Orlando by Virginia Woolf (Penguin Modern Classics)

The book describes the adventures of a poet who changes sex from man to woman and lives for centuries, meeting the key figures of English literary history. The novel is considered a feminist classic, and has been written about extensively by scholars of women’s writing and gender and transgender studies.

Orlando begins in the late 16th century, with the birth of Orlando, a young nobleman who is fascinated by poetry and the Elizabethan court. Orlando is a complex and contradictory character, both masculine and feminine, and he is constantly evolving and changing.

In the 17th century, Orlando travels to Constantinople as an ambassador for Queen Elizabeth I. There, he meets a gypsy woman who prophesies that he will live forever. Orlando is initially skeptical of the prophecy, but he soon comes to believe it when he wakes up one morning to find that he has turned into a woman.

As a woman, Orlando experiences the world in a whole new way. She is no longer bound by the expectations of society, and she is free to explore her own identity. She also becomes a successful poet and writer.

Orlando lives through the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, witnessing the rise and fall of empires, the French Revolution, and the Industrial Revolution. She meets many of the great figures of English literature, including William Shakespeare, Alexander Pope, and Lord Byron.

Throughout her life, Orlando is constantly searching for her identity. She questions the nature of gender, and she experiments with different roles and relationships. She is also a passionate advocate for women’s rights.

Orlando is a complex and challenging novel, but it is also a rewarding and thought-provoking one. Woolf’s writing is beautiful and lyrical, and her characters are unforgettable. Orlando is a must-read for anyone interested in gender, identity, or the history of English literature.