The Garden of Virginia Woolf (Tales from Monk’s House)

For a person, and the way they live, nothing leaves a deeper and more lasting impression than their home. It defines each day and every moment’s essence, coloring life’s mood, speed, and framework of relationships. – Leonard Woolf

Monk’s House is a lovely home with a stunning garden in the village of Rodmell, Sussex, England. Purchased by Leonard Sidney Woolf in 1919, it became the lifelong haven for Virginia Woolf and him. As a pivotal figure in modernist literature, Virginia found a slice of serenity in its garden until 1941 when she walked through a door leading to the river Ouse from the kitchen, ending her life. ‘The Garden of Virginia Woolf’ is a book penned by Caroline Zoob, who lived there for a decade, capturing the tale of this garden that brought solace to Virginia in her turbulent life. 🌿

While diving into this book, I imagined Monk’s House garden as a mini-universe, tenderly nurtured year after year by Virginia and her husband Leonard. They lived as if they were born to be there, tirelessly striving to make it a better place, finding peace, and finally confronting death within its embrace. 🌺

Whenever I ponder on how to live meaningfully, I often feel anxious about not having achieved much. Yet, this book lightened my heart, instilling a belief that being content within my own universe might just be enough. Perhaps I should live a bit more lightly, without burdens, and invest more time in things I love? 🌟