Fictionalised Biography as a New Voice for Women’s Lives in Virginia Woolf’s Orlando and Flush

Virginia Woolf reflects on the vulnerability of women’s voices in her essay Three Guineas (1938). More specifically, Guineas, uses term ‘influence’, which, according to her, women lack because they have neither financial power nor education, rendering them inaudible. She argues that remain ‘outsider[s]’ with ‘no right speak’ (Woolf 2015, 116). By end essay, reader realises has transformed this condition into a form resistance by refusing occupy position male-dominated public sphere. In 1920s, Woolf’s awareness inaudibility lives made want write woman’s life herself, leading Orlando and then Flush. Both these fantasised biographies portray women: (1928) is fantastical biography close friend Vita Sackville-West, Flush (1933) tells story Elizabeth Barret Browning’s through dog. contrast, Roger Fry nonfictional. Why did choose fictionalise ‘woman’ biographies? This paper that, similarly unconventional choice an ‘outsider’ better fight gender inequality militarism, fiction can be considered political tool it allows for alternative mode biographical representation. Not only does use enable compensate visibility feminine subjects, but she also develops writing strategy capable delivering innovative, politicized representation depicted.