Elizabeth von Arnim
Elizabeth von Arnim
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Full Name and Common Aliases
Elizabeth Milbanke Montgomery, Countess of Longford, was commonly known as Countess of Longford, but is most famously remembered by her pen name, Elizabeth von Arnim.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on August 31, 1866, in Windsor Lodge, Ascot, Berkshire, England. She passed away on February 8, 1941, at the age of 74.
Nationality and Profession(s)
German-born British novelist and memoirist.
Early Life and Background
Elizabeth von Arnim was born to Baroness Fanny Maria Frederica née von Arnim and Augustus Charles Milbanke, who later became the second Earl Fitzalan. Her family's wealth and influence provided her with a life of privilege and luxury. Elizabeth received a good education at home, where she developed a love for literature and music. She was also well-traveled, having spent time in Germany and other European countries.
In 1891, Elizabeth married Frederick William Max Müller, a German professor and philosopher. The marriage was short-lived, ending in divorce in 1902. It was during this period that von Arnim began to develop her writing skills, publishing several novels under her pen name.
Major Accomplishments
Elizabeth von Arnim's most notable literary achievement is her novel Elizabeth and Her German Garden, published in 1898. This semi-autobiographical work explores themes of love, marriage, and personal growth. The book became a huge success, selling over 1 million copies worldwide.
Other notable works include:
The Solitary Summer (1899)
Peacock Island (1900)
* The Pastor's Wife (1914)
Notable Works or Actions
In addition to her novels, von Arnim was also known for her memoirs and essays. Her writing often explored themes of love, family, and social class.
One notable aspect of von Arnim's life is her advocacy for women's rights and education. She believed in the importance of women having access to equal opportunities and education, reflecting the societal changes occurring during this time period.
Impact and Legacy
Elizabeth von Arnim's writing had a significant impact on 20th-century literature. Her novels often explored themes that were relevant to women's lives, making her a pioneering figure in feminist literature.
Von Arnim's influence can be seen in later authors such as Virginia Woolf and D.H. Lawrence. Her legacy continues to inspire readers today, with her works remaining popular among book clubs and literary enthusiasts.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Elizabeth von Arnim is widely quoted and remembered for her insightful observations on love, marriage, and personal growth. Her writing offers a unique perspective on the social conventions of her time, making her a relatable figure to modern readers.
Her contributions to feminist literature and advocacy for women's rights have cemented her place in literary history.
Quotes by Elizabeth von Arnim
Elizabeth von Arnim's insights on:
Does he – does your husband not like music?’ he asked, saying the first thing that came into his head, not really wanting in the least to know what that damned George liked or didn’t like. She hesitated. ‘I – don’t know,’ she said. ‘He – usedn’t to.’ ‘But he doesn’t come here?’ ‘How can he?’ She stopped, and then said softly, ‘The poor darling’s dead.’ His heart gave a bound. A widow. The beastly war had done one good thing, then, – it had removed George.
I was for ever making plans, and if nothing came of them, what did it matter? The mere making had been a joy.
It cannot be right to be the slave of one’s household gods, and I protest that if my furniture ever annoyed me by wanting to be dusted when I wanted to be doing something else, and there was no one to do the dusting for me, I would cast it all into the nearest bonfire and sit and warm my toes at the flames with great contentment, triumphantly selling my dusters to the very next pedlar who was weak enough to buy them. Parsons.
She made him think of his mother, of his nurse, of all things kind and comforting, besides having the attraction of not being his mother or his nurse.
Too often she had seen the first indignation of disappointed parents at the marriage of the their children harden into a matter of pride, a matter of doggedness and principle, and finally become ridiculous. If the marriages turned out happy, how absurd to persist in an antiquated disapproval; if they turned out wretched, then how urgent the special need for love.
And then when I got home I burrowed about among my books, arranging their volumes and loving the feel of them.
After tea, when both Mrs Fisher and Lady Caroline had disappeared again – it was quite evident that nobody wanted her – she was more dejected than ever, overwhelmed by the discrepancy between the splendour outside her, the warm, teeming beauty and self-sufficiency of nature, and the blank emptiness of her heart.
How passionately she longed to be important to somebody again – not important on platforms, not important as an asset in an organization, but privately important, just to one other person, quite privately, nobody else to know or notice. It didn’t seem much to ask in a world so crowded with people, just to have one of them, only one out of all the millions, to oneself.
You mustn’t long in heaven,” said Mrs. Wilkins. “You’re supposed to be quite complete there. And it is heaven, isn’t it, Rose? See how everything has been let in together – the dandelions and the irises, the vulgar and the superior, me and Mrs. Fisher – all welcome, all mixed up anyhow, and all so visibly happy and enjoying ourselves.
Her great dead friends did not seem worth reading that night. They always said the same things now – over and over again they said the same things, and nothing new was to be got out of them any more for ever. No doubt they were greater than any one was now, but they had this immense disadvantage, that they were dead. Nothing further was to be expected of them; while of the living, what might one not still expect?