The Common Reader: Second Series

essays by Woolf

Also known as: “The Second Common Reader”

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July 16, 2026

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The Common Reader: Second Series is a collection of essays by Virginia Woolf, published in 1932. This collection, along with its predecessor, was intended for the "common reader" who enjoys books for pleasure. Woolf adopts the persona of this reader to discuss literary topics, outlining her philosophy on reading and writing in essays like "How Should One Read a Book?". The essays cover a range of authors and subjects, including John Donne, Daniel Defoe, and Thomas Hardy. Woolf's essays remain appealing for their insights into literature, society, and the art of reading.12

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Virginia Woolf
Legacy of Virginia Woolf
…Reader (1925) was followed by The Common Reader: Second Series (1932; also published as The Second Common Reader). She continued writing essays on reading and writing, women and history, and class and politics for the rest of her life. Many were collected after her death in volumes edited by Leonard…
Read More
…Reader (1925) was followed by The Common Reader: Second Series (1932; also published as The Second Common Reader). She continued writing essays on reading and writing, women and history, and class and politics for the rest of her life. Many were collected after her death in volumes edited by Leonard…
Read More