[Vwoolf] New Yorker essay on VW and Wharton

[Linda Camarasana]

Glad you said that, Anne.

 

Though I appreciate being reminded of Wharton and connections Colapinto makes between The Age of Innocence and To the Lighthouse, I, too, am a bit bothered by the essay, especially this:

“Something from The Age of Innocence seems to have reverberated in Woolf’s mind when she sat down to write her own most famous novel, even if it was only the central image of the lighthouse, which, as readers of The Age of Innocence know, is a key symbol on which Wharton’s novel also turns.”

 

Makes me want to tell him to read “Reminiscences” and “A Sketch of the Past.” Surely he should at least acknowledge Woolf’s youth, trips to St. Ives, the haunting sounds of the waves, Julia’s death, and Stella’s death as the most obvious influences on To the Lighthouse.  

 

Best,

Linda

 

Linda Camarasana, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, English Department
Coordinator of Writing Programs 
New Academic Building 3017
SUNY College at Old Westbury 
Old Westbury, NY 11568
 <mailto:camarasana at mindspring.com> camarasana at mindspring.com 

 

 

 

From: Vwoolf [mailto:vwoolf-bounces at lists.osu.edu] On Behalf Of ANNE Fernald [Staff/Faculty [A&S]]
Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2014 4:43 PM
To: vwoolf at lists.service.ohio-state.edu
Subject: Re: [Vwoolf] New Yorker essay on VW and Wharton

 

Dear all,

 

I'm very interested to know about the letter from Stuart. The truth is, this essay bugs me. I don't think Wharton is a huge influence on Woolf and I am surprised at the level of speculation he permits himself.

 

But I'm getting grumpy in my dotage,

 

Best,

 

Anne

 

On Tue, Sep 23, 2014 at 4:32 PM, Jeannette Smyth <jeannette_smyth at earthlink.net> wrote:

Thank you, the truth is mighty and it shall prevail!

Jeannette Smyth

 

 

On Sep 23, 2014, at 12:26 PM, Stuart N. Clarke <stuart.n.clarke at btinternet.com> wrote:





VW ack’d on 18 Nov 1920 the receipt of a copy of “The Age of Innocence” in an uncollected letter to Messrs Appleton & Co. (letter pub’d in the “Virginia Woolf Bulletin” (Jan. 2011)).  Stephen Barkway discusses VW’s published comments on Wharton – and Wharton’s irritation – in his accompanying note.

 

Stuart

 

From: Jeannette Smyth <mailto:jeannette_smyth at earthlink.net>  

Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2014 6:51 PM

To: vwoolf at lists.osu.edu 

Subject: Re: [Vwoolf] New Yorker essay on VW and Wharton

 

This is very, very interesting, thank you for the heads up. 

I have read every word of the diaries and letters at least three times, where VW's casual reading and influences are most frequently to be found. I can’t remembering her mentioning Edith Wharton in any connection, and the author here notes he cannot find any record of VW’s having read Age of Innocence. 

What interesting ouevres to compare, though. And how interesting Woolf’s contention that Wharton was not a real American — only Walt Whitman, of the fluid gender, was.

Thank you again.

Jeannette Smyth

 

On Sep 23, 2014, at 10:51 AM, Emily Kopley <emily.kopley at gmail.com> wrote:





Hi All, 

 

This recent essay in The New Yorker makes a good case for VW's thinking of The Age of Innocence as she composed Mrs. Ramsay's death:

 

http://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/virginia-woolfs-anxiety-influence

 

Best,

Emily




 

-- 

Dr. Emily Kopley
Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow
McGill University, Department of English

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-- 

Anne E. Fernald <http://www.fordham.edu/academics/programs_at_fordham_/english/faculty/english_faculty/anne_fernald_28537.asp> 
Director of Writing/Composition at Lincoln Center,
Associate Professor of English <http://www.fordham.edu/academics/programs_at_fordham_/english/index.asp>  and Women's Studies <http://www.fordham.edu/womens_studies> 
Fordham University
113 W 60th St.
New York NY 10023

212/636-7613
 <mailto:fernald at fordham.edu> fernald at fordham.edu

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