This October, the All Souls Book Group will read Virginia Woolf's  The Waves (1931), believed by
Woolf's husband, Leonard Woolf, to be her greatest novel.  The thoughtful and prominent Woolf scholar,
Ralph Freedman writes, "Virginia Woolf's life and work reflect her development toward a successful ren-
dition of consciousness in forms of poetry….The Waves is the only novel in which Ms. Woolf found a com-
plete expression of her aims."

As many of the readers of this announcement will know, Woolf (1882-1941) was an English novelist;
and she was also a feminist; a pacifist; a publisher; a prodigious letter writer and diarist, and a
critic.  Her status as an icon in all these realms is by now well established, and can, as iconic status tends
to do, keep one from experiencing the actual contribution—in this case, her writing—with a fresh eye.  To
this end—and true to the practice of the All Souls Book Group—the intention is to read her novels closely,
patiently, expectantly.  In the words of her finest biographer, Hermoine Lee:  “It’s one of the peculiarities
of her posthumous reputation that  the full, immense extent of her life’s work has only revealed itself
gradually, changing the twentieth-century perception of her from the delicate lady authoress of a few
experimental novels and sketches….to one of the most professional, perfectionist, energetic, courageous,
and committed writers in the language.”

And who will we be reading in November?  Thomas Merton.  Our first meeting will take place Mon-
day, November 3, at 7:00 p.m., in the first floor conference room of the Warner Building.  To find out
which of Merton's writings we will be discussing on the November, you are more than welcome to contact
Emilie White at etwhite8@charter.net

The All Souls Book Group is the nucleus of the Kay Falk Literary Project, centered at the Cathedral as
part of its teaching mission.  For more information, contact Emilie White at etwhite8@charter.net.  Newcom-
ers are always welcome!.—Emilie White