But words have been used too often; touched and turned and left exposed to the dust of the street. The words we seek hang close to the tree. We come at dawn and find them sweet beneath the leaf.

First published in 1922 Jacob's Room which is claimed to be first empiric novel of the author is the third book by Virginia Woolf. It narrates a life of young man named Jacob. He is both representative and victim of social values during the reign of King Edward. The story which is told in the perspectives of women in Jacob's life begins with Jacob's childhood and goes on through his school years at Cambridge and adulthood.
Virginia Woolf attributed this book to her brother who died at a young age and to all the young people who died in battle.  So her despair is felt in every line of this book clearly.