I read In the Mountains by Elizabeth von Arnim in the place where it is set: the mountains of Switzerland. I hadn’t realised at the time that it was set in Switzerland – I was reading it on my e-reader so there was no jacket blurb to remind me – but it was wonderful to begin the book on my first day in Wengen and discover the protagonist describing the very scene that had greeted me on my arrival:
I was prepared to arrive here in one of the mountain mists that settle down on one sometimes for days, – vast, wet stretches of grey stuff like some cold, sodden blanket, muffling one away from the mountains opposite, and the valley, and the sun.
It was quite reassuring to know that the weather hasn’t changed that much over the years, between the summer of 1919 when the book is set and the summer of 2012 when I was there.
The book takes the form of a fictional diary written by an Englishwoman returning to her holiday home in the Swiss mountains for the first time in five years, since the summer of 1914 when war was declared. The years have not been good ones, for her or anyone else. She has had a particularly difficult last year (we never learn the details) and is depressed and withdrawn, miserable with a “desperate darkness and distrust of life[…]in my soul.” She has returned to Switzerland, to the home that used to be filled with friends and laughter and so much youthful optimism. Now, almost all of those friends who used to join her there are dead and she is very, very alone:
Here I am once more, come back alone to the house that used to be so full of happy life that its little wooden sides nearly burst with the sound of it. I never could have dreamed that I would come back to it alone. Five years ago, how rich I was in love; now how poor, how stripped of all I had. Well, it doesn’t matter. Nothing matters. I am too tired. I want to be quiet now. Till I’m not so tired. If only I can be quiet…
Slowly, she begins to heal. She begins to notice the beauty around her, to take joy in her letters and books, to feel interested in life again. And then the tone of the book changes completely. This first bit was quiet but lovely, full of the diarist’s humourous everyday observations and reflections on the rehabilitation of her soul. But then she meets two widowed sisters, the very respectable Mrs Barnes and the very adorable Mrs Jewks. They have been living in Switzerland together for some time, though they – especially Mrs Barnes – are still vocally patriotic Englishwomen. Suffering from the heat lower down in the valley, our diarist takes pity on the middle-aged sisters and invites them to stay with her. Though their presence makes life decidedly awkward – especially since Mrs Barnes appears terrified to share any personal details about their lives with their hostess and so is never relaxed in her presence – the company is good for our diarist and the mystery they present keeps her inquisitive mind busy. As their visit lengthens, the diarist finally uncovers their quite innocent secret and the explanation for why they have remained in Switzerland for so long rather than returning to England.
With the introduction of Mrs Barnes and Mrs Jewks, the story shifts from one of von Arnim’s thoughtfully introspective books towards one of her charming fairy tales. Both women are so endearing: Mrs Barnes, though outwardly reserved, is incredibly devoted to her sister and would do anything for her, and Mrs Jewks is simply the sweetest, most loveable creature in existence, who likes nothing more than to please others. They have had some difficult years – especially Mrs Barnes, who felt the shame of their self-imposed exile most keenly – but after they meet our diarist things began to change. When the diarist’s terribly respectable uncle – for what could be more respectable than a dean of the Church of England? – arrives, a happy ending seems within grasp. Uncle Rudolph, a widower, quite naturally falls in love with the entirely lovable Mrs Jewks, which would solve the sisters’ problems, and, as his niece observes, the acquisition of a sweet wife would be a welcome change from his lonely existence:
It must be a dreadful thing to be sixty and all alone. You look so grown up. You look as though you must have so many resources, so few needs, and you are accepted as provided for, what with your career accomplished, and your houses and servants and friends and books and all the rest of it – all the empty, meaningless rest of it; for really, you are the most miserable of motherless cold babies, conscious that you are motherless, conscious that nobody soft and kind and adoring is ever again coming to croon over you and kiss you good-night and be there next morning to smile when you wake up.
It is a nice book but a rather odd mix. I enjoyed the story of Mrs Barnes and Mrs Jewks but I am more drawn towards the kind of writing von Arnim displayed at the beginning of the book, when the diarist may have come across other characters but only in passing: the focus was on her, on her thoughts and feelings, and no one could write those kinds of passages as well as von Arnim. As I read more and more of her work, it is those introspective books where you really get to know the intelligent, outspoken and always humourous heroines I am most drawn to: Elizabeth and Her German Garden has long been my favourite, though now Fräulein Schmidt and Mr Anstruther (to be reviewed soon) is challenging it for supremacy. In the Mountains begins with the same kind of promise as those books but changes abruptly into something still nice, but not quite as wonderful. It was the perfect book to read in Switzerland but that does not mean it was a perfect book.
The only book of hers I’ve read so far is Princess Priscillal’s Fortnight. I enjoyed it so much I downloaded the rest of her books but haven’t touched any of them as yet. Perhaps I’ll pick up Elisabeth and her German Garden? I was eyeing Enchanted April for my next Arnim read till now….
isn’t The Princess Priscilla’s Fortnight hilarious? I love those von Arnim books where she feels no need to protect any of her characters and just makes fun of them all, all the time. Elizabeth and her German Garden has long been my favourite so I would absolutely recommend trying that next. It is also written in a very different style from The Princess Priscilla’s Fortnight so it will give you a good idea of her range. The Enchanted April is my least favourite von Arnim, so you’ll never find me recommending it (except to off set the brilliance of her other books).
What a wonderful experience to read a book in the place it was set. I’ve not read this one, but I do enjoy von Arnim.
It really was a delight to read von Arnim’s descriptions of Switzerland only to look up and seen those very scenes in front of me.
This is another one I have on my e-reader but haven’t gotten to read yet. The first half sounds so interesting, and the part of the story that I would probably prefer as well.
I agree, Lisa, that you’d probably prefer the first section but the entire book is still very entertaining – as though von Arnim could be anything but!
I am current reading Fräulein Schmidt and Mr Anstruther and loving it! Can’t wait to read your thoughts on it!
My thoughts will probably distill down to: I LOVE IT. I am so glad you are loving it, too!
In the Mountains was published anonymously, which seems a bit odd as it is recognisably von Arnim, just as you say. It’s great that it’s available for e-reader now, as I don’t think it has every been reprinted
I hadn’t realised that it was published anonymously; that does seem very odd, given how quintessentially von Arnim-ish it is.
I found the change in gear unsettling too. The later chapters were very well done, but I missed the thoughtfulness and observation of the earlier chapters.
A fine demonstration of the author’s range though, and how lovely that you could read it ‘on location.’
I love von Arnim’s range but do prefer when she keeps her differing styles separate in different books!
Every since reading Elizabeth and Her German Garden (because of you!) I’m determined to read everything von Arnim has ever written. Somehow, I’m been postponing Enchanted April for ever 😦
There is a special something about reading a book in the place where it’s set.
I am also determined to read everything she ever wrote! It is funny: I have counted Elizabeth and Her German Garden as one of my favourite books for at least a decade now but I didn’t really start reading her other novels until three or four years ago. But the more I read, the more I find to love! Whichever of her books you pick up next, there will certainly be something in it to enjoy!
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