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Research Guides

Reading

One way to provide a sense of historical context to the novel is to read the magazines and newspapers of the time. What would Mrs. Dalloway (or Virgina Woolf) be reading in 1925? What sort of information about a topic, be it womanly health problems or shell shock, could be found in the mass media of the time? The UW Libraries has a strong collection of early 20th century British publications, some online, others in print or on microfilm.

Image: Cartoon from the 11 Feb. 1925 issue of Punch.

Help: Analyzing NewspapersNewspapers & Late to the Feast: Newspapers as Historical Sources.

Newspapers

 Microfilmed newspapers are located in cabinets arranged by microfilm number on the ground floor of Suzzallo Library.  Microfilm readers, printers and scanners are available to use. Check with the Help Desk on the ground floor for help using the equipment.

Searching Magazines

Use the following sources to find articles written on a specific topic. 

Browsing Magazines

One way to get the feel of the time, the zeitgeist of the era, is to browse through contemporary magazines. Would Mrs. Dalloway read Country Life? Did Virginia Woolf subscribe to the Spectator? Not only are the articles of interest but so are the advertisements. The following are a selection of magazines from the period -- some are in Suzzallo, others are in Auxiliary Stacks (storage) and must be requested.