Vita Sackville-West (1892–1962)

Virginia Woolf and Vita Sackville-West. Love letters is overrated and underwhelming. It contains the complete correspondance between Virginia Woolf and Vita Sackville-West over a period of 21 years, from 1922 till 1941. Many of the letters are either short of very short, and many of the letters are about very little. The letters add very little to the overall understanding or image of either of the two authors. Both women were married. Although their letters are passionate and fierce, it is not clear whether one could truly call them love letters.

Still, the letters do form a fine complement to our knowledge of both writers, but probably only if you already know a lot about them. The letters show but tell us very little about Vita travels and about Sissinghurst, the manor she moved to after losing her ancestral home. We catch some glimpses of Virginia. However, for these minor intresting moments we have to read through page-upon-page of boring and short missives.… (more)