Artists & Writers · 20th Century
Virginia Woolf’s Last Words
“I feel certain I am going mad again... and I shall not recover this time.”— Virginia Woolf, March 28, 1941
Who Was Virginia Woolf?
Virginia Woolf was a pioneering modernist novelist whose stream-of-consciousness technique produced masterworks including Mrs. Dalloway, To the Lighthouse, and The Waves.
The Final Moments
Woolf left this note for her husband Leonard before walking into the River Ouse near their home in Sussex with her pockets full of stones. She had suffered recurring bouts of mental illness throughout her life.
Are These Words Verified?
These words are from Woolf's authenticated suicide letter, which survives and has been extensively published. As a written document in her own hand discovered by her husband, its authenticity is indisputable.
Sources
- archive Original suicide note to Leonard Woolf
- firsthand Leonard Woolf's autobiography
- archive University of Sussex archives
Legacy
Woolf is a central figure of feminist literary criticism and modernist literature. A Room of One's Own remains a landmark feminist text.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were Virginia Woolf’s last words?
“I feel certain I am going mad again... and I shall not recover this time.”
How did Virginia Woolf die?
Virginia Woolf died on March 28, 1941 at the age of 59. Cause of death: Suicide by drowning.
Were Virginia Woolf’s last words documented?
These words are from Woolf's authenticated suicide letter, which survives and has been extensively published. As a written document in her own hand discovered by her husband, its authenticity is indisputable.
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