The Enchanted April

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  One of the most delightful novels I've read in a while.

  I found this enthralling book by mere chance and the more I went on with its story the more extremely pleased I was with my fortunate discovery.

  Subtle character-driven irony and perfect characterization make this novel so much Jane-Austen-like that if it weren't for the lack of balls and muc ... (continue)

  I found this enthralling book by mere chance and the more I went on with its story the more extremely pleased I was with my fortunate discovery.

  Subtle character-driven irony and perfect characterization make this novel so much Jane-Austen-like that if it weren't for the lack of balls and much nose powdering I could have sworn Austen had helped with writing it.

  It is quite refreshing and captivating at the same time, almost as if the enchanted Italian environment would reach out and grasp the reader's attention as well.

  Be sure not to miss it.

  On a sidenote: I was not too pleased to find several Italian stereotypes employed in this story(according to which Italians are loud talking, highly gesturing simple fellows); no matter how naively it was done; let's not believe racial stereotypes for they spread falsehoods and hinder cultural blending and acceptance.

  --
  "Did you know Keats?" eagerly interrupted Mrs. Wilkins.

  Mrs. Fisher, after a pause, said with sub-acid reserve that she
  had been unacquainted with both Keats and Shakespeare.

  "Oh of course--how ridiculous of me!" cried Mrs. Wilkins,
  flushing scarlet. "It's because"--she floundered--"it's because the
  immortals somehow still seem alive, don't they--as if they were here,
  going to walk into the room in another minute--and one forgets they are
  dead. In fact one knows perfectly well that they're not dead--not
  nearly so dead as you and I even now," she assured Mrs. Fisher, who
  observed her over the top of her glasses.

  "I thought I saw Keats the other day," Mrs. Wilkins incoherently
  proceeded, driven on by Mrs. Fisher's look over the top of her glasses.
  "In Hampstead--crossing the road in front of that house--you know--the
  house where he lived--"

  Mrs. Arbuthnot said they must be going.

  Mrs. Fisher did nothing to prevent them.

  "I really thought I saw him," protested Mrs. Wilkins, appealing
  for belief first to one and then to the other while waves of colour
  passed over her face, and totally unable to stop because of Mrs.
  Fisher's glasses and the steady eyes looking at her over their tops. "I
  believe I did see him--he was dressed in a--"

  Even Mrs. Arbuthnot looked at her now, and in her gentlest voice
  said they would be late for lunch.

  It was at this point that Mrs. Fisher asked for references. She
  had no wish to find herself shut up for four weeks with somebody who
  saw things. It is true that there were three sitting-rooms, besides
  the garden and the battlements at San Salvatore, so that there would be
  opportunities of withdrawal from Mrs. Wilkins; but it would be
  disagreeable to Mrs. Fisher, for instance, if Mrs. Wilkins were
  suddenly to assert that she saw Mr. Fisher. Mr. Fisher was dead; let
  him remain so. She had no wish to be told he was walking about the
  garden. ~ AN ENCHANTED APRIL
  --

  listen to it at: http://librivox.org/the-enchanted-april-by-elizabeth-vo…
  Text at: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/16389/16389-8.txt

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  daniele said on Jun 22, 2009 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

Book Details

• Rating:
  (19)
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• English Books
• Others 202 Pages
• ISBN-10: 1442147040
• ISBN-13: 9781442147041
• Publisher: CreateSpace
• Pub date: Apr 23, 2009
• Also available as: Paperback, Hardcover, Audio CD, Audio Cassette and eBook
• In other languages: other languages Livres Français, Deutsche Bücher, Libros en Español, Libri Italiani, हिन्दी पुस्तकें

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