Explore The Struggle Between Expression and Suppression with Virginia WoolfPart of the Contested Classics series, this special edition of Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway offers readers a unique opportunity to explore one of the 20th century's most captivating and contested novels. Published in 1925, Woolf's masterful narrative takes us through a single day in the life of Clarissa Dalloway, a high-society woman in post-World War I England, weaving a tapestry of thoughts, memories, and encounters.
With in-text annotations this edition identifies and explores which sections are reasons for this book being banned:

• Exploration of Mental Health: Mrs. Dalloway boldly delves into the complexities of mental health and post-traumatic stress disorder, especially in its portrayal of the character Septimus Warren Smith, a war veteran. This frank treatment of mental illness was pioneering for its time but has led to challenges in more conservative settings.
• Feminist Undertones: The novel is celebrated for its early feminist undertones, examining the roles and expectations of women in society. However, these themes have also sparked debate, particularly in more traditional communities.
• Suicidal Ideation: The depiction of suicidal thoughts and the eventual suicide of a character has been a point of controversy, raising concerns about its appropriateness for young readers.
• Stream-of-Consciousness Style: Woolf's innovative narrative technique, while acclaimed, has also been critiqued for its complexity and perceived difficulty, leading some to challenge its inclusion in educational curricula.

In this edition of Mrs. Dalloway readers are invited not only to experience Woolf's groundbreaking work but also to understand the controversies and discussions it has inspired over the years. This book is a must-read for those interested in literature that continues to challenge and provoke thought long after its publication.

The fourth and best-known of Virginia Woolf's novels, Mrs Dalloway is a modernist masterpiece that has remained popular since its publication in 1925. Its dual narratives follow a day in the life of wealthy housewife Clarissa Dalloway and shell-shocked war veteran Septimus Warren Smith, capturing their inner worlds with a vividness that has rarely been equalled. < p/> Mrs Dalloway: Biography of a novel offers new readers a lively introduction to this enduring classic, while providing Woolf lovers with a wealth of information about the novel's writing, publication and reception. It follows Woolf's process from the first stirrings in her diary through her struggles to create what was quickly recognised as a major advance in prose fiction. It then traces the novel's remarkable legacy to the present day. < p/> Woolf wrote in her diary that she wanted her novel 'to give life & death, sanity & insanity. . . to criticise the social system, & to show it at work, at its most intense.' Mrs Dalloway: Biography of a novel reveals how she achieved this ambition, creating a book that will be read by generations to come.