Orlando

Brief Overview

Orlando is a novel written by Virginia Woolf, first published in 1928. It is a satirical biography that tells the story of the protagonist, Orlando, who begins life as a young male aristocrat in Elizabethan England. Throughout the novel, Orlando traverses several eras, lives an unusually long life, and at one point awakens as a woman, all while retaining youthful vigor. The novel is renowned for its rich descriptions and deep exploration of gender, identity, and art, as well as its historical details and commentary on British culture and society. Woolf uses Orlando's life to explore themes of gender roles and their impact on personal freedom and self-expression. The novel also touches on themes of immortality and the changes that occur in individuals and society over time.