Elizabeth and Her German Garden - Couverture souple

Elizabeth and Her German Garden by Elizabeth AKA Marie Annette Beauchamp / Elizabeth von Arnim. Elizabeth and Her German Garden is a novel by Elizabeth von Arnim, first published in 1898; it was very popular and frequently reprinted during the early years of the 20th century. The story is a year's diary written by the protagonist Elizabeth about her experiences learning gardening and interacting with her friends. It includes commentary on the beauty of nature and on society, but is primarily humorous due to Elizabeth's frequent mistakes and her idiosyncratic outlook on life. She looked down upon the frivolous fashions of her time writing “I believe all needlework and dressmaking is of the devil, designed to keep women from study.” The book is the first in a series about the same character. It is noteworthy for being published without a named author.

"An extraordinary piece of work...it has a freshness, a freakish charm, an irrepressible energy" (Elizabeth Jane Howard)

"A gem of a book: rare, simple, innocent and charming" (Susan Hill)

"Unusual in the way that the sympathetic female narrator either cheerfully disregarded or, more often than not, gently mocked her husband and family. The book was a wild success and by 1899 it had run through 21 editions." (Independent)

"A witty tale about marrying a richer, older man and finding liberation from a stifling world of elitism through gardening. It was a risky tale for its time, and still feels modern on both love and the garden." (Guardian)

"Delightful" (Evening Standard)