Editing Virginia Woolf (section)

=== Antisemitism ===
Often accused of [[antisemitism]],{{sfn|Edel|1979}} the treatment of [[Judaism]] and [[Jews]] by Woolf is far from straightforward.{{sfn|Schröder|2003}} She was happily married to an irreligious Jewish man ([[Leonard Woolf]]) who had no connection with or knowledge of his people while she generally characterised Jewish characters with negative stereotypes. For instance, she described some of the Jewish characters in her work in terms that suggested they were physically repulsive or dirty. On the other hand, she could criticise her own views: "How I hated marrying a Jew — how I hated their nasal voices and their oriental jewellery, and their noses and their wattles — what a snob I was: for they have immense vitality, and I think I like that quality best of all" (Letter to Ethel Smyth, 1930).{{sfn|Woolf|1929–1931|loc=2215: 2 Aug.}}{{sfn|Snodgrass|2015}}{{sfn|Gross|2006}} These attitudes have been construed to reflect, not so much antisemitism, but social status; she married outside her social class. Leonard, "a penniless Jew from Putney", lacked the material status of the Stephens and their circle.{{sfn|Edel|1979}}

While travelling on a cruise to Portugal, she protested at finding "a great many [[Spanish and Portuguese Jews|Portuguese Jews]] on board, and other repulsive objects, but we keep clear of them".<ref name=Forrester49/> Furthermore, she wrote in her diary: "I do not like the Jewish voice; I do not like the Jewish laugh." Her 1938 short story, written during Hitler's rule, "[[The Duchess and the Jeweller]]" (originally titled "The Duchess and the Jew") has been considered antisemitic.{{sfn|Rodríguez|2001–2002}}

Some believe that Woolf and her husband Leonard came to despise and fear the 1930s' [[fascism]] and antisemitism. Her 1938 book ''[[Three Guineas]]'' was an indictment of fascism and what Woolf described as a recurring propensity among [[patriarchy|patriarchal]] societies to enforce repressive societal mores by violence.{{sfn|Young|2002}} And yet, her 1938 story "The Duchess and the Jeweller" was so deeply hateful in its depiction of Jews that ''Harper's Bazaar'' asked her to modify it before publication; she reluctantly complied.<ref>Wilson, Jonathan (14 May 2022). "Virginia and the Woolf". Tablet Magazine. Retrieved 3 August 2022.</ref>