VIRGINIA WOOLF (1882-1941). An iconic figure in modernist literature, with her experimental writing style and exploration of complex themes such as gender, identity, and consciousness, Woolf made an indelible mark on the literary landscape of the 20th century. She was born on January 25, 1882, in London, England. She was raised in a highly intellectual and artistic household. In her late teens, Woolf suffered a series of devastating losses, including the deaths of her mother and her half-sister, Stella. These traumatic events had a profound impact on her mental health and shaped the themes of loss, grief, and identity that generally permeate her works. Virginia Woolf's breakthrough as a writer came with the publication of her novel Mrs. Dalloway in 1925, followed by other influential works such as To the Lighthouse (1927) and Orlando (1928).