The Caravaners
by Elizabeth Von Arnim
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Dear Husband, she said, actually imitating me. I know what you are going to say. I always know what you are going to say. I know all the things you ever can or ever do say. She paused for a moment, and then added in a firm voice, looking me straight in the eyes, By heart. ' For the Major and his wife Edelgard, the idea of a holiday touring Southern England in a horse-drawn gypsy caravan seems perfect. As they begin their leisurely progress through its green and verdant countryside, the show more holiday spirit sets in. But England presents more than a contrast of scenery to this German couple - amongst the company of their English companions Edelgard seems to undergo a change of terperament, rebealing herself to be far less biddable than the upright Major had believed. The blossoming of hedgerows is one thing, but the blossoming of his wife is quite another ... show lessTags
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If you want to see me at my grumpiest, send me on a camping holiday. This includes camper vans. So when a so-called friend convinced Edelgard and her husband Otto to go on holiday in England using rented caravans, I knew they were in for some unpleasant surprises. And Otto’s stuffy upper-crust breeding, staunch German classist attitudes, and military career were not going to help them one bit.
The Caravaners is written from Otto’s point of view, with an eye toward reading his holiday memoir later, for a gathering of friends. Elizabeth von Arnim satirizes him (and, well, probably all Germans) mercilessly. He starts out simply naive about this type of holiday, but things go from bad to worse as he interacts with the others in his show more party. Otto objects to pitching in with the many chores required to maintain their campsites. He objects to the rain (seriously?!), and looks down on his wife who is trying to make the best of things. Worse still, he believes he is getting on famously with the others. It is increasingly obvious to the reader that they are avoiding Otto at all costs while embracing his wife Edelgard. It’s just a matter of time before Otto gets his comeuppance, and it plays out beautifully.
Reading this book made me laugh out loud, both at the situations the party found themselves in, and Otto’s over the top hubris. The experience was similar to reading The Diary of a Provincial Lady but much more biting. And quite a lot of fun. show less
The Caravaners is written from Otto’s point of view, with an eye toward reading his holiday memoir later, for a gathering of friends. Elizabeth von Arnim satirizes him (and, well, probably all Germans) mercilessly. He starts out simply naive about this type of holiday, but things go from bad to worse as he interacts with the others in his show more party. Otto objects to pitching in with the many chores required to maintain their campsites. He objects to the rain (seriously?!), and looks down on his wife who is trying to make the best of things. Worse still, he believes he is getting on famously with the others. It is increasingly obvious to the reader that they are avoiding Otto at all costs while embracing his wife Edelgard. It’s just a matter of time before Otto gets his comeuppance, and it plays out beautifully.
Reading this book made me laugh out loud, both at the situations the party found themselves in, and Otto’s over the top hubris. The experience was similar to reading The Diary of a Provincial Lady but much more biting. And quite a lot of fun. show less
This was the first book I ever read by Elizabeth, and mainly the reason I fell in love with her work. I found a price-slashed copy of the Virago edition at one of those fly-by-night remainder bookstores and picked it up for a dollar, on a whim, knowing nothing about the author or the book.
The author (Elizabeth) was married to a German count for quite a long time, and she really knows the inside of his head. This is a first-person narrative from the point of view of a stuffy man who goes on a caravaning vacation in England with his little wife, whom he rather treats as a child and poo-poos just about everything she does... But Elizabeth manages to show us that it's the narrator who is actually rather clueless while his little wife is show more charming and astute. show less
The author (Elizabeth) was married to a German count for quite a long time, and she really knows the inside of his head. This is a first-person narrative from the point of view of a stuffy man who goes on a caravaning vacation in England with his little wife, whom he rather treats as a child and poo-poos just about everything she does... But Elizabeth manages to show us that it's the narrator who is actually rather clueless while his little wife is show more charming and astute. show less
This is a story of a married, aristocratic German couple. The Baron is the narrator of his caravaning holiday which he participates in rather than shares with among others, his wife Edelgard and two other couples. Von Arnim allows his didactic manner and pedantic patriarchial opinions to draw the reader into imagining a holiday very different from the one he experiences. The reader reaching conclusions above and beyond anything imaginable by the Baron himself .
It is true that there is much of von Arnim's gentle wit and humour on offer, but a whole story devoted to satirising the Baron was too much for me.
It is true that there is much of von Arnim's gentle wit and humour on offer, but a whole story devoted to satirising the Baron was too much for me.
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Caravaners
- Original title
- The Caravaners
- Original publication date
- 1909
- People/Characters
- Otto, Baron von Ottringel; Edelgard, Baroness von Ottringel; Frau von Ecktham; Mr. Menzies-Legh; Mrs. Menzies-Legh; Clothilde (show all 9); Lord Sigismund Browne; Jellaby; Jane
- Important places*
- Vereinigtes Königreich
- First words
- In June this summer there were a few fine days, and we supposed the summer had really come at last.
"One of the cleverest and most amusing stories of the year," declared Punch, when The Caravaners was published in 1909. (Introduction) - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)And my wife, when she read the letter at breakfast, clapped her hands and cried, "Isn't it splendid--oh Otto, aren't you glad?"
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)In his generous obituary, the devoted Hugh Walpole placed her alongside Jane Austen as a writer of comedy, and added: "English literature is not so crammed with wits that it can spare Elizabeth." (Introduction)
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
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- Reviews
- 3
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- (3.36)
- Languages
- English, French, German, Italian
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 29
- ASINs
- 12
