A new book which explores the early years of Virginia Woolf's married life drawing on the collection of edited diaries and letters relating to the decade that Virginia Woolf lived in Richmond together with vintage photographs.

Foreword by Paula Maggio Chronology of Virginia Woolf Introduction Virginia’s Richmond The Hogarth Press Woolf on Writing Family in the Richmond Era Virginia and her Servants Gatherings with Woolf Health Photographs Virginia at her Leisure Woolf on War Leonard’s Viewpoint A Lasting Legacy Recommended Reading Endnotes Index

“I ought to be grateful to Richmond & Hogarth, and indeed, whether it’s my invincible optimism or not, I am grateful.” − Virginia Woolf Although more commonly associated with Bloomsbury, Virginia and her husband Leonard Woolf lived in Richmond-upon-Thames for ten years from the time of the First World War (1914-1924). Refuting the common misconception that she disliked the town, this book explores her daily habits as well as her intimate thoughts while living at the pretty house she came to love – Hogarth House. Drawing on information from her many letters and diaries, the editor reveals how Richmond’s relaxed way of life came to influence the writer, from her experimentation as a novelist to her work with her husband and the Hogarth Press, from her relationships with her servants to her many famous visitors.

“Lively, diverse and readable, this book captures beautifully Virginia Woolf’s time in leafy Richmond, her mixed emotions over this exile from central London, and its influence on her life and work. This illuminating book is a valuable addition to literary history, and a must-read for every Virginia Woolf enthusiast…” Emma Woolf, writer, journalist, presenter and Virginia Woolf’s great niece “Virginia Woolf in Richmond is a great book for Woolf scholars and for laypersons with a general interest in her life and work. Fullagar shows how the time she spent in Richmond – and the events that took place in both her own life and the wider world during that time – influenced Woolf’s development as a writer and her personality in a more general sense. It is clear that Woolf’s life and work (and hence the books that so many of us love) would have been very different if she had not lived there.” Joseph Ludlow, NB Magazine “Richmond allowed for social interaction but without the rush and bustle of a fast-paced London. It was a tranquil life. Fullagar presents a well-written case for Woolf’s love of Richmond. Although Woolf is permanently linked with Bloomsbury, she does have deep roots in Richmond.” Goodreads review “It’s a well-written and well-researched book about the time she lived in Richmond. I think it’s a must-read for any person who likes Virginia Woolf. Highly recommended.” Goodreads review

After Virginia’s mental collapse in 1913, in which she took an overdose of veronal, Leonard had to decide whether to have his wife certified as insane and admitted to an asylum. To avoid this, doctors agreed that if Virginia could be cared for by her husband and nurses, then she need not be certified. The couple’s rooms at 13 Clifford’s Inn were not suitable for this, so George Duckworth, who was Virginia’s half-brother, allowed the couple to stay at his house in Sussex. After a short period of time, it was agreed that Virginia could be moved, and thus, they went to live at Asheham House, the Woolfs’ country home near Rodmell, in East Sussex and stayed there until 1914. While staying there, Virginia seemed to recover slightly and was taken on a couple of short holidays to places such as Cornwall, Northumberland and Somerset. Considered successful, the couple decided to look for a home closer to London; close enough for Leonard’s political activity, but far enough away to reduce the opportunity for impromptu social visits.