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The Enchanted April

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The Enchanted April

By: Elizabeth von Arnim
Narrated by: Wanda McCaddon
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Summary

A recipe for happiness: four women, one medieval Italian castle, plenty of sunshine, wisteria, and solitude as needed

Four very diverse women, all seeking revitalization from the dreary February rains of 1920s London, rent the small medieval castle of San Salvatore, nestled high above the bay of Portofino, Italy. Arriving at San Salvatore, they find it awash with the scent of flowers, its olive groves terracing down to the sun-warmed sea.

Each has her reasons for desiring escape. Mrs. Wilkins and Mrs. Arbuthnot are glad to leave behind their insipid duties and unresponsive husbands. The elderly Mrs. Fisher wishes only to sit in the sun and replay her youthful memories, and the bewitchingly beautiful Lady Caroline Dester desires to have seclusion from all her adoring suitors.

Amid the canopies of fragrant wisteria, in the sweet sunshine and melodious silence, fate has some surprises in store for all of them.

(P)2007 Blackstone Audio, Inc. 20th Century Fiction Friendship Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Romance Women's Fiction Classics

Critic Reviews

“Wanda McCaddon’s narration is excellent, especially in differentiating the women’s voices and in reading their inner dialogues, which go on throughout. McCaddon’s rendition of the mostly middle and upper-class English voices is exceedingly well done. This performance is easy to listen to, and this recording is well worth having.”

(AudioFile)

“At one level an escapist fantasy, at another a parable about the liberation of the spirit, this delicious confection will work magic on all.”

(Daily Telegraph (London))

“[A] book for anyone who feels stiff, unloved, or used up—a restful, funny, sumptuous, and invigorating vacation for the mind and soul…The effect is refreshing, charming, and romantic.”

(Erica Bauermeister, 500 Great Books by Women)
All stars
Most relevant
A darling tale of unlikely strangers.
Beautifully read and presented.
Not the story of the century, but a tale of light-heartedness that says never to judge a book by the cover.

Delightful

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I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It made me giggle and smile, it made me laugh and it annoyed me! I am no literarian, but it's whimsical storyline and nonsense on so many occasions reminded me of when I studied The Importance of Being Earnest at high school, decades ago. At the beginning, I thought the characters were older, as this is the way the narrator sounded for all of them, but this improved as it went on.

Loved it!

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Well read but story was slow and boring. Pleasant characters and interesting morals of the time.

Slow repetitive

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I was utterly absorbed and charmed by this story of unlikely friendships blooming between women. Set in the period between the wars in springtime Italy, the novel still seems contemporary and fresh. Narrator Nadia May’s lively delivery brings the characters to life!

Enchanting!

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an easy to listen to book. not much to follow except people becoming more vibrant, happy and the beauty of nature. id describe it as a Sunday morning. fabulous

lovely book about happiness

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