Virginia WoolfVirginia's Sisters: An Anthology of Women's Writing

This is an eclectic group of writings by women living in the first half of the 20th century. There is a mixture of writers that many will have heard of i.e. Katherine Mansfield and Virginia Woolf but some have only been published in English for the first time. It's a collection of prose and poems along with quotes and drawings. There is a list of the authors with mini-bios and also information about the translators. I wish that this had been included by the actual piece of writing as it would have allowed the reader to gain some context about the writer.I thoroughly enjoyed this anthology and it flowed extremely well. The inclusion of poetry and quotes allowed me to differentiate the short stories. Sometimes, I find they blend into one another for me but not in this case. I was most excited about reading the pieces from authors throughout the world and finding new authors to me. What I found about all these pieces is that the reflection's points are all still very relatable to this day and age. We might be a hundred years later than some of these were written but the questions and the feelings evoked were relevant to today’s world.I particularly like ‘Unheard’ by Yenta Serdatsky as who hasn't been in that position once in their lives and I really resonated with it. I have read a few of the other well-known authors but I also loved ‘Villa Myosotis’ by Sorana Gurian. It had a haunting quality of isolation and loneliness which I found quite hard to read.Overall, this is a brilliant anthology and I loved reading every piece in the collection. Let me know if you pick this one up!

Virginia's Sisters is a fantastic anthology which brings to light female voices from the early 1900s who have not been celebrated as much in the literary canon, either because they were overshadowed by male contemporaries or because their work was not translated into English at the time of publishing. While well known names like Virginia Woolf, Edith Wharton and Katherine Mansfield figure in this collection of poetry and short stories, their work is illuminated and complemented by voices from Eastern Europe and Asia.All of these stories sing with talent but also shed light upon the female experience in the early 2oth century. Every woman in these stories is tackling how they are defined by their relationships to men, motherhood and marriage. But these writers also weave in the intricacies of human existence too - these are not two-dimensional narratives focusing just on the 'plight' of womanhood. Within these tales we learn about the loves, hungers and secrets these women keep. Independence, success, transgressing boundaries and queer relationships are all celebrated in these stories.Thus, rather than being an anthology dictated by a white male professor in a stuffy office, this anthology breathes with refreshing perspectives as it exists to ensure quieter voices from literature of the past are finally being heard.

”I would venture to guess that Anon, who wrote so many poems without signing them, was often a woman.” (Virginia Woolf)This opening quote sets the tone for this anthology of short stories and poetry written by women authors from around the world who might be considered ‘sisters’ to Virginia Woolf. Some were members of the infamous Bloomsbury Group and were champions of women’s rights and suffrage, as well as campaigners/pioneers for tearing down taboos surrounding same-sex relationships.English language stalwarts, including Katherine Mansfield, Zelda Fitzgerald, Edith Wharton, and Woolf herself, make an appearance. But it is the addition of so many more stories translated into English that make this such a noteworthy and refreshingly insightful collection. I particularly enjoyed the inclusion of Perkins Gillman, Maria Messina, Ling Shuhua, Radclyffe Hall and the poetry of Alice Dunbar-Nelson.

Virginia's Sisters is a captivating anthology thoughtfully curated and introduced by the insightful Gabi Reigh. This beautiful collection features a diverse selection of short stories, prose, poetry, and essays by esteemed feminist authors, including the renowned Virginia Woolf, Charlotte Perkins, and Kathrine Mansfield.The anthology proved to be a delightful journey of discovery, introducing me to lesser known but incredibly talented authors whose works I had not previously encountered. The translations of their pieces presented in this collection were an absolute treat, offering a glimpse into the literary treasures hidden in various cultures.Virginia's Sisters is a profound and enlightening tribute to feminist literature and its transformative power. Skilfully curated by the author, it ensures that readers are treated to a wide array of voices and narratives, making it a must-read for those passionate about feminist writings. I am truly grateful for the chance to have encountered these remarkable pieces and eagerly look forward to embarking on further literary explorations inspired by this remarkable collection.4 stars from me