The Duchess and the Jeweller

Set in early 20th-century London, “The Duchess and the Jeweller” (1938) is a short story by Virginia Woolf that explores themes such as Materialism and Greed, Authenticity Versus Deceit, and Social Climbing and Class. The story focuses on a fragment of jeweller Oliver Bacon’s day and describes an important meeting between him and the Duchess of Lambourne. Though the plot is simple—a jeweller meets a client at his shop to potentially buy some gems—the focus on the internal world of the protagonist results in a rich presentation of an inner world and explores the challenges of living in a modern society.

Originally published in Harper’s Bazaar Magazine (London & New York) in March 1938, “The Duchess and the Jeweller” was republished in a posthumous collection of Woolf’s short stories by Hogarth Press—Virginia and Leonard Woolf’s own press—in 1944. This guide uses the Harvest Book, Harcourt Brace & Company (1989) edition which is a reproduction of the Harper’s Bazaar 1938 publication.

Note: This study guide retains the UK English spelling of “jeweller” and “jewellery” throughout.

The story opens with a detailed description of the home of the main protagonist,

Unlock all 28 pages of this Study Guide

Plus, gain access to 8,900+ more expert-written Study Guides.

Including features:

+ Mobile App

+ Printable PDF

+ Literary AI Tools

Unlock Full Library