This book starts its journey with BookCrossing from Delphi, Greece
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<< ' "Oh, my dear, relations are like drugs, - useful sometimes, and even pleasant, if taken in small quantities and seldom, but dreadfully pernicious on the whole, and the truly wise avoid them" '

Taking respite from the Man of Wrath, her children and her stifling household, Elizabeth discovers that the path to joy lies in having a garden, rather than a room, of one's own. This enchanting semi-autobiographical novel delighted readers when it first appeared in 1898 and has never been out of print since.

The Penguin English Library - collectable general readers' editions of the best fiction in English, from the eighteenth century to the end of the Second World War. >>


~~~~~~To the person who found this book:~~~~~~

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I hope you enjoy the book!

Married twice, having 2-3 long term relationships one of which with H.G. Wells and another one towards the end of her life with a man around 3 decades younger than her, frequently changing names - not only her titles and surnames due to marriage, but also her first name-, Elizabeth von Arnim must have really been very eccentric for her era! Been Katherine Mansfield's relative and often surrounded by literary types, she appears to be utterly bored by the never ending social gatherings of fellow noble people's wives, society balls, long relatives' visits and so on.

On 1898, when "Elizabeth And Her German Garden" was published, her 15 years' senior hurband whom she called "Man of Wrath", happened to face troubles with the law and was sent to jail and they separated. For years they were living in a manor house surrounded by large estate on Pomerania, in what was then German and now Polish land. This book seems to be based on her experiences at the time. It is written in a journal form and a large part focuses on the narrator's efforts to shape her garden and on the meaning and importance the garden has to her. She prefers to spend most time of the day in the garden, often with a book in hand, enjoying the beauty, solitute and serenity of the place and contemplate on various subjects.

Meanwhile the book touches on various other incidences and thoughts and observations, from the place of women at society and family to the German Law, from description of the neighboring farm's head female's lifestyle to the seasonal agricultural workers, from the potential ghosts' presence in the manor to the opinions of her three daughters' English governess about the role model of governess and parents - not always corresponding with the people having these identities, but been important to play the role non the less- , from descriptions of long visits of boring relatives and acquaintances to excursions to a beautiful spot on the Baltic coast, when the narrator organises excursions for her visitors - on winter for the people who she likes in order to appreciate the ambiance and scenery and on summer for people who she dislikes, so they get bitten alive by mosquitoes!

There are parts of this narrative that I enjoyed a lot and I found the witty observations of the author very clever and to the spot. Sometimes there is a spark and clarity on her thoughts that makes her seem as thinking out of the box of the stereotypes of her era. But often on other parts of the book she seems not to be able to escape exactly these prejudices and stereotypes. At some points of the book I couldn't decipher if the writting was ironical or literal, if she meant what she wrote or if she was satirising the concepts.

Furthermore, the books lacks a specific plot or theme. It was very popular especially at the first decades of the 20th century, but I found it somehow disjointed and irrelevant today.

I'm glad I read it, but I don't think it's something special that will stay with me for long...

"Elizabeth And Her German Garden" is now travelling to meet the winner of the Mail a Garden Sweeps of March 2021 .
Enjoy!

Good Luck little book and Don't forget to write your news from time to time!

Thank you for the cute little package you sent me! :)

I agree with the previous comment. It's an enjoyable book, no more no less.

Congratulations, you've guessed right at my game "What will I do on May 15th?". Yes, I'm getting married! :)
I send you this book with some surprises.
Enjoy! :)

Thank you very much for the amazing package! You've made a wise choice with this book as my tbr pile is very high at the moment. I used to read on the train when commuting, but I work from home now and there's always something else to do.
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I quite enjoyed the book as I've recently "discovered" gardening for myself. Learned new vocabulary as well:). Wish we still would have these winters described in the book...

The book is on its way to the winner of the "Mail a Garden" sweepstakes. Congratulations and enjoy the read!

Recieved today, with a postcard & stickers

Released while at Post Shop. Mail a garden sweepstake.

What a surprise! Thank you.

Sending to the winner of the Garden Sweeps. Enjoy!

Wow, this book has been the "Mail a Garden" prize for some time now! I'm excited to read it!

I absolutely enjoyed reading this book. Being an avid gardener and a wife of a husband who's not at all sharing my passion for roses and veggie beds, I could relate to some of the passages! Truly, sometimes the only peaceful place at home is the garden (currently under construction, and I can't wait for it to look nice next year!), and the best companions are roses, violets, and herbs.
I loved the silly banter Elizabeth had with her friend Irais, and their picking on Minora ( the young, single guest of Elizabeth). As I've spent 19 years of my life near the Baltic Sea, the description of a picnic there was comically accurate.

PS I had to check all the rose varieties mentioned to see if I like them. Most of them are old varieties, and would not be my first choice. Nevertheless, it was interesting to see what kind of roses the author was inspired by.

The book is travelling together with a letter to a friend in Brugg.


If you aren't familiar with Bookcrossing, take a few minutes to check out this very cool site. Bookcrossers LOVE books, and more than anything, they love to read books and then set them free for other people to find and enjoy. I would love it if you would leave a journal entry -- you can say where you found the book or how you liked it when you read it.

I got this interesting book from Mankyi and I am really looking forward to read it:)

It is a great book to improve ones vocabulary, I enjoyed searching for the plants names in the dictionary and to learn other words which werent part of my usual vocabulary. I also enjoy gardening and can understand that someone is rather buying new plants than new clothes:D Just like Mankyi, I also enjoyed the parts where Irais and Elizabeth were pecking Minora, but to be honest sometimes I truly felt sorry for her as she not always deserved it.. Elizabeth was critizing the people around her in my view too much, and the monologues of the Man of Wrath are really annoying.:-)
All in all it is an enjoyable book with some dull parts.

I just got the book by post from Lortha, so it's going with me to the Mega BookCrossing meetup in Paris.

At the book buffet


If you aren't familiar with Bookcrossing, take a few minutes to check out this very cool site. Bookcrossers LOVE books, and more than anything, they love to read books and then set them free for other people to find and enjoy. I would love it if you would leave a journal entry -- you can say where you found the book or how you liked it when you read it.

I was another time when rich women were completely idle and had many servants, when travelling was so long that visitors used to stay several weeks. Women were only taught embroidery and then were reproached with being frivolous. This one seems rather self centred.

I got slightly bored.

A small book to enjoye reading in English.