Mrs Dalloway’s London – the 100th Anniversary
Westminster Underground station, London (exit 4, opposite Big Ben)
Guided by
David or Stephen
Walk Times
| Day |
Walk Type |
Start Time |
End Time |
|
|
| 27 November 2024 |
Special |
9.50 am |
11.50 am |
Winter |
Reserve Online
|
| 27 December 2024 |
Special |
9.50 am |
11.50 am |
Winter |
Reserve Online
|
Meet a recent group of Mrs Dalloway’s London walkers. That’s Andrea holding my copy of the novel. His review of the walk – you can read it down below – is a tour de force. And this setting for the photograph because… well, let’s remember how Virginia Woolf opens the novel. The first sentence reads: “Mrs Dalloway said she would buy the flowers herself.”
INTRO FOR THE 100th ANNIVERSARY WALK
Virginia Woolf put her pen down – finished her great modernist novel Mrs Dalloway – 100 years ago this autumn. October 9, 2024 to be exact
And as long as we’re at it, let’s remember how – and when – the novel opens.
It was on a Wednesday in the middle of June 1923 that “Mrs Dalloway said she would buy the flowers herself” and went for her walk. The novel gets underway with those those nine words – “Mrs Dalloway said she would buy the flowers herself” – and “What a lark! What a plunge!” (the opening of the third paragraph in the novel) because just minutes later she hears Big Ben strike 10 o’clock. “There! Out it boomed. First a warning, musical; then the hour, irrevocable. The leaden circles dissolved in the air.”
We keep the faith timing-wise on our late Autumn 2024 Mrs Dalloway’s London walk. It forms up at 9.50 am on Wednesday, November 27th (Thanksgiving week) so we can, once again, start the walk by hearing what Mrs Dalloway heard when she started her walk at the start of the novel: Big Ben strike 10 am. Hear those “leaden circles dissolve in the air.” And then set out on our jaunt, just as Mrs Dalloway did: “‘I love walking in London,’ said Mrs Dalloway. ‘Really, it’s better than walking in the country.'”
For the Christmas week outing we have to break step by 48 hours because the Wednesday that week is Christmas Day itself. But we hold fast to the time. The Christmas week Mrs Dalloway’s London Walk will start at 9.50 am on Friday, December 27th.
Here’s what’s special about this walk
Now as you’ll have gathered from the above, the centenary anniversary for that June day in 1923 when Mrs Dalloway went on her walk is now history. But what I say below about the walk on that June day is 99 percent applicable to every Mrs Dalloway’s London Walk we do. The only exception being that it’s no longer possible to hear that bell exactly – to the second – 100 years after Mrs Dalloway heard it on that June day in 1923. This past June (2024) we heard it exactly (“the leaden circles dissolving in the air”) – to the second – 101 years after Clarissa Dalloway heard it.* But unpacking that moment – especially with the 101-year-old materials I’ve unearthed – Exhibition A, Exhibition B, etc. – is a significant part of the fun and wonderment and indeed revelation of the walk.
* It was 101 years and 56 days on the August 7, 2024 Mrs Dalloway’s London walk. Which was put on at the special request of a Canadian Literature professor, who wasn’t here in the middle of June but was here the first two weeks in August. And why do we always run it on two successive Wednesdays in June? Because we know – from the novel – that the year is 1923. And that the month is June. And that it’s the middle of June. And that it’s a Wednesday. But there are of course two Wednesdays that fall near “the middle of June.” So we cover both bases.
Podcast for the 100th Anniversary Walk
What larks.
What plunges.
What a walk.
What a moment: “a particular hush, or solemnity; an indescribable pause…before Big Ben strikes. There! Out it boomed. First a warning, musical; then the hour, irrevocable. The leaden circles dissolved in the air…what she loved; life; London; this moment of June.”
“This moment of June” – Clarissa Dalloway’s walk at exactly that moment 101 years on – was what we were after. Both those times are now past. But we can give pursuit. And, yes, still hear that plaintive anthem as it fades. And in any case, was it just for the sake of the nice round number of the centenary? No. That moment, that walk – at any time – is much more important than that. In literary terms Mrs. Dalloway’s walk is the pathfinder walk, the walk into modernity, the walk into depths of understanding of the human mind, of who we are – of what makes us tick – that hadn’t been previously plumbed. That morning in mid-June, 1923 Mrs. Dalloway crosses a bourne that hadn’t been crossed before.
What’s more, as adumbrated above, it’s delightfully convoluted. Unpacking all of that is part of the fun. Whatever the day, we get the hour right – we start the walk at 9.40 am so we can hear Big Ben when Mrs Dalloway heard* it, hear those leaden circles dissolve in the air.
But the date – well, it was a Wednesday in the middle of June in 1923. There were two mid-month Wednesdays in June 1923. The great Virginia Woolf scholar Elaine Showalter favours the first of the two. I – Guide David – favour the second (for reasons I’ll make clear on the walk). But in any case, in the centenary summer we covered both bases. We did the walk on both those dates. Well, those dates 100 years on. Though I’ll be able to get you back to 1923 in lots of ways. I’ll show you things – extraordinary things, things that have bearing on Virginia Woolf and the novel – that haven’t been seen, by anybody, in 100 years. Yes, I know, that’s an extraordinary claim but I’m able to make good on it. Hint: you’ll see some of the material the literary historian in me has unearthed.
*Can we be sure she heard it? It’s going to be fun to watch your reaction when I untie the string round my documents portfolio, take those 101-year-old documents out, and set them before your eyes.
STANDARD INTRO
Virginia Woolf’s novel Mrs Dalloway is a tour de force. It is essentially a prose poem – arguably the most beautifully written novel of the last 100 years. Literary modernism reaches its peak of perfection in Mrs Dalloway – on that walk through London on that day in 1923. We walk with Mrs Dalloway. Walk her London. See it with her eyes.
The walk is guided by David. David is a literary historian.
David’s understudy is Stephen, a Royal Shakespeare Company actor. Just occasionally they double-team, they do it together.
In situ David* and Steve** read relevant passages to us. The words, the delivery, the setting – everything comes together. Special walk, special couple of hours. More than special – unforgettable.
*The distinguished scholar and critic John Sutherland described David as “one of the liveliest PhD students I ever supervised.” David (with a one word assist from a former Editor) describes David as: “the Seigneur of this favoured realm, David broods over words, breeds enthusiasms and is “unmanageable.”* A balterer, literary historian, university lecturer, journalist, and lifelong thanatophobe, he’s also the London Walks ‘pen’ – he writes ‘the famous white leaflet’, let alone the document you’re reading (this website).”
**Fiercely intelligent, terrifyingly talented, distinguished actor. Royal Shakespeare Company, West End shows, lots of films, Sir Peter Hall’s Shakespeare productions, etc. Best ear ever. His impersonation of John Lennon is a resurrection. Doesn’t just guide Shakespeare, performs him. Brilliantly (on his Sunday afternoon Shakespeare’s & Dickens’ City walk – but see for yourself, here’s the video).
MRS DALLOWAY’S LONDON – THE PRACTICALS
The meeting point for the Mrs Dalloway’s London walk is just outside exit 4 of Westminster Tube.
LONDON WALKS PRIVATE WALKS
If you can’t make one of the regularly scheduled, just-turn-up, Mrs Dalloway's London – the 100th Anniversary it can always be booked as a private tour. If you go private you can have the Mrs Dalloway's London – the 100th Anniversary walk – or any other London Walk – on a day and at a time that suits your convenience. We’ll tailor it to your requirements. Ring Fiona or Mary on 020 7624 3978 or email us at [email protected] and we’ll set it up and make it happen for you. A private London Walk – they’re good value for an individual or couple and sensational value for a group – makes an ideal group or educational or birthday party or office (team-building) or club outing.
GIVE THE GIFT OF LONDON WALKS
A private London Walk makes a fab gift – be it a birthday or anniversary or Christmas present or whatever. Merchandise schmerchandise (gift wrapped or not) – but giving someone an experience, now that’s special. Memories make us rich.
LONDON WALKS – STREETS AHEAD!
Don’t just take it from us.
OTHER TOURS YOU MAY LIKE
Kristy S. –
Before signing up for this walk, I wasn’t too familiar with Virginia Wolf, but I was determined to be. I watched the movie (1997) and read Mrs. Dalloway. I saw that four people had attended the previous walk, and I was looking forward to an intimate discussion. Nearly 30 people showed up! It’s inspiring when literature lovers congregate. With a passionate teacher like our walk leader David, nearly any topic becomes interesting. He’s a scholar of Mrs. Dalloway, and at the risk of repeating what others have said, he brings to novel and characters to life. Clarissa Dalloway and others became real people, and we walked in their footsteps. With glee, David shared photos and articles about essential historical elements during our amble. Bring comfortable shoes and stamina because time and distance disappear on this walk. Listen intently as you transport back to 1923 when WWI is in the past yet impossible to vanquish. No amount of flowers or delightful parties can make it fade way. Read Mrs. Dalloway before this walk if you can. More importantly, read it again afterward. Thank you for an unforgettable experience, David!
Anna –
The Mrs. Dalloway walk was extremely informative and enjoyable: David brought back to life in vivid detail the ideas and experiences of Londoners in 1923. I recommend this walk to everybody not only to Mrs. Dalloway fans. David is also a very kind guide, taking the time to answer my email, giving me directions, when I feared that I would be late. Thank you David and thank you for the extra material you sent us after the walk!
Linda –
This morning, we had the pleasure of being guided by David on his inspirational Mrs. Dalloway London Walk
His forensic dive into the historical context and intricate details of Virginia Woolf’s novel as we traced her steps was both fascinating and delivered in such an accessible and entertaining manner
At times, it was pure theatre as he read significant texts from the novel and offered a catalogue of fascinating visual reproductions of news and photographs from June 1923. David brought Woolf’s book to life as we traced the well-known path of Clarissa Dalloway through London
His passion was infectious and his depth of knowledge made the experience truly riveting and the time just flew by
Thank you, David, for your generosity. It was an unforgettable journey through the world of Mrs. Dalloway
Cannot recommend more highly
Candis McLean –
Transporting! David accompanies you back a century, providing factual context for Mrs. Dalloway’s fictional life — the widely-felt trauma in post-Great-War London, her larger-than-life neighbours who influenced history, Clarissa’s existential crisis and how it was solved….
If you can, take David’s tour on your own or with your own small group, as I did, so you can ask lots of questions and discuss profound thoughts. Such a rare opportunity.
Christoph Karner –
For me, David brought the novel to life. Without having read the book
and, to be honest, without knowing anything about it, David made me want to read the book and learn more about it.
And now I also know why the novel is so important.
This is guiding and teaching at its best.
David Tucker –
Let’s see if we can do something about that, Sue. Perhaps we can find a ‘peg’– an anniversary. Can you wait 11 months? We could, for example, run it on May 14, 1925. That would be 100 years to the day that Mrs Dalloway was published. That’s a Wednesday, so it’s a perfect fit with my schedule. And we could run it at a time that suits you. What do you say? If that date works for you what time would you like the walk to start?
Sue Fisher –
I can’t go on this walk on a cheap day return train ticket because it’s too early. That makes it very expensive and therefore impossible..it’s such a shame.
Susan –
David. I just have to say that you gave me the best tour of my life. I have said it over and over. I loved your enthusiasm, the large illustrations, that you moved right along, and of course the”surprise”!
When we return in the future, I’ll certainly contact you again. Happy New Year to you and your lovely wife. Susan
Paul E. Tierney Jr. –
We went with David and enjoyed every minute. Five of us ( three generations ) were all conversant with Virginia Woolf and Mrs Dalloway , but learned a great deal . David is well prepared and articulate, but he is also a kind, personable, friendly person to be with. Best guided walk I have had in a long time. Paul
Lisbeth Boutang –
Best walk in my tour of walks. Compelling insights into both character and author. A lot of research and introspection went into David’s stellar tour. I had read the book at university 40 years ago. Still I dashed off and bought a hardbound addition to read with fresh relish. I appreciate his follow-up emails that add a friendly, permanent touch.