TO THE LIGHTHOUSE.
London: The Folio Society, 1988. Maryclare Foa. Octavo. Illustrated cloth boards, two shades of blue, lettering and lighthouse stamped in silver. [xvi],192pp. Color frontis and five watercolor plates by Maryclare Foa. Introduction by Gilbert Phelps. Fine, in fine navy blue slipcase.
First edition thus, second impression. Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse is considered one of the greatest novels of the 20th century for its innovative use of language, form, and perspective. It explores the complexity of human relationships and emotions through the use of stream of consciousness, while creating a rich and nuanced portrait of the Ramsay family and their friends, their different views of life, art, and gender roles. To the Lighthouse challenges the conventions of the traditional novel by focusing more on the psychological and philosophical aspects of the characters than on the plot or action. The novel is divided into three sections: The Window, Time Passes, and The Lighthouse. The first and third sections depict a single day each, while the second section covers ten years of history in a few pages. Woolf uses this structure to show how time is subjective and relative, and how it affects the characters’ memories, perceptions, and identities. A fine copy of an extraordinary book. Item #441
Price: $50.00