Fraulein Schmidt and Mr Anstruther
I have resolved, since moving house with dozens of boxes of books, including an entire bookshelf’s worth to be read, not to buy any more second-hand books if I can help it, but to use public libraries, except for books for birthday and Christmas presents, which I’ll purchase from independent bookshops. Libraries, in Austerity Britain, are under constant threat of closure . They are being forced to justify their existence, which includes tallying books taken out by library users. Since 2010, more than 478 libraries have closed in England, Wales and Scotland.*There is a wonderful library in Brecon, staffed by exceptionally friendly, helpful librarians. It is currently in transit, having closed in November in order to make the move to a new site adjacent to the Brecon Museum. Before they closed, they allowed users to take out a nice big pile of books to keep them going over the break, and one of my serendipitous finds was Fraulein Schmidt and Mr Anstruther by Elizabeth von Arnim.
I had never read this author, and assumed she was German, but actually she was a New Zealander, cousin to Katherine Mansfield, and her first marriage was to a Prussian aristocrat, Count Henning August von Arnim-Schlagenthin. This interested me, as my great-great aunt Lucy (pictured below with her two children), who was born in Kashmir, also married a Prussian - Count Radolin Radolinski, Chamberlain to the royal Prussian court; privy councillor; supreme steward to Kaiser Friedrich III and imperial German ambassador.
In this really excellent epistolatory novel, von Arnim lays out Fraulein Schmidt’s thoughts and a whole cast of beautifully-drawn characters so skilfully, using the device of a one-sided correspondence ie Fraulein Schmidt’s letters to Mr Anstruther. It was published in 1907, seven years before the First World War must have put a temporary stop to young English gentlemen travelling to Germany to learn the language and culture.I loved reading this, and will definitely be recommending it not only to friends but also possibly laying in a copy for my baby granddaughters for some future reading. Yes, it’s that good!
*https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/dec/15/tories-libraries-social-mobility-conservative
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Gerry
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Jan 26, 2020 11:37AM
Judith I enjoyed your blog; I'd always assumed the lady was German, too. What a surprise. I must say I am sorry to read that you have resolved not to buy any more secondhand books - the only saving grace is you have said, 'if I can help it'. I do hope you can't help it like the girl in the song! I do know the problem because I go out and say the same thing and end up coming back with bags full. My daughter's wardrobes, floor to ceiling style and full width of the room, are full of books, many waiting to be read. I need to live to something like 876 to get through them all - that is if I don't buy any more and unlike you, I cannot make that resolve. Happy reading … and book buying! x
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Thanks Gerry, loved your comment! Don’t worry, I still can’t walk past a pile of second hand books, and they’re everywhere!
'Everywhere' - I know the feeling. To get an idea, please would you look at my two photographs 'National Bookshop Day' on my profile page. And that is just a very small proportion of books in the house!
PS Last time Deborah (my daughter) came to stay with me, she commented to her friends 'I get out bed into my suitcase.' Of course, she does exaggerate … but only a little!
Wow Gerry, I looked at those photos, and you’ve got it even worse than me! 😆
Yes, it is a disease and I know I need counselling - it would do no good, however! Buying books helps to keep me sane!
