Showing results by author "Elizabeth Von Arnim" in All Categories

Published in 1899, The Solitary Summer is a charming companion to von Arnim’s earlier novel Elizabeth and Her German Garden. As with its prequel, the novel is semi-autobiographical and in the form of a series of diary entries. The narrator decides to spend one summer alone in her country house far away from the demands and distractions of the world. She offers us a witty and lyrical account of a solitary summer, filled with reading and reflections on her beloved garden. However, her months removed from society turn out to be less solitary than planned.

Fräulein Schmidt and Mr. Anstruther is a novella written by Elizabeth von Arnim, a British-German author known for her witty and insightful novels. Published in 1907, the story revolves around the correspondence between two main characters, Fräulein Rose-Marie Schmidt, a spinster in her late 30s, and Mr. Henry Anstruther, a kind and sympathetic stranger, as they navigate their lives and explore their feelings for each other.

In the bleakness of post-World War I February in London, Mrs. Wilkins stumbles upon an enticing advertisement in The Times for a charming Italian castle available for rent in April. Spotting another lonely soul from her womens club, Mrs. Arbuthnot, engrossed in the same ad, she persuades her to join in on this adventure. Both women find themselves trapped in unfulfilling marriages and are unable to shoulder the cost of the villa, San Salvatore, alone. They decide to seek two additional companions, ultimately bringing aboard a genteel elderly widow, Mrs. Fisher, and the captivating young ...

In un club della Londra anni Venti due signore inglesi scoprono di essere accomunate da una vita amorosa insoddisfacente, molto diversa da quella che avevano sognato il giorno del matrimonio. Mrs Wilkins, timida e repressa, è sposata con un avvocato ambizioso che "lodava la parsimonia tranne quando si trattava del cibo che finiva nel suo piatto"; Mrs Arbuthnot, estremamente religiosa, è sposata a uno scrittore di biografie sulle amanti dei re: per una donna come lei, una cosa davvero sconveniente.

In Princess Priscillas Fortnight, Princess Priscilla of Lothen Kunitz finds herself suffocated by the constraints of court life and decides to escape to England with an elderly court librarian. Her dream is to embrace a life of simplicity and altruism, but she quickly discovers that life in a quaint English village is far from the idyllic existence she envisioned. Join Priscilla as she navigates the challenges and surprises of her new world... (Introduction by Tabithat)

"... Why, it would really be being unselfish to go away and be happy for a little, because we would come back so much nicer." Lottie and Rose belong to the same London women's club, but they don't know each other very well. They both see the same advertisement for a castle in Italy, which is available for rent for a month. For different reasons, these women want to get away from their husbands for a while and they put out an ad and find two more women in need of vacation. And so, the four vastly different women head to Italy.

Nel suo folgorante esordio letterario – che contò ben ventuno riedizioni nel solo 1899 – Elizabeth von Arnim riporta, sotto forma di diario e in prima persona, le impressioni semiautobiografiche della sua vita in Germania. Per sfuggire alla frenesia urbana, Elizabeth chiede al marito, un nobile prussiano, di trasferirsi nella tenuta estiva di Nassenheide, in Pomerania.

L'autrice, riscoperta recentemente dalla letteratura di genere, non ha mai pubblicato, in vita, questo romanzo, che fu scoperto dall'editore fra le sue carte e pubblicato integralmente (anche se mancava il capitolo IV, del quale peraltro non si sente la mancanza). Perché il romanzo, che risale al 1901, non sia mai stato pubblicato dall'autrice, è ignoto: certamente il fatto che la protagonista si chiami Elizabeth, come in diverse altre sue opere, fa pensare a una certa ispirazione autobiografica, che può essere la causa della sua non pubblicazione.

London in den 20er Jahren: Vier höchst unterschiedliche englische Damen entfliehen dem tristen Alltag und reisen gemeinsam an die italienische Mittelmeerküste. Sie quartieren sich in ein kleines mittelalterliches Castello ein und entdecken zwischen Pinien und Glyzinien die Kraft des mediterranen Frühlings und der Liebe. Elizabeth von Arnims bekanntestes und erfolgreichstes Buch, gelesen von der preisgekrönten Sprecherin Doris Wolters, sprüht vor Witz.

In Benefactress, we meet Anna Estcourt, a stunning twenty-five-year-old who finds herself at the mercy of her distant brother and his frustrating wife as their penniless ward. With steadfast resolve, she rejects all marriage proposals, determined to carve out her own independence, a dream that feels just out of reach. However, her fortunes change dramatically when Uncle Joachim, her mothers brother, bequeaths her a beautiful estate in Germany. With her newfound wealth, Anna is thrilled to step into the life she’s always wanted, even if her first encounters with the locals are a bit bumpy. ...

This delightfully witty 1920s novel sees four dissatisfied London women escape rainy life for a sunny Italian castle, finding personal rejuvenation. The seemingly timid Lotty Wilkins recruits pious Rose Arbuthnot, socially exhausted Lady Caroline Dester, and stuffy spinster Mrs. Fisher to share an affordable rental for a month. Amidst wisteria and sunshine, they shed inhibitions, forming friendships that lead to emotional growth and rekindled, healthier relationships with their lives and partners.

Welcome to a quiet corner of the garden where stories unfold at their own agreeable pace. Here, the novels of Elizabeth von Arnim are read in full, accompanied only by the rustle of leaves and the occasional sigh of sensible rebellion. Expect sharp observations softened by sunshine, women who discover themselves between teacups and thunderstorms, and the particular comfort of laughter that knows exactly how serious life can be.Whether you are escaping a crowded drawing room or simply wish for a companionable voice at day’s end, this podcast offers chapters like open windows: fresh air, ...

Experience the delightful escapades of Elizabeth in Elizabeth and Her German Garden, a charming novel by Elizabeth von Arnim, first published in 1898. This beloved work, a staple of early 20th-century literature, presents a year in the life of its protagonist as she chronicles her gardening journey and the quirky interactions with her friends. With a humorous twist, Elizabeth shares her insightful musings on nature’s beauty and society, often illuminated by her whimsical perspective and frequent gardening blunders. Notably, she critiques the frivolities of her era, declaring, I believe all ...

In this enchanting tale, four women escape their mundane lives for a month in a picturesque castle on the Riviera. As they guard their solitude with surprising tenacity, they come to realize that true happiness may lie beyond their carefully constructed defenses. Set against the backdrop of the 15th-century Castello Brown, this story by Von Arnim invites you on a journey of self-discovery and the pursuit of joy. (Summary by TRLove)

Join Elizabeth von Arnim, the brilliant mind behind Vera and The Enchanted April, as she invites you on a delightful journey through the enchanting German island of Rügen. Accompanied by just a maid and a coachman, Elizabeth encounters a cast of charming and quirky characters, each bringing their own stories to life. With its sharp wit and humor, this novel promises to keep you chuckling from start to finish! (Summary by Christine Rottger)

Join the witty and imaginative Elizabeth von Arnim as she takes you on a delightful journey through Great Britain in this travelogue filled with charm and humor. Prepare to be entertained as she offers a satirical glimpse into the eccentricities of a self-proclaimed German nobleman of her time. (Summary by Christine Rottger)

Dive into the captivating journey of a young woman who breaks free from the constraints of her family life, embarking on a quest for self-discovery and feminist ideals. Written by an author with a rich tapestry of experiences—from Australia to England, marriage in Germany, and a new life in the United States—this tale blends humor and disillusionment. Set just before World War I, it carries a touch of autobiography that will resonate with anyone seeking to understand the complexities of identity and freedom. (Summary by JCarson)

Vera (1921) by Elizabeth von Arnim is a darkly comedic exploration of her tumultuous second marriage to Earl Russell, offering a sharp critique of the romantic illusions that lead wives to tolerate their husbands tyrannies. This unromantic tale weaves a narrative that foreshadows Daphne du Mauriers Rebecca. Naive Lucy Entwhistle finds herself swept into marriage with widower Everard Wemyss, whose imposing mansion, The Willows, is haunted by the ghost of his late wife, Vera—an obsession that consumes Lucy. The households servants play both sides, cleverly undermining Everards oppressive ...

Avril enchanté est un roman écrit par Elizabeth Von Arnim. Il raconte l'histoire de quatre Anglaises qui louent un château italien pour un mois d'avril, dans l'espoir d'échapper à leur vie morne dans l'Angleterre pluvieuse et de trouver le renouveau et l'inspiration dans la beauté de l'Italie.

Priscilla, figlia del granduca di Lothen-Kunitiz, si sente oppressa dai continui obblighi sociali a cui il proprio rango la costringe. Etichetta di corte, protocolli e vuote convenzioni non le interessano nel modo più assoluto. Così, quando si profila all'orizzonte la prospettiva - tutt'altro che agognata - di dover sposare un lontano cugino, la giovane granduchessa prende finalmente una decisione che matura da tempo: ritirarsi in un tranquillo cottage nella campagna inglese e dedicarsi soltanto alla beneficienza. Al suo seguito solo il bibliotecario Fritzing e la cameriera Annalise.