Virginia Woolf’s Secret Playful Side—Newly Discovered Poems Reveal a Different Kind of Genius

It turns out Virginia Woolf wasn’t just a literary icon—she was also a fun-loving, playful aunt! More than 80 years after her passing, the celebrated author is surprising the literary world once again. Researchers have uncovered a set of poems she wrote for her niece and nephew, revealing a side of Woolf that few knew existed.

These charming, lighthearted verses—far from the deep, introspective works we associate with her—were found by Sophie Oliver, a lecturer of modernism at the University of Liverpool. While going through a folder of letters Woolf had written to her niece, Angelica, Oliver stumbled upon two pencil-written poems.

“It’s obviously these two quickly drafted poems,” Oliver told NPR. “And I immediately think, ‘Well, that’s odd.’ Because Virginia Woolf isn’t a poet.”

One of the poems, titled “Hiccoughs”, is dedicated to her nephew Quentin, and the other, “Angelica”, is written for his sister. Woolf, who never had children of her own, seemed to express her affection for her young relatives through whimsical, made-up rhymes—something that brings an entirely new dimension to her character.

“These are signs of Woolf’s ebullience,” Oliver explained. “That she was kind of silly and liked to indulge in play and nonsense with these children as a way of connecting with them.”

For fans of Woolf’s more famous works, such as Mrs. Dalloway and To the Lighthouse, this discovery is a delightful contrast. It reminds us that even literary legends had moments of lightness and fun.

While Woolf is often remembered for her groundbreaking modernist novels and essays, these newly uncovered poems show that she also had a knack for humor and a softer, more personal side. They give us a glimpse into her private world, where she wasn’t just a serious writer but also a loving, playful aunt.

Curious to see the original handwritten poems? You can check them out here.

What do you think of this discovery? Does it change how you see Virginia Woolf? Hit reply and let us know your thoughts!