Elizabeth Von Arnim
English
The story begins in London on a miserable February afternoon when Mrs. Wilkins, an unassuming woman, discovers an advertisement in The Times for a small medieval Italian castle to be let furnished for the month of April. Despite her limited savings and humble circumstances, the advertisement sparks a longing for sunshine and the Mediterranean. Feeling trapped in her monotonous life in Hampstead, she wonders if this is a chance to escape. She encounters Mrs. Arbuthnot, another discontented woman from Hampstead, at her club. Initially strangers, they bond over their shared appreciation for the advertisement and their mutual desire for a break from their dreary lives. Despite their social differences – Mrs. Arbuthnot is involved with church groups and charity, while Mrs. Wilkins navigates the world of impressionist painters through her husband’s connections – they impulsively decide to rent the castle together, sharing the cost. Their plan to escape faces initial hurdles. Mrs. Arbuthnot struggles with her conscience, accustomed to a life of duty and piety, and worries about the extravagance and potential impropriety of their venture. Mrs. Wilkins, on the other hand, faces her husband Mellersh's disbelief and disapproval when she finally tells him. Adding to the complications, their shared expenses necessitate finding two more ladies to join them. They advertise and find Lady Caroline Dester, a young, beautiful, and somewhat flighty aristocrat, and Mrs. Fisher, an elderly, respected, and rather particular woman who insists on references. After some interviews, the four women, united by their desire for escape and peace, agree to share the castle. Lady Caroline, accustomed to luxury and seeking solitude, tries to secure the best rooms, while Mrs. Fisher, valuing her privacy and routine, tries to establish boundaries. Mr. Wilkins, Mrs. Wilkins’s husband, arrives unexpectedly, drawn by the prospect of meeting Lady Caroline and potentially expanding his legal business. His arrival adds another layer of social complexity, especially when an accident involving the castle’s plumbing leads to an embarrassing encounter with Lady Caroline in his towel. As the second week progresses, the beautiful setting of San Salvatore begins to work its magic. Mrs. Wilkins, previously timid and repressed, blossoms with newfound confidence and happiness, even contemplating inviting her husband to join them. Mrs. Arbuthnot, inspired by Lotty’s transformation, begins to question her own life of duty and prayer, feeling a yearning for connection and a sense of longing for her deceased child and her distant husband. Mrs. Fisher, initially stern and set in her ways, finds herself experiencing unusual feelings of youthfulness and restlessness, while Lady Caroline, seeking escape, finds herself surprisingly introspective. Mr. Wilkins, eager to please and expand his social and professional circles, adapts smoothly, becoming a charming companion. By the third week, however, the initial enchantment starts to be tempered by reality and personal revelations. Rose Arbuthnot, emboldened by the atmosphere, decides to write to her husband Frederick, hoping for a reconciliation. Mr. Briggs, the owner of the castle, makes an unexpected visit, drawn by his memory of Rose and his loneliness, causing further complications, especially with Lady Caroline, who is determined to maintain her solitude. Mr. Wilkins, meanwhile, navigates the social dynamics, attempting to advise and manage the various personalities. Lotty, ever the instigator, attempts to orchestrate happiness for everyone, even trying to bring her husband to San Salvatore. The story culminates in a series of character revelations and shifting dynamics as the occupants of San Salvatore grapple with their desires, their pasts, and the unfolding enchantment of the Italian spring.
