Orlando

• Genre: Historical fiction; fantasy; biography
• Originally Published: 1928
• Reading Level/Interest: Adult
• Structure/Length: Novel divided into 6 chapters; approx. 198 pages; approx. 7 hours and 23 minutes on audiobook
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: Orlando by Virginia Woolf defies traditional genres. The central character, Orlando, begins as a young nobleman in Elizabethan England and mysteriously transforms into a woman, retaining his/her youthful appearance. The novel follows Orlando’s experiences across centuries and continents as he/she navigates the shifting sands of gender, identity, and society. Orlando is a rich tapestry of historical and fantastical elements, exploring themes of love, art, time, and the fluidity of identity.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Themes related to gender identity, historical periods, and societal norms; use of racially derogatory terminology

Virginia Woolf, Author

• Bio: Born 1882; died 1941; influential English writer and one of the key figures of modernist literature; known for her experimental narrative style and lyrical prose; wrote novels, essays, and short stories that often delve into the complexities of human consciousness and identity
• Other Works: The Voyage Out (1915); Night and Day (1919); Jacob’s Room (1922); Mrs. Dalloway (1925); To the Lighthouse (1927); The Waves (1931); Between the Acts (1941)
• Awards: Prix Femina Vie Heureuse (1920); Order of the Companions of Honour (1935)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide: