Bloomsbury is everywhere: books, films, plays, even anime. Indeed, has any other group of friends had a more potent influence on the 20th-century ethos? Ryan (Univ. of Kent, UK) and Ross (Univ. of Victoria, Canada) demonstrate that the influence extends into the 21st century too, in essays covering sexuality, the arts, empire, feminism, philosophy, class, Jewishness, nature, politics, and war. Each essay is followed by a case study. Some essays (those on sexuality, class, the arts, and philosophy) reiterate well-established contentions; others force a new reckoning of the interconnectedness between the members and the pervasiveness, both positive and negative, of the group's influence. The essays in this latter group are provocative and sometimes antagonistic, so they will be terrifically exciting for Bloomsbury scholars. Most fascinating are the essays devoted to the men of Bloomsbury, who were often relegated to the darkness in relation to Virginia Woolf and Vanessa Bell. This collection reminds one that the reverberations of Bloomsbury are still felt in every aspect of modern society, from the arts (including literature, painting, textiles, pottery, and museum acquisitions) to politics and economics, and even social policy. Summing Up: Essential. * CHOICE *
A particularly fine collection of essays on a wide range of Bloomsbury activities, enriching our understanding of this eclectic group of individuals and the worlds in which they moved. * Times Literary Supplement *
A dense and detailed examination of the interactions, writings, behaviors, and influences of this diverse and eclectic group of individuals on both their own time period and succeeding generations. * American Reference Books Annual *
This does everything a handbook ought to do, and much more. While providing its readers with an unsurpassed panorama of perspectives on that elusive term 'Bloomsbury', its innovative pairing of overview chapters with focused case studies animates a scholarly conversation which is as vibrant and diverse as Bloomsbury itself. -- Bryony Randall, Senior Lecturer in English Literature, University of Glasgow, UK