‘Literature is no one’s private ground; literature is common ground.’

A deeply thoughtful and unpretentious collection of literary essays, The Common Reader: First Series is Virginia Woolf’s celebration of the simple joy in reading for pleasure.

Championing the everyday, ‘common’ reader, Woolf emphasises the importance of reading for curiosity and interest, as opposed to academic analysis. In a delightfully conversational tone and with personal flair, Woolf explores the works of classical and contemporary authors alike; from Chaucer and Austen to Defoe and Montaigne. Effortlessly blending biography, criticism and philosophy, these brilliantly written essays showcase Woolf’s passion for literature, and particularly its ability to shape life as we know it. Unfailingly astute, The Common Reader: First Series is a welcome reminder why literature should remain relevant, accessible and, above all, deeply human. This audiobook edition is expertly read by Kristin Atherton.

Virginia Woolf (1882 – 1941) was one of the most significant novelists of the twentieth century. A modernist writer and progressive thinker, she is known for her stream of consciousness narrative style and influence on feminist criticism. Her works have been translated into over fifty languages and are widely read and adapted to this day.