cahn

I hear you on Virginia Woolf. I still have no better explanation than that the author must have liked Virginia Woolf a lot. I mean, yes, the war and the psychic pressure from it contributed to her decision to commit suicide, but it wasn't the only reason, and again, she had nothing to do with all the other characters.

I'm glad the book resonated with you the way it did with me! ANd re: the line between biography and historical fiction - I would call it a return to Stefan Zweig style biographie romancee, though as an ensemble piece instead of focused on one main character.