Who Killed Virginia Woolf? a Psychobiography [Paperback]

Alma Halbert Bond Ph.D. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2000

Who, if anyone, was responsible when Virginia Woolf wandered across the water-meadows and threw herself in the river Ouse? By examining the various strains which led to Woolf's tragically ending her life the true nature of her marriage, her complex relationship with Vita Sackville-West, the pangs of sexual insecurity, and the lack of self-esteem noted psychoanalyst Alma H. Bond illustrates how these influences coalesced to bring Woolf's life to a logical ending. a masterpiece of its kinda brilliant, original book that not only gives the reader new understanding of why Virginia Woolf committed suicide but also brings him new depths in the understanding of his own lifeA flowing, emphatic style of writing that keeps you turning the page to learn more of the torment in Woolfs life from infancy on that drove her to kill herself. Lucy Freeman, past President of Mystery Writers of America and author of The Beloved Prison: A Journey Through the Unknown Mind (St. Martins Press, 1989) Alma Bonds work on Virginia Woolf and the relationship between her early life experience and her profound creative talents is a tour de force. Natatlie Shainess, M.D., New York, New York Outstandinga profound and in-depth presentation. Barry M. Panter, M.D., Ph.D., President, American Institute of Medical Education, Burbank, California

Editorial Reviews

From Scientific American

Who Killed Virginia Woolf? reads like a theatrical plot with all the potential assailants clearly etched in the reader's mind.... Virginia Woolf..avoided psychoanalysis. Alma Bond did it for her. The in depth psychoanalytic understanding of self destruction adds a new dimension to the professional's therapeutic armamentarium of manic-depressive disorders. This outstanding book belongs on our therapy bookshelf. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From The New Yorker

Alma Bond's intriguing and cogent new book..employs psychoanalytic methods to examine the sources of Woolf's genius as well as the pathology that led to her breakdowns and suicide. Treating Woolf's prolific novels, letter, and diaries as the stream-of-consciousness disclosures of a psychoanalytic patient, Bond traces her childhood development, the formation of her manic-depressive traits, and the dynamics of her most significant relationships.These methods uncover many hidden causes for Woolf's death and yield fascinating insights into her chaotic and brilliant personality. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse; 2nd edition (June 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595002056
• ISBN-13: 978-0595002054
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,476,380 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book had to be written, December 15, 2000

By 

Rosanne G. Potter (Key West, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Who Killed Virginia Woolf?: A Psychobiography (Hardcover)

When I taught a graduate seminar on Virginia Woolf at Iowa State University, I told my students to read this book if they wanted, as students always do, to understand the multitude of reasons for Woolf's suicide.

Most biographies skirt the responsibilities of the other people in Woolf's life -- the exact topic that Alma Bond takes on so thoroughly. This book had to be written exactly because other writers have not been willing to examine all dimensions of Woolf's death. Hurray for Alma Bond for applying her psychoanalist's expertise on this literary/historical subject!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Who Killed Virginia Woolf - Inside The Mind of a Genius, January 24, 2004

By 

W. THURSTON "Book Reviewer" (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Who Killed Virginia Woolf?: A Psychobiography (Hardcover)

Virginia Woolf, born to Leslie and Julie Stephen in 1862, came into a world that was stacked against her chances of emotional success. Both her parents and close family members had emotional problems she could not avoid. This background formed a vital part in preventing Virginia from forming a close bond with her mother. The result of this was that she suffered from unresolved emotional problems for the rest of her life.

All of her life, Virginia found herself immersed in the world of art and literature. Her father was considered by many to be her mentor in nurturing her talent at an early age. Leonard, her husband, protected her against outside pressure that most writers face from critics, editors and the like. Her lover, Vita Sackville - West, she was the conduit to allow Virginia's genius to reach its peak. Woolf always needed the help of others to survive.

Virginia ran into problems at the two most important stages of a child's emotional development. They are known as Symbiosis and the Rapprochement stages. If the infant experiences any breakdown in these processes, the consequences can be severe and last a lifetime.

Symbiosis occurs between the first to fifth month of a child's existence. It is the stage of sociobiological interdependence between mother and child. Rapprochment occurs around the age of two, where the child seeks to be reunited with the mother, after finding the outside world too hard to cope with. When Virginia wanted to be reunited with her mother, her mother was not available to her. This inability to be as one with her mother affected Virginia all of her life. It led her to be constantly plagued by alternating states of mania and depression.

The Stephen and Woolf family members had a repetitive behavior pattern. They only gave to others a little of themselves, to ensure they would not lose part of themselves. It did not occur to them that by allowing a part of themselves to be consumed by another being, in a caring and sharing relationship, that this would not destroy their self. Indeed it would strengthen their belief in themselves and make them a more emotionally robust person, to take on and conquer what the world might throw at them.

Virginia Woolf wrote: "Every secret of a writer's soul, every experience of his life, every quality of his mind, is written in his works."

Doctor Alma Bond believes that this is indeed true of the works of Virginia Woolf. The writer's internal anguish about what problems were confronting her at various stages of her life flowed through into her novels. This characteristic of Woolf, allowed the author to utilize her professional skills to present to the world the tormented soul of a very talented person.

This is the most interesting book I have read in a long while. I thoroughly recommend it to those who wish to be entertained and gain a better understanding of themselves as well.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Insight on Virginia Woolf, February 16, 2003

By 

Diane Offutt (Woodstock, Georgia United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Who Killed Virginia Woolf?: A Psychobiography (Hardcover)

After seeing "The Hours" I knew I had to read more on Ms Woolf. What a great woman she was. What a great tragedy when the world lost her.

This book is definitely a must for anyone wanting to know Virginia Woolf.