Orlando Summary

The narrative revolves around a character named Orlando who experiences time in an unusual way, aging merely 36 years over a span of three centuries and transitioning from male to female. This extraordinary tale begins with Orlando as a young nobleman, holding a playful beheading ceremony, imitating his ancestors. As he grows, he gains the favor of Queen Elizabeth and subsequently enjoys a life full of wealth and status. However, when the Queen discovers him in a compromising situation with a young maiden, she discards him. Orlando then indulges in a lowly lifestyle, engages with many women, and eventually returns to court under the rule of King James I. He falls in love with a mysterious figure, Sasha, the Russian princess, but his heart is broken when she abandons him.

Following his heartbreak, Orlando retreats to his vast house, diverting his focus towards writing. He invites a renowned poet, Nick Greene to his house, but the disparity in their social classes creates a rift. After Nick leaves, he mocks Orlando through a parody, leaving him heartbroken once again. After remodeling his home, Orlando is visited by the Archduchess Harriet of Romania, whose advances he rejects, prompting him to leave England. He is then appointed as an ambassador to Constantinople by King Charles II. Here, Orlando marries a Spanish dancer, Rosina Pepita, and later falls into a seven-day trance, waking up as a woman. She subsequently joins a tribe of gypsies in Turkey, but feeling misunderstood, decides to return to England.

During her return journey, Orlando explores her femininity through a relationship with the ship's captain. Back in England, she rejects a marriage proposal by Archduke Harry, previously known as Archduchess Harriet. Orlando then interacts with renowned poets and becomes fascinated with stories from London prostitutes. As the Victorian era dawns, she feels societal pressure to marry, ultimately finding her partner in Marmaduke Bonthrop Shelmerdine, Esquire, a seaman. He leaves soon after their wedding, but promises to return. Orlando finalizes her poem named "The Oak Tree" and achieves acclaim from the same poet who once parodied her. In 1928, she experiences a strong connection with the present, which initially scares her. Despite this, she acknowledges her varied selves, all of which compose the real Orlando, and finds comfort in her existence in history, her home, and the safe return of her husband.