Street Haunting and Other Essays

Dec 4, 2025 4:51 AM

Author:Virginia Woolf,Stuart N. Clarke

Virginia Woolf began writing reviews for the Guardian 'to make a few pence' from her father's death in 1904, and continued until the last decade of her life. The result is a phenomenal collection of articles, of which this selection offers a fascinating glimpse, which display the gifts of a dazzling social and literary critic as well as the development of a brilliant and influential novelist. From reflections on class and education, to slyly ironic reviews, musings on the lives of great men and 'Street Haunting', a superlative tour of her London neighbourhood, this is Woolf at her most thoughtful and entertaining.

Reviews

Brilliant and subtle essays

—— Independent on Sunday

It is all pure Woolf, so distinctive is her voice - ironic, cool, conversational and playful, shrewd and fantastical by turns

—— Literary Review

Woolf was easily the greatest literary journalist of her age

—— James Wood , Guardian

More like novels than ordinary criticism

—— New Statesman

Filled with comic spirit...there are some beautiful essays here...and many memorable ones

—— Peter Ackroyd , New York Times

Her essays are delightful in the way that serious play is delightful. She is enjoying herself, and reading her gives me that leaping sense of being in excellent company

—— Jeanette Winterson , The Times

Completion threads satire through a territory every bit as cut-throat as the pioneers’ Wild West: the property market in contemporary London…Completion is lively and often hilarious…beautifully tart prose offers something to admire throughout.

—— Literary Review

Tim Walker's debut novel brims with wit and rich characterisation. It casts a sardonic gaze on hipster subculture, political idealism and our property-obsessed society…The four main plot strands are handled with skill…Completion is a warm and invigorating read, and highly recommended.

—— The List

Walker’s amusing first novel follows the quirky and engaging family on their lives away from home over 30 years…an enjoyable romp.

—— Daily Mail

[A] deliciously funny novel…Walker’s clever observations on materialism, parenting, love, friendship and even internet dating are piercingly accurate, but served up with a generous dollop of humour…Fluidly written, with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, this debut from Walker is guaranteed to leave readers wanting more.

—— Press Association syndicated review

[A] witty, shrewd family saga … Mercilessly well-observed.

—— Saga magazine

A corker of a debut.

—— Valerie Grove , Standpoint

Completion is Tim Walker’s first novel, and a pleasing one at that, with strong characterisation and astute observations

—— The Tablet

Tim Walker's entertaining first novel gets to grips with our property obsessed times.

—— Independent

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