The Waves

In this work, Virginia Woolf, the great English writer of the early 20th century, was ahead of her time: the novel’s subtle psychology and unusual style make it a true masterpiece of world literature.

In “Waves,” Woolf’s mastery is most clearly demonstrated—she experimented with writing styles and techniques. The novel, published in 1931, takes place on the English coast.

Against the relentless crashing of the waves, we observe three men and three women trying to survive the death of their friend—and we dive into their inner monologues. The author describes her characters’ experiences with fine insight: the stream of their thoughts and the sequence of emotions. The voices of the characters merge into a single harmonious chorus, interrupted only by small interludes written in the third person. “The Waves” blurs the boundary between poetry and prose.

When reading Virginia Woolf, we inevitably look inside ourselves, and the elegant melancholy and deep humanity of her writing resonate with each of us. An experimental masterpiece of modernist literature—now in the brilliant reading by Olga Kabo.