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Orlando, novel by Virginia Woolf, published in 1928. The fanciful biographical novel pays homage to the family of Woolf's friend Vita Sackville-West from the time of her ancestor Thomas Sackville (1536-1608) to the family's country estate at Knole. The manuscript of the book, a present from Woolf to Sackville-West, is housed at Knole. The novel opens in 1588. Young Orlando, a 16-year-old boy, writes a poem called "The Oak Tree." He finds favour at the Elizabethan court and love in the arms of a Russian princess. A garrulous poet, Sir Nicholas Greene (said to be modeled on Sir Edmund Gosse) , discusses literature with him. During the reign of Charles II (1660-85) , Orlando is named ambassador to Constantinople and is rewarded with a dukedom.