Elizabeth and Her German Garden

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Where her garden and books add to her joy, the same could not be afforded to her husband. She referred to him as “The Man of Wrath.” She had three little children, whom she referred to as the April baby, the May baby and the June baby. It didn’t appear she had much patience for them as well. Isobel Maddison, ‘Elizabeth and Katherine’ in The Bloomsbury Handbook to Katherine Mansfield, ex Todd Martin, London: Bloomsbury, 2020 Noch ein dummes Frauenzimmer! = Another stupid female! ("Frauenzimmer" literally means "women's room;" it's an archaic, rather derogatory expression for a woman) Elizabeth Von Arnim was evidently a very cosmopolitan woman, and that shows in the novel. In fact, from reading the novel I would have thought her an aristocratic German raised, as many were, by English and French governesses. We tend to forget that the Gilded Age society was extremely well traveled and spoke several languages. But I read in her biographical note that the novel is "semi-autobiographical" and maybe this is one way in which the author distances herself from the text. That's what intrigued me, and if I can find a biography of Von Arnim that untangles truth from fiction, I'll definitely read it.

In the first ten years of the 20th century, Elizabeth von Arnim's book Elizabeth and Her German Garden was widely read and reprinted. In "Elizabeth and Her German Garden," Elizabeth chronicles a year in her life while learning to garden and interacting with her friends. Elizabeth's mistakes and her peculiar perspective make it mostly humorous, despite the fact that it makes fun of society and the wonders of nature. The narrative contains many heart-warming and adorable passages. She also talks affectionately about her children and occasionally makes sarcastic jokes about people who might disrupt her peaceful way of life. United Kingdom census, Park Hill, Bexley, ancestry.co.uk, accessed 13 July 2022 (subscription required) a b Römhild, Juliane (2014) Femininity and Authorship in the Novels of Elizabeth von Arnim: At Her Most Radiant Moment, pp. 16–24. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-61147-704-7Unique Elements Elizabeth and Her German Garden by Australian author Elizabeth von Armin is a humorous semi-autobiographical fiction first published in 1898 in the United Kingdom. No – ha replicato lui assennatamente; – no, il tuo giardino non è il tuo Dovere, perché è il tuo Piacere. There was a lot of satire here which made it an interesting read. The satire was directed at all quarters - her own self, her husband, her friends, relations, acquaintances and her household. I found it quite amusing that she should refer to her husband as "the man of wrath" and her babies as "April baby", " May baby" and "June baby". These interesting expressions gave a novelty to her writing. I love gardens and I love flowers, but I do not enjoy gardening so I was not inspired by all her gardening. She is a lovely writer for sure. I loved her book The Enchanted April and I look forward to reading more of her books. Although Arnim never wrote a conventional autobiography, All the Dogs of My Life (1936), an account of her love for her pets, contains many glimpses of her glittering social circle. [26] Reception [ edit ] Elizabeth von Arnim Monument in Buk, Poland

The book will appeal to those who see the satire and enjoy Elisabeth’s self-deprecating wit. It will appeal to those comfortable out in nature, those who see the beauty of nature, those who enjoy being alone, those not particularly drawn to social gatherings, those who easily envision a delightful landscape if told there are marigolds or poppies and nasturtium or other flowers, snow covered firs, twinkling stars or hoarfrost. Flora and fauna are spoken of, but you must be able picture them in your mind’s eye. The closer you are to Elizabeth’s way of being the more you will enjoy this book. Since 1983, the British publisher Virago has been reprinting her work with new introductions by modern writers, some of which claim her as a feminist. [29] The Reader's Encyclopedia reports that many of her later novels are "tired exercises", but this opinion is not widely held. [30]What a happy woman I am living in a garden, with books, babies, birds and flowers, and plenty of leisure to enjoy them! Yet my town acquaintances look upon it as imprisonment, and burying, and I don't know what besides, and would rend the air with shrieks if condemned to such a life. Sometimes I feel as if I were blest above all my fellows in being able to find my happiness so easily. I believe I should always be good if the sun always shone, and could enjoy myself very well in Siberia on a fine day." As the year went on, she learned more and more through books and trial and error on managing her garden. This book is written in a loose diary format over the course of a year as Elizabeth plans her garden. Being a part of the aristocracy, she cannot do any of the physical work. For this, she has gardeners, who don’t seem to last long under her employ. Or this one: ‘ What a happy woman I am living in a garden, with books, babies, birds, and flowers, and plenty of leisure to enjoy them! Yet my town acquaintances look upon it as imprisonment … what can life in town offer in the way of pleasure to equal the delight of any one of the calm evenings I have had this month sitting alone at the foot of the verandah steps, with the perfume of young larches all about, and the May moon hanging low over the beeches, and the beautiful silence made only more profound in its peace by the croaking of distant frogs and hooting of owls?” Elizabeth has three babies whom she calls by the months of their birth, the June baby, the April baby, and the May baby. She lives in a big house in the country, and of all places in the world where women are allowed no variation at all, the country is Germany.

Isobel Maddison, Juliane Römhild, et al. (22 June 2017) "Reading Elizabeth von Arnim Today: An Overview", Women: A Cultural Review, Vol. 28, 2017, Issue 1–2. Retrieved 18 July 2020. La gente qui intorno è persuasa che io sia, per metterla nei termini più gentili possibile, oltremodo eccentrica; perché si è sparsa la voce che passo la giornata fuori all’aperto con un libro, e che occhi mortali ancora non mi hanno mai visto cucire o cucinare.”Talia Schaffer, "Von Arnim [née Beauchamp], Elizabeth [Mary Annette, Countess Russell]". The Cambridge Guide to Women's Writing in English, ed. Lorna Sage, advis. eds. Germaine Greer et al. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999, p.646 Amanda DeWees, "Elizabeth von Arnim". An Encyclopedia of British Women Writers, ed. Paul Schlueter and June Schlueter. New Jersey: Rutgers University Press, 1998, pp.13 ff. In the middle of this plain is the oasis of bird cherries and greenery where I spend my happy days, and in the middle of the oasis is the gray stone house with many gables where I pass my reluctant nights.”

a b c Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, online edition (UK library card required): Arnim, Mary Annette [May] von. Retrieved 5 March 2014.Derham, Ruth (2021). Bertrand's Brother: The Marriages, Morals and Misdemeanours of Frank, 2nd Earl Russell. Stroud: Amberley. pp.257–283. ISBN 9781398102835. The book has so many marvelous quotes that I would have made countless notes in the margins if I hadn't been reading a library book. Some favorites: Katherine Mansfield, Vincent O'Sullivan, ed., et al. (1996) The Collected Letters of Katherine Mansfield: Volume Four: 1920–1921, pp. 249–250. Oxford: Clarendon Press. Retrieved 20 July 2020 (Google Books) Carey, Gabrielle (2020). Only Happiness Here: In Search of Elizabeth von Arnim. St Lucia, Qld.: University of Queensland Press.