BOOK REVIEW

Title                             :  The Enchanted April

Genre                            :  Romance

Writer                            :  Elizabeth von Arnim

Date of production                   : 2003

Stars                              : Lottie Wilkins, Rose Arbuthnot, Mrs. Fisher, Lady Caroline Dester, Mr. Briggs, Mellersh Wilkins, Frederick Arbuthnot, Francesca, Beppo, Constanza, Domenico

Length                          :  70 page

The Enchanted April

ORIENTATION :

Actually, we’re don’t know about this book. But, when we saw this book in a bookshelf of famous bookstore in our town, we felt interested with the title of this book.

INTERPERATIVE RECOUNT :

This story takes place in England and Italy in 1921. At this time, when people travelled abroad, they went by ferry across the English Channel and then by the train. It took about three days to travel from England to the Mediterranean coast.

The ladies in this story, Mrs. Wilkins, Mrs. Arbuthnot, Mrs. Fisher, and Lady Caroline go to stay in a beautiful, medieval Italian castle by the sea. They knew this place from an advertisement of a newspaper. They decided to rent in San Salvatore because they bored with their husband’s act. They rent the castle, San Salvatore, for the month of April. This means that they paid the owner of the castle some money to stay there. This money was for the servants and the rooms in the castle. The ladies had to buy their own food and pay for their ferry and train tickets.

When the ladies find that the gardens of San Salvatore are very beautiful. In April, many beautiful flowers and trees bloom in Italy. The conflict happened when all of the ladies didn’t believe about the magic of this place. They feel alone. Mrs. Wilkins, Mrs. Arbuthnot, and Mrs. Fisher missed their husband. Mrs. Wilkins decided sent a telegram to her husband. She asked to her husband to come there. She want to spent a beautiful April with her husband in magical place, San Salvatore. While Mrs. Arbuthnot still confused. She also want to sent a message to her husband and asked him to spent the time together in this place, but the other hand she doubtful with her husband. She thought that her husband doesn’t love her and didn’t want to come there. Mrs. Fisher also missed her husband. Her husband is dead. She feel disturbed when Mrs. Wilkins and Mrs. Arbuthnot always talking about their husband. And Lady Caroline is a rich and beautiful young woman. She has left London to get away from the many young men who want to marry her. In San Salvatore, she felt alone and become a sensitive woman. No one can disturb her when she spent the day in the gardens.

But, the magic is work. Mrs. Wilkins felt happy when she knew that Mellersh Wilkins came to there. He answered the message from his wife. Mrs. Fisher can walk again. She felt better. Mrs. Arbuthnot met Mr. Briggs, the owner of San Salvatore. Mrs. Briggs was loved Mrs. Arbuthnot. But, Mrs. Arbuthnot doesn’t love him. Unintentionally, Mrs. Arbuthnot met her husband in one of the room, whereas her husband doesn’t answer the message from his wife. He came to San Salvatore because of the other woman, Lady Caroline. He admitted to Lady Caroline as a Ferdinand Arundel. Mr. Arbuthnot was very surprised to see his wife. He feel guilty to his wife. But, Mrs. Arbuthnot was very happy to see him.  When Lady Caroline in the garden, she met Mr. Briggs was standing alone. She made a decision. She walked over to the young man and smiled. She felt the magic is work now. She found happiness there.

In the last week of the Enchanted April, the sweetest and most beautiful flowers came out in San Salvatore. Soon, Mrs. Wilkins, Mrs. Arbuthnot, Mrs. Fisher and Lady Caroline believe that San Salvatore is a magic and enchanted place. Everyone will find love and happiness in this beautiful place.

EVALUATION :

We have to say that this book really interesting story. The author can show to us beautiful scenery in Italy. We can imagine all places very clear in our head. The stories were bright and ultimately satisfying. But, this book doesn’t show to us the higher conflict. The conflict of this story was so flat.

EVALUATION SUMMATION :

This story is suitable if we want to read a romantic story. Actually, I liked the ending as happy as it was. Still a really good book, with some editing it would have been great.