After many attempts over the years, Woolf committed suicide on March 28, 1941 by drowning in the River Ouse in East Sussex, England (Wikipedia).
Here is the text for Virginia's final note to her husband:
Dearest, I feel certain that I am going mad again. I feel we can't go through another of those terrible times. And I shan't recover this time. I begin to hear voices, and I can't concentrate. So I am doing what seems the best thing to do. You have given me the greatest possible happiness. You have been in every way all that anyone could be. I don't think two people could have been happier 'til this terrible disease came. I can't fight any longer. I know that I am spoiling your life, that without me you could work. And you will I know. You see I can't even write this properly. I can't read. What I want to say is I owe all the happiness of my life to you. You have been entirely patient with me and incredibly good. I want to say that—everybody knows it. If anybody could have saved me it would have been you. Everything has gone from me but the certainty of your goodness. I can't go on spoiling your life any longer. I don't think two people could have been happier than we have been. V