The Enchanted April: (Annotated Edition)

A light and pastoral novel compared to her other works, British author Elizabeth von Arnim's historical fiction The Enchanted April (1922) was inspired by her experience touring the Italian Riviera. It ties together the narratives of four unique women living in Arnim's present-day England, who somewhat reluctantly band together to vacation in Italy. Eventually, realizing they have a number of commonalities, the women reach the moralistic conclusion that it is prudent and wise to seek social connection rather than exclusivity. Famous for being a relatively early text to feature a solidarity of women as protagonist figures, the novel inaugurated later feminist British literature. It also addresses themes such as self-fulfillment, love, the intrinsic value of the natural world, and the texture of memory.The Enchanted April begins on an ordinary day in England. Mrs. Arbuthnot, a reticent and traditional woman, meets up with Mrs. Wilkins, who is more spontaneous, to discuss an advertisement they found listing the lease of a villa in Italy the next April. Each woman considers the other an acquaintance, but not a friend by any means. However, Mrs. Wilkins notices Mrs. Arbuthnot's dissatisfaction with life and resonates with her. She urges Mrs. Arbuthnot to sign the lease with her. Mrs. Arbuthnot contacts Mr. Briggs, the owner, who becomes infatuated with her. Realizing that the rate is higher than they expected, the two women resolve to find other female boarders to split the cost. Their petition draws in two other women, Mrs. Fisher, a controlling woman, and the extremely wealthy Lady Caroline Denston. Lacking other interested parties, Mrs. Arbuthnot and Mrs. Wilkins agree to go with them despite their initial judgments.