Virginia Woolf Fell For A Married Woman — And Their Private Letters Reveal All The Details

It’s almost Christmas in 1922, and all over London people are getting into the festive spirit. In one corner of the city, a special dinner party is in full swing that will ultimately go down in history. Two gifted writers are in attendance: Virginia Woolf and Vita Sackville-West. The two married strangers make polite conversation, but really they’re planting the seeds of so much more. This meeting, after all, marks the beginning of a captivating relationship that will be spoken of for generations to come.

Unbalanced affections

It’s fair to suggest that Woolf initially left more of an impression on Sackville-West than the other way around. While Woolf later noted in a diary entry that Sackville-West was “lovely,” Sackville-West’s feelings were far stronger. As she wrote in a letter to her spouse Harold Nicolson shortly after the party, “I simply adore Virginia Woolf.”

An irresistible presence

Naturally, Sackville-West found herself bowled over by her new companion’s charisma and intellect. Virginia Woolf, after all, is remembered today as an outright genius of modern literature. And we can only imagine how powerful a presence such a person would have had in real life — even if you were already a married woman.

Romantic longing

But it’s clear that there was more to Sackville-West’s initial attraction to Woolf beyond mere intellect. Even in the letter to her husband, there were signs of more romantic longing. She wrote of Woolf, “At first you think she is plain, then a sort of spiritual beauty imposes itself on you, and you find a fascination in watching her... She is both detached and human.”

Getting closer

As time went on, the two women came to know each other in a much more intimate way. And in the end Woolf herself regarded Sackville-West in similarly romantic terms. The pair forged a passionate relationship, which had profound consequences for both their private lives and their respective written work.