Woolf's education was unconventional for the time, as she was largely self-taught. Her parents' extensive library provided her with access to a wide range of literature, and she developed a deep love for reading and writing. Tragedy struck her family when her mother died in 1895, followed by her half-sister Stella two years later. These losses, along with her father's death in 1904, profoundly affected her mental health, leading to the first of several nervous breakdowns that would plague her throughout her life.

In 1912, Virginia married Leonard Woolf, a political theorist and writer. The couple founded the Hogarth Press in 1917, which allowed them to publish their own works as well as those of other notable authors like T.S. Eliot and Sigmund Freud. This venture not only supported their livelihood but also gave them creative freedom.

Virginia Woolf is best known for her stream-of-consciousness technique, which she employed in novels such as "Mrs Dalloway" (1925) and "To the Lighthouse" (1927). These works delve deeply into the inner lives of characters, exploring themes of time, memory, and identity. Her non-fiction works, including "A Room of One's Own" (1929), advocate for women's rights and intellectual independence, making her a key figure in feminist discourse.

Despite her success, Woolf struggled with mental illness throughout her life. On March 28, 1941, she committed suicide by drowning herself in the River Ouse near her home in Sussex. Her legacy endures through her groundbreaking contributions to literature and her enduring influence on both modernist and feminist thought.