Mrs Dalloway-Plath

Virginia Woolf’s Mrs Dalloway, published in 1925, has prompted various responses by numerous English readers; from Arnold Bennett in the 1920s to David Daiches in 1945. During her High School years in America 1947-48, Sylvia Plath’s discovery of the novel led to a lifelong preoccupation with Woolf – the person, the novelist and the feminist. This talk traces this interesting relationship over the remaining twelve years of Plath’s life and will feature a number of “paired” readings from the fiction of both writers.

John Chambers read English at Pembroke College, Cambridge and was latterly Head of English at King Edward’s Bath. Since his retirement he has held various temporary posts at Bath High School, Corsham School, Howell’s in Cardiff and Bedales in Hampshire.  He is a BRLSI member and occasional lecturer.