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Growing: An Autobiography of the Years 1904 to 1911 (Autobiography of Leonard Woolf #2)
Woolf's account of his seven years as a civil servant in Ceylon. "He has a seemingly effortless way with words which is beautiful and spellbinding" (J. M. Edelstein, New Republic). Index; photographs.
Paperback
,
264 pages
Published
October 18th 1989
by Mariner Books
(first published 1961)
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It is highly amusing to think of Leonard Woolf as I have always envisioned living a rugged, outdoorsy life in primitive conditions. While he is quick to call out his lack of courage and physical strength, he also is never fully self-aware. His struggles with coming to dislike imperialism while thriving in his role as a local imperialist leader were fascinating and occasionally verged on a modern understanding of white privilege. Then he would write something about one of his native servants and
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Woolf in Ceylon. Claiming to be someone who didn't see the people there as Others, especially since he was the only White sometimes in town. Shaped his life and ideas of foreign politics. Made him attain a bad view of Colonialism after being a Colonialist. He's still pretty aggressive and outspoken, especially attacking organised religions (save Buddhism which he can tolerate). The book in this autobiography series I most wanted to read because I wanted to hear his thoughts of being in South Asi
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I very much enjoyed reading this installment of Mr. Woolf's autobiography, covering the years 1904 to 1911. The book concerns itself with the author's seven years in Ceylon as a member of the Ceylon Civil Service, beginning when he was 24 years old. For the most part, Mr. Woolf concerns himself with the details of his life and work in Ceylon. However, scattered throughout the work are keen insights into the author's developing personality and view of the world. He equates the journey from Englan
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Fascinating recounting of a man's life in his early 20s as a largly solitary government agent of the seemingly superbly well organized British empire. Too absorbed in the undergraduate conversations while at Cambridge to advance his study of ancient languages, Leonard didn't graduate that well and could only get a job outside of England and in the backwater of Ceylon. But it turned out well tapping into his organizational talents and the clarity of his handling of people. He became in charge of
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In a more recent era, this book would've been called, "Leonard's Excellent Adventure." LW leaves his life in London behind him to take a job in Civil Service for the Crown. The powers that be send him to Ceylon, where he spends seven years as the only representative for the Crown. Once he learned how to live in this new and strange land, once he adapted to their ways and customs, one he learned how to move to survive, he flourished and excelled, doing great things for the people there. The way o
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Reading for research. Brilliant in parts but then has long dry patches, however a good account of the life of Imperial civil servant in Sri Lanka in the Empire's heyday.
Woolf is truly one of the greatest men I have ever had the honour to read. An intellectual and humble mind, it is a pleasure to be a part of it.
Woolf's time in Ceylon is recounted with a seemingly detached air and interesting detail.
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Leonard Sidney Woolf was a noted British political theorist, author, publisher (
The Hogarth Press
), and civil servant, but perhaps best-known as husband to author
Virginia Woolf
.
More about Leonard Woolf...
