Virginia Woolf born January 25th, 1882 was the daughter of Sir Leslie Stephen and Julia Prinsep Stephen. Virginia's original name was Adeline Virginia Stephen, she was born in Kensington, London, England.
Her father, Sir Leslie Stephen -born 1832, died 1895- was a notable historian, author and critic. He was also the editor of the Dictionary of National Biography, a work that influenced Woolf's later biographies.
Virginia's mother, Julia Prinsep Stephen -born 1846 to 1895- was a renowned beauty, born in India to Dr. John and Maria Jackson. She was the niece of Julia Cameron, a famous photographer. Julia moved to England with her mother where she served as a model for Pre-Raphaelite painters such as Edward Burne-Jones.
Virginia was educated by her parents in their household at 22 Hyde Park Gate. The house contained children of her parents past marriages. Julia had three children from her first husband, Herbert Duckworth their names are Stella, George and Gerald Duckworth. Leslie first married a Harriet Marian- sometimes known as Minny- Thackeray ( 1840-1875), they had one daughter: Laura Makepeace Stephen who was declared mentally disabled. Laura lived with the family till she was institutionalized in 1891. Julia and Leslie had four children together: Vanessa Stephen, Thoby Stephen, Adeline Virginia Stephen and Adrian Stephen.
Sir Leslie Stephens eminence as a editor, critic, and biographer, meant that his children was raised in a life filled with the early influences of Victorian literary society. Many people visited the house in the time Woolf was living there, Henry James, George Henry Lewes, and her godfather, James Russell Lowell, were examples of people that came to Virginia's house. Julia Stephen was also well connected, she was descended from a attendant of Marie Antoinette.
Virginia's house had an immense library that was influenced by their guests a great deal. In this library Virginia and Vanessa were taught English literature and the classics. The boys in the family were raised a bit differently, they were formally educated, then sent to Cambridge. Their experiences in Cambridge brought some benefit to Vanessa and Virginia, they had new contacts...
Her father, Sir Leslie Stephen -born 1832, died 1895- was a notable historian, author and critic. He was also the editor of the Dictionary of National Biography, a work that influenced Woolf's later biographies.
Virginia's mother, Julia Prinsep Stephen -born 1846 to 1895- was a renowned beauty, born in India to Dr. John and Maria Jackson. She was the niece of Julia Cameron, a famous photographer. Julia moved to England with her mother where she served as a model for Pre-Raphaelite painters such as Edward Burne-Jones.
Virginia was educated by her parents in their household at 22 Hyde Park Gate. The house contained children of her parents past marriages. Julia had three children from her first husband, Herbert Duckworth their names are Stella, George and Gerald Duckworth. Leslie first married a Harriet Marian- sometimes known as Minny- Thackeray ( 1840-1875), they had one daughter: Laura Makepeace Stephen who was declared mentally disabled. Laura lived with the family till she was institutionalized in 1891. Julia and Leslie had four children together: Vanessa Stephen, Thoby Stephen, Adeline Virginia Stephen and Adrian Stephen.
Sir Leslie Stephens eminence as a editor, critic, and biographer, meant that his children was raised in a life filled with the early influences of Victorian literary society. Many people visited the house in the time Woolf was living there, Henry James, George Henry Lewes, and her godfather, James Russell Lowell, were examples of people that came to Virginia's house. Julia Stephen was also well connected, she was descended from a attendant of Marie Antoinette.
Virginia's house had an immense library that was influenced by their guests a great deal. In this library Virginia and Vanessa were taught English literature and the classics. The boys in the family were raised a bit differently, they were formally educated, then sent to Cambridge. Their experiences in Cambridge brought some benefit to Vanessa and Virginia, they had new contacts...