“To those who appreciate wisteria and sunshine. Small medieval Italian castle on the shores of the Mediterranean to be let furnished for the month of April. Necessary servants remain. Z, Box 1000, The Times.”
Despite being written almost a hundred years ago the book, The Enchanted April, is just as enchanting today. Four very different women, all unknown to each other in dreary post WW1 Britain, answer an ad for an Italian villa. Two are married but taken for granted by their husbands, one is single and beautiful but tired of grabby men, and one is a widow facing a sad lonely old age. They have nothing in common other than they are starved for beauty and love, and for the fresh air and sunshine of the Italian coast.
Italian Villa – 2015
I watched the movie first, before I read the book, which is what I would recommend. The movie is from 1992 and while film quality has improved tremendously since then, it is still a lovely period drama, (and if I’m ever reincarnated I want to come back with straight black bobbed hair).
My Good-reads review:
The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I absolutely loved this book, but I had watched the movie first. A timeless tale with a lovely story line and such vivid descriptions of flowers, gardens and beautiful countryside that you almost felt like you were there.
I ordered the book because it is one of those timeless classics you simply have to own. It was a bestseller in it’s day, 1923, and was based on a month long trip the author, Elizabeth von Arnim, made with her husband to the village of Portofino, Italy, which soon became a famous tourist destination because of the success of the book. They stayed at the Castello Brown, (now a museum), which is where the movie was filmed seventy years later.
It’s such a charming story, that it might inspire you to grab three of your girlfriends and go off on your own Italian adventure. Who wouldn’t want to live la dolce vita?
Tuscan Villa – 2015
Of course in the book the villa came complete with all the necessary servants, so hiring a chef to do the cooking would be the sensible thing to do. (You could invite Amal for tea, she’s British and may be in need of a cuppa and a break from the bambinos). Isn’t that part of the attraction of period pieces, there was always someone to prepare the meals, wash the dishes, care for the children…..and look after the garden.
It’s not surprising that there were such lovely descriptions of the flowers and grounds in the book, as the author’s first bestseller was Elizabeth and Her German Garden in 1898. I have not read that one yet, as I plan on reading it outside on the deck whenever it gets warm enough, as inspiration for gardening season. But I did read her book, The Solitary Summer, last summer which I enjoyed also, which concerned her need for solitude and beauty in the countryside with her April, May and June babies. Her first best seller was published anonymously, and the subsequent ones as by the author of Elizabeth and Her German Garden. Because these books are old and often out of print they are best ordered online.
Perhaps there is something about being in such a lovely setting that inspires love. In the book their husbands became more appreciative, although no one runs off and has an affair, (it was a more decorous time), well only the single one. I remember reading once in a book on Italy about a medical condition called, Stendhal’s Syndrome, which is an emotional reaction to too much loveliness. A handful of tourists are treated for this every year in Florence, having been overwhelmed by an excess of beauty. Finally a medical condition we can all aspire too! Of course we don’t have to go to Italy to experience beauty in our lives – it is all around us, we just have to pay attention. Is it possible to surround yourself with an excess of loveliness, especially in a world which so often seems full of evil, hate, and ugliness? Perhaps not, but it is an admirable goal to choose to focus on what is lovely in the world, and so much better for your health! Buona giornata!
Quote of the Day: “It is their manners as a whole, their natural ways, bonhomie, the great art of being happy which is here practiced with this added charm, that the good people do not know that it is an art, the most difficult of all.” (Stendhal on Italy)
Song of the Day: April Love by Pat Boone
thehomeplaceweb 
I had completely forgotten that I had watched the film. It was so long ago that I hadn’t realised that it was based on a book (my Mum and I have been watching period drama together since I was very young). I will definitely now be having a look for it online to add to my pile. That condition sounds highly desirable. I should love to be overcome by an excess of beauty!
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It’s better you saw the movie first, as the book is from another century, but as I was reading it I could picture it in my mind because I could visualize the actors! I was able to buy a combined edition of Enchanted April and Elizabeth and her German Garden for $28, as they are both fairly slim volumes.
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I’ll ask my mum if she has a copy of the film to borrow 🙂 one of the many good things about my husband is that he is always happy to sit and watch period dramas with me!
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Wonderful post! I remember seeing this movie a long time ago as well. The theme of the movie still applies today with women wanting to get away. Florence is still beautiful, but unfortunately there are so many tourists now that it’s hard to see its beauty unless you walk the streets at 6-7 AM or come in off season, still tourists but much less. Thanks for making me smile. It’s hard not to love Italy.
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Thanks! What a wonderful blog you have, I just checked it out and am following you now. I am insanely jealous that you are in Florence, as I have never been to Italy, but it is on my bucket list…..but for now I am just an armchair traveler.
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I am just reading your Blog, which is wonderful as well. Love the story about your Irish roots. Fantastic photos… still reading.
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It is a very long post…..if you are into history you might enjoy my post on my Uncle Charlie WW1 vet, (Nov)…..or if you are a blook person, my funny interview with Jane Austen for Valentine’s Day! I did several book reviews on April in Paris if you are interested. I will come back and check on your blog more later, but Saturday chores beckon!
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Ok, I will keep reading. Thank you! I saw the ones on Paris, have not gotten there yet.
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PS. I think when I go to Italy I will go off-season to avoid the crowds – what month/time is best?
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My mother was born/raised in Florence, so we used to come a lot when my grandmother was alive. I’d say the best time to come is late Sept/Oct/Nov and or late Feb/March/April. April the crowds are coming, but not as bad as late May – beginning of September. NOW, if you journey to the country side, there aren’t so many people. At some point in life, you just have to get that ticke and DO IT! This trip I stayed at a Monastery, which was wonderful. Clean, nice sized rooms and continental breakfast included. Oh, LOW PRICE! Go to Monasterystays.com. I stayed at the Monastery by Piazza Michelangelo. A lady I met at the Monastery, stayed at two others in Florence. All were nice, but I think she liked this one the best, rooms are a nice size. Oh, there is one Monastery right behind the Duomo, she said rooms were smaller, but they had more sitting areas. PRINT a picture of Florence, put up on your Vision Board – it will happen! 🙂
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Thanks so much for the insider info…..I do like the idea of staying at a monastery!
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It’s time I revisit Tuscany via a reread of the titles you’ve listed, especially An Enchanted April. And I must look up The Solitary Summer which I’ve not seen yet. By the way, there is a case of Stendhal’s Syndrome A Room with a View, except that was caused by the young English protagonist becoming overwhelmed by the pyramids in desert sun and heat. Same symptoms, nonetheless.
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Don’t waste your time on the Frances Meyes book Women in Sunlight I put at the end of the post – it was a big disappointment for such a good author. I did a review of it on Goodreads, if you click on the book of the day link on my homepage you might be able to access it if you are a Goodreads member.
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Testing ability to leave a comment one year later.
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Well, Joni, I’m leaving a comment: I really must reread ENCHANTED APRIL again before this April runs out. It just so happens that our downtown public library is hosting its annual book sale at 50 cents a book! They may not have any copies so I’d best order from Amazon, I reckon, along with THE SOLITARY SUMMER that you also mentioned. (Was this conversation thread really last August? Oh, my!)
By the way, I just today finished reading the Longford family memoir that I mentioned in my post about Tullynally in Ireland. Some interesting facts I discovered; I’ll write more later.
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Linda reminded me that this April has not exactly been enchanting weatherwise…..expecting wet snow maybe tonight!
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Awwww…………not again!
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