Elizabeth von Arnim's Collected Works: The Enchanted April, The Solitary Summer, The Benefactress, Vera, and More

by Elizabeth von Arnim

Elizabeth von Arnim, born Mary Annette Beauchamp, was an Australian-born British novelist. By marriage she became Gräfin (Countess) von Arnim-Schlagenthin, and by a second marriage, Countess Russell. Although known in her early life as Mary, after the publication of her first book, she was known to her readers, eventually to her friends, and finally even to her family as Elizabeth and she is now invariably referred to as Elizabeth von Arnim. She also wrote under the pen name Alice Cholmondeley.
Arnim would later refer to her domineering husband as the "Man of Wrath". Writing was her refuge from what turned out to be an incompatible marriage. This was when she created her pen name "Elizabeth" and launched her career as a writer by publishing her semi-autobiographical, brooding, yet satirical Elizabeth and her German Garden (1898). It was such a success that it was reprinted twenty times in its first year. A bitter-sweet memoir and companion to it was The Solitary Summer (1899). Other works, such as the The Benefactress (1902), Vera (1921), and Love (1925), were also semi-autobiographical. Other titles dealing with feminist protest and witty observations of life in provincial Germany were to follow, including The Princess Priscilla's Fortnight (1905) and Fraulein Schmidt and Mr Anstruther (1907).


This Edition Contains 11 Works;
● Elizabeth and Her German Garden
● The Solitary Summer
● The Benefactress
● The Adventures of Elizabeth in Rügen
● The Princess Priscilla's Fortnight
● Fräulein Schmidt and Mr. Anstruther
● The Pastor's Wife
● Christopher and Columbus
● In the Mountains
● Vera
● The Enchanted April


This Edition Features:
● Biography of Elizabeth von Arnim
● Active Table of Contents
● Well Kindle Formatting

Genres: Classics, Fiction

1783 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 4, 2012

About the author

Elizabeth von Arnim, born Mary Annette Beauchamp, was an English novelist. Born in Australia, she married a German aristocrat, and her earliest works are set in Germany. Her first marriage made her Countess von Arnim-Schlagenthin and her second Elizabeth Russell, Countess Russell. After her first husband's death, she had a three-year affair with the writer H.G. Wells, then later married Earl Russell, elder brother of the Nobel prize-winner and philosopher Bertrand Russell. She was a cousin of the New Zealand-born writer Katherine Mansfield. Though known in early life as May, her first book introduced her to readers as Elizabeth, which she eventually became to friends and finally to family. Her writings are ascribed to Elizabeth von Arnim. She used the pseudonym Alice Cholmondeley for only one novel, Christine, published in 1917.

Reviews

[Cookie M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am one of the GoodReads Elizabeth von Arnim fans. We are legion.
I find her such a joy to read, her prose is so relaxing and descriptive, I cannot help but slow down my pace, and feel myself in the world she is creating.
When she describes her gardens I often forget I have a brown thumb and can barely get grass to grow in my yard, she makes nature seem effortless.
This is a collection of a couple of her more well known works, "The Solitary Summer," " The Enchanted April, " and "Vera," a dark tale of possessive love, and some lesser known works.

[Nancy Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

No plot and tiresome talk about women’s’ appearances. How this popular?

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice Summer Read

I chose this book for my book club to read. I wanted something light, with friendly interaction, and this fit the bill. I also enjoy gardening and flowers, and Ms Arnim does too. Her reference to the garden is interwoven into the book. It is interesting to read about the author and her background, as it directly affects her work. It was a pleasure to read.
I did not give it more than three stars because it is not the kind of book you can't put down. Just a book to relax with.

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-read for a book discussion. Classic spring read about four women that rent a castle in Italy in April. Of course all are “disappointed” in their lives and find love in the end…with their husbands or with each other platonically. Now I will re-watch the movie which, rarely, I like better than the book.

[Trish Graboske · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually only read The Enchanted April, and it was wonderful. I started the first novel in the collection and couldn't finish it, but The Enchanted April had been recommended, and I really enjoyed it.

[The enchanted bibliotaph · Rating 5 out of 5]

The volume is quite big and needs patience to finish. The stories, though, are very original and clearly show the author’s wit, ideas and beliefs, which were quite progressive for the era she lived in.
I do recommend reading these books.

[Ruth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Enchanted April was fun to read, but the others not as much, although there are a few memorable scenes.

[Jill Schroeder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely and hilarious and interesting.

[ELIZABETH BRADSHAW · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful author

I loved her gentle humour, and the insightful way she reads people. Her descriptions of people and places are fascinating.

[Amy Beck]

I paused reading because the few anti-Semitic comments about characters completely turned me off. The Solitary Summer contained endless descriptions of flowers and plants which became quite tedious to me after awhile. Her references to her husband were amusing.

The Benefactress had an interesting premise, but the heroine was so ridiculously naive, she severely tried both my patience and tested my credibility to the point where I found it hard to continue. I did finish, and the ending felt a little flat.

I've read and seen the film Enchanted April and found it charming, insightful observing human behavior, and delightful. That, plus the overwhelming, positive reviews encouraged me to want to re-read this novel and the others. I'm now having second thoughts because, as mentioned above, her single-line, subversive comments about Jewish characters was infuriating to me as I am Jewish. I am undecided whether to continue on and probably won't.

[victor t. whisman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming.

A calming trip to a magical Italian castle with characters who carry baggage not uncommon today. Gentle angst dealt with delightfully.

[Dennis culver · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the finest writers