200 Years of LGBTQIA+ History

From Shadows to Pride — UK & Global Timeline

Source Record

Orlando

Why this source is used

Reference source on Virginia Woolf's Orlando, including publication, Sackville-West context, and gender/androgyny themes.

Start with the answer

Start with the answer How did lesbian visibility develop in the 20th century? Lesbian visibility developed through literature, censorship battles, community publications, parliamentary representation and Black lesbian feminist writing. Read the topic guide Lesbian Literature and Organising Lesbian visibility grew through censored literature, private networks, community publications, parliamentary representation and Black lesbian feminist writing.

Source Status

Publisher
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Type
archive
Reliability
medium
Cited by
3 pages

Source Links

Open original source https://www.britannica.com/topic/Orlando-by-Woolf Accessed 2 June 2026 Open archived copy https://web.archive.org/web/*/https://www.britannica.com/topic/Orlando-by-Woolf

Used by Topics

Lesbian Literature and Organising

Used by Questions

How did lesbian visibility develop in the 20th century?

Used by Timeline Events

11 October 1928 CulturalPeopleUK

Virginia Woolf Publishes Orlando — A Love Letter to Vita Sackville-West

Virginia Woolf published Orlando: A Biography, a fantastical novel whose protagonist changes sex and lives for centuries. The book was directly inspired by Woolf's passionate love affair with Vita Sackville-West, and Vita's son later described it as 'the longest and most charming love letter in literature.' Woolf, one of the foremost modernist authors of the twentieth century, had deep romantic relationships with women throughout her life. Her literary innovations — stream of consciousness, feminist criticism, and explorations of gender — transformed English literature. Her works include Mrs Dalloway, To the Lighthouse, and A Room of One's Own.