Here's why:
* The prestigious awards we know today didn't exist then. The Nobel Prize in Literature was first awarded in 1901, but Woolf was not nominated until after her death. The Booker Prize was established in 1969, long after her passing.
* Her work was often controversial. Her experimental style and exploration of feminist themes didn't always resonate with the literary establishment of her time.
However, Woolf was widely recognized for her literary brilliance during her lifetime, receiving critical acclaim and achieving significant commercial success with works like "Mrs. Dalloway," "To the Lighthouse," and "Orlando."
While she might not have won formal awards, her lasting impact on literature is undeniable.