The sudden death of her mother in 1895, when Virginia was 13, and that of her half-sister Stella two years later, led to the first of Virginia's several nervous breakdowns
Supplementing these influences was the immense library at the Stephens' house, from which Virginia and Vanessa were taught the classics and English literature.
Julia Stephen was equally well connected. She came from a family of beauties who left their mark on Victorian society as models for Pre-Raphaelite artists
