Dear walking book clubbers,
I’m so hugely looking forward to seeing you on Sunday for a walk, or on Monday for a Zoom, to discuss Mrs Dalloway.
What a treat to reread this great classic for the umpteenth time! There are so many things I love about this book, and much to discuss - from the importance of empathy, the influence of the First World War, mental illness, thresholds, time and memory …. But I also love the way that this book can simply be enjoyed as a walk through the city by someone who loves life, London, this moment of June. A must-read for all city-walkers! NB. Fear no more the heat o’ the sun - for we shall seek out shady spots for our walk on the Heath.
Details of our Mrs Dalloway meetings
Heath walk:
Sunday 13th June, 11.30-1pm, from outside Daunt Books, 51 South End Road, NW3 2QB.
Zoom talk:
Monday 14th June, 8-8.30pm.
Link HERE
Meeting ID: 781 2101 0372
Passcode: veQjZ4
Buy the book from Daunt’s and get 10% off: use the code WBC at checkout online, or tell them you’re in the group in the shops.
More on Mrs Dalloway
So much has been written / said / filmed about this hugely influential novel. Here are a few of my favourites:
I highly recommend the glorious Mrs Dalloway episode from the podcast: On the Road with Penguin Classics, hosted by Henry Eliot and starring the wonderful, invigorating Alexandra Harris. A joy to accompany them in Clarissa’s footsteps, and listen to their superb discussion, complete with readings from the book. Thanks again to Lisa who first pointed me towards this podcast.
Michael Cunningham, who wrote The Hours, inspired by Mrs Dalloway, wrote a fascinating piece about the revolutionary nature of the book, which you can read here in The New York Times. I recommend his book too, if you’ve not yet read it - it was one of our early walking book club picks.
There’s this rather intriguing New Yorker piece about reading Mrs Dalloway in the light of pandemics.
I enjoyed this short British Library film with Elaine Showalter about the book. She’s very good at opening up the themes, and there’s some great footage from the archives.
Finally, there’s the 1990s film starring Vanessa Redgrave, which you can watch on YouTube here.
*** A reminder that these emails will always be free for those who need them to be, but if you are able to support Emily’s walking book club by subscribing for £20/year, or indeed for £50/year (which includes a bespoke literary consultation with me) then please do. ***
Our July pick
Tickets are now on sale for our July book club. We’ll be discussing Funny Boy by Shyam Selvadurai: a beautiful coming-of-age gay novel set against the backdrop of the Sri Lankan Civil War. I first came across this book at university, way back when, and can’t wait to revisit it with you - it really deserves a much wider audience.
Heath walk: Sunday 11th July, 11.30-1pm.
Zoom talk: Monday 12th July, 8-8.30pm.
Buy the book from Daunt’s and get 10% off: use the code WBC at checkout online, or tell them you’re in the group in the shops.
Missed a walk or a talk?
You can catch up on all our books from the past year with short, informative webcasts on my YouTube channel, here:
Enjoy the book! Enjoy the sun! See you on Sunday.
Emily