Books : Search

Average Rating:

.The Enchanted April (Virago modern classics)

by: Elizabeth Von Arnim

November 27, 1991
Having loved both filmed versions of this story, I came to the book not anticipating any surprises, and in that respect I was correct. What I did get, however, was a more fully-formed understanding of each of the four women who come to San Salvatore. Each has her own quest, and each is surprised in the way that her quest is resolved.

Elizabeth von Arnim can harness language in ways that few other authors are able. She is, for instance, able to display what a walking joke Mr. Wilkins is, while letting him think that he's the very model of an educated man.

I started off loathing both Mrs. Fisher and Lady Caroline Dester in a way that wasn't true when watching the films. This made their transformations that much more satisfying, ... Read More:
>>See More Reviews & Details on The Enchanted April (Virago modern classics)

Used Price: £0.01

Average Rating:

.Elizabeth and Her German Garden (Virago Modern Classics)

by: Elizabeth Von Arnim

February 02, 2006
To me, this is much the best of Von Arnim's writing. Describing the joys and tribulations of a young English woman marrying a German aristocrat she centres on the haphazard creation of her garden and the activities of her children in an examination of European mores.

Her tone is anything but dusty. A top-selling author of her day she seems to have more in common with - the best - Sunday newspaper columnists of today than with her contemporaries. She battles both with chauvanism and the demands of running a country house which threaten to quell her free-wheeling attitude to life, in a style as fresh as it was at the turn of the century.
>>See More Reviews & Details on Elizabeth and Her German Garden (Virago Modern Classics)

Used Price: £0.01

Average Rating:

.The Enchanted April: Intermediate (Macmillan Reader)

by: Elizabeth Von Arnim, Margaret Tarner

April 20, 2005
Having loved both filmed versions of this story, I came to the book not anticipating any surprises, and in that respect I was correct. What I did get, however, was a more fully-formed understanding of each of the four women who come to San Salvatore. Each has her own quest, and each is surprised in the way that her quest is resolved.

Elizabeth von Arnim can harness language in ways that few other authors are able. She is, for instance, able to display what a walking joke Mr. Wilkins is, while letting him think that he's the very model of an educated man.

I started off loathing both Mrs. Fisher and Lady Caroline Dester in a way that wasn't true when watching the films. This made their transformations that much more satisfying, in ... Read More:
>>See More Reviews & Details on The Enchanted April: Intermediate (Macmillan Reader)

Used Price: £1.92

Average Rating:

.The Solitary Summer (Virago Modern Classics)

by: Elizabeth Von Arnim

February 02, 2006
Elizabeth von Arnim lived an uncoventional life. Despite being a member of German aristocracy through marriage, she rejected the frivolous life-style of her class and found refuge in books and nature.

The Solitary Summer is the very funny and life-affirming account of a year at her summer residence. She writes of her children, of her attempts at gardening and the rigours of running her household. A theme throughout is her longing to throw down her responsibilities and escape to the countryside or to her library.

Von Arnim was a feminist but one who recognised that wit was perhaps the best weapon in puncturing the chauvanism and narrow-mindedness of her age. Her voice rings out as caustic, playful and beguiling as it was over ... Read More:
>>See More Reviews & Details on The Solitary Summer (Virago Modern Classics)

Used Price: £2.58

Average Rating:

.Elizabeth and Her German Garden (Virago Modern Classics)

by: Elizabeth Von Arnim

August 08, 1996
To me, this is much the best of Von Arnim's writing. Describing the joys and tribulations of a young English woman marrying a German aristocrat she centres on the haphazard creation of her garden and the activities of her children in an examination of European mores.

Her tone is anything but dusty. A top-selling author of her day she seems to have more in common with - the best - Sunday newspaper columnists of today than with her contemporaries. She battles both with chauvanism and the demands of running a country house which threaten to quell her free-wheeling attitude to life, in a style as fresh as it was at the turn of the century.
>>See More Reviews & Details on Elizabeth and Her German Garden (Virago Modern Classics)

Used Price: £0.01

Average Rating:

.All the Dogs of My Life

by: Elizabeth Von Arnim

February 02, 2006
Elizabeth von Arnim lived an unconventional life, shot through with both tragedy and personal success. It is characteristic of the quirky sense of humour found in her writing that she should ignore the sparkling social circle of which she was a part and choose to write the lives of her dogs.

Throughout the book we are given tantalising glimpses of the turbulance - and joy - of von Arnim's wider experiences. This short work will delight both dog-lovers and fans of the author.
>>See More Reviews & Details on All the Dogs of My Life

Used Price: £7.83

Average Rating:

.The Enchanted April

by: Elizabeth (Author of Elizabeth and Her German Garden) Von Arnim

1932
Elizabeth von Arnim lived an unconventional life, shot through with both tragedy and personal success. It is characteristic of the quirky sense of humour found in her writing that she should ignore the sparkling social circle of which she was a part and choose to write the lives of her dogs.

Throughout the book we are given tantalising glimpses of the turbulance - and joy - of von Arnim's wider experiences. This short work will delight both dog-lovers and fans of the author.
>>See More Reviews & Details on The Enchanted April

Used Price:

Average Rating:

.Fraulein Schmidt and Mr Anstruther

by: Elizabeth Von Arnim

February 02, 2006
Rose-Marie Schmidt lives with her father, a Goethe scholar, in the provincial German town of Jena at the turn of the century. Into their narrow life comes Roger Anstruther, a dashing young Englishman ... But it's not a traditional love story by any means. The novel starts with their engagement and Roger's return to England, and is a wonderfully subtle story of betrayal, friendship and the shifting balances of power in any relationship. This is a totally enchanting story, a portrait of a vanished pre-war world but also a tart dissection of relations between the sexes. Possibly also the first and best book written on long-distance relationships.
>>See More Reviews & Details on Fraulein Schmidt and Mr Anstruther

Used Price: £10.56

Average Rating:

.The Princess Priscilla's Fortnight (Dodo Press)

by: Elizabeth von Arnim

August 12, 2006
Rose-Marie Schmidt lives with her father, a Goethe scholar, in the provincial German town of Jena at the turn of the century. Into their narrow life comes Roger Anstruther, a dashing young Englishman ... But it's not a traditional love story by any means. The novel starts with their engagement and Roger's return to England, and is a wonderfully subtle story of betrayal, friendship and the shifting balances of power in any relationship. This is a totally enchanting story, a portrait of a vanished pre-war world but also a tart dissection of relations between the sexes. Possibly also the first and best book written on long-distance relationships.
>>See More Reviews & Details on The Princess Priscilla's Fortnight (Dodo Press)

Used Price: £15.37

Average Rating:

.Vera (Virago Modern Classics)

by: Elizabeth Von Arnim

July 05, 2001
Rose-Marie Schmidt lives with her father, a Goethe scholar, in the provincial German town of Jena at the turn of the century. Into their narrow life comes Roger Anstruther, a dashing young Englishman ... But it's not a traditional love story by any means. The novel starts with their engagement and Roger's return to England, and is a wonderfully subtle story of betrayal, friendship and the shifting balances of power in any relationship. This is a totally enchanting story, a portrait of a vanished pre-war world but also a tart dissection of relations between the sexes. Possibly also the first and best book written on long-distance relationships.
>>See More Reviews & Details on Vera (Virago Modern Classics)

Used Price: £1.28