Kew Gardens, Virginia Woolf: Summary & Analysis

"Kew Gardens," a short story by renowned English novelist Virginia Woolf, was first published privately in 1919 and later made available to the public in the collection "Monday or Tuesday" in 1921. The story was eventually included in the posthumous collection "A Haunted House" in 1944. Originally intended to be paired with images by Vanessa Bell, the story's visual arrangement has been likened to that of a post-impressionist painting. Summary The story unfolds with a captivating description of an oval-shaped flower bed in the Kew Gardens botanical garden. A married couple, Simon and Eleanor, marvel at the vibrant colors of the flower petals under the scorching July sun. Throughout the narrative, Woolf provides glimpses of various individuals passing by the flower bed. The story takes readers back in time through Simon's unconscious thoughts, recalling a visit to the garden fifteen years earlier when he unsuccessfully proposed to a girl named Lily. S…