"A Sketch of the Past" is an autobiographical essay written by Virginia Woolf, first published in 1940. The essay is a personal and introspective account of Woolf's childhood, family, and early life experiences. It provides a unique insight into her formative years, her relationships, and her early struggles with mental illness.

The essay has also been influential in shaping the genre of autobiographical writing, particularly in the context of literary modernism. Woolf's innovative approach to storytelling and her emphasis on subjective experience have inspired generations of writers and scholars.

Woolf then recounts her early education, which was marked by periods of illness and convalescence. She describes her love of reading and writing, which became a source of comfort and escape. She also discusses her relationships with her siblings, particularly her sister Vanessa, with whom she shared a close bond.