Mrs Dalloway, one of Woolf''s best-known works, has long been considered a Modernist classic. The novel continues to hold
value today, and its style and structure are often imitated.
The story deals with a day in the
life of the title character, Clarissa Dalloway, as she prepares for a party to be held that evening. Throughout the day, various occurences and encounters prompt her to recall events from her past, and to consider a little more deeply certain aspects of her life.
Woolf''s skilful representation of character
allows us to identify with Clarissa Dalloway in spite of - or perhaps because of - her idiosyncrasies. A stream-of-consciousness narrative allows the reader to meet the characters around Dalloway, whether they are friends, ex-lovers or strangers, and catch a meaningful glimpse into their lives, however brief the encounter.
A post-war London setting is skilfully evoked, as are the mixed emotions of its inhabitants.
Woolf''s "Mrs Dalloway" is an ideal introduction into the world of Modernist writing.