Martin Ferguson Smith

“Suicidal Mania” and Flawed Psychobiography: Two Discussions of Virginia Woolf

The first discussion concerns Virginia Woolfs attempted suicide in September 1913 and her recuperation from the attack of mental illness that provoked it. The main focus is on the interest and advice of Roger Fry, who was closely involved with Virginias sister, Vanessa Bell, and whose wife, the artist Helen Fry, had a long history of mental illness that invites comparison and contrast with that of Virginia. When Virginia was convalescing, and a new nurse was required for her, Roger approached the medical superintendent of the hospital in which Helen was a patient. The letters exchanged between the two are made known for the first time. The second discussion concerns Virginias and Leonard Woolfs visit to Greece with Roger and his sister Margery Fry in 1932, and specifically a photograph taken while the party was in Athens. The recent contention of Maggie Humm that the common error of identifying the location as the Acropolis originated with Virginia, and that her alleged misidentification is psychobiographically significant, is refuted.

Virginia Woolf and “the Hermaphrodite”: A Feminist Fan of Orlando and Critic of Roger Fry

ABSTRACT After Virginia Woolfs biography of Roger Fry was published in 1940, she received a letter from Mary Louisa Gordon strongly critical of her portrayal of Rogers wife, the artist Helen Coombe, and even more critical of Rogers character and conduct. Mary and Helen had been friends before the latter married in 1896 and went on to develop severe mental health problems. In 1936 the Woolfs had published Marys historical novel, Chase of the Wild Goose, about the Ladies of Llangollen. The article is in four sections. Section 1 is introductory. Section 2 is about Mary. It discusses Chase of the Wild Goose, its relationship to Orlando, and Virginias comments on it and its author, whom, in letters to Ethel Smyth, she calls “the Hermaphrodite”. It goes on to describe Marys life and career as medical doctor, suffragist, first female Inspector of Prisons in England and Wales, and scathing critic of the prison system. Section 3 presents Marys letter to Virginia, with significant corrections of the text published by Beth Rigel Daugherty. Section 4 focuses on Helen, and on Marys assessments of her and Roger.