The Project Gutenberg EBook of Elizabeth and her German Garden, by
"Elizabeth", AKA Marie Annette Beauchamp

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Title: Elizabeth and her German Garden

Author: "Elizabeth", AKA Marie Annette Beauchamp

Posting Date: August 24, 2008 [EBook #1327]
Release Date: May, 1998

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ELIZABETH AND HER GERMAN GARDEN ***

Produced by R. McGowan

ELIZABETH AND HER GERMAN GARDEN

By "Elizabeth", AKA Marie Annette Beauchamp

INTRODUCTION TO THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EDITION

Originally published in 1898, "Elizabeth and her German Garden" is
the first book by Marie Annette Beauchamp--known all her life as
"Elizabeth". The book, anonymously published, was an incredible success,
going through printing after printing by several publishers over the
next few years. (I myself own three separate early editions of this
book by different publishers on both sides of the Atlantic.) The present
Gutenberg edition was scanned from the illustrated deluxe MacMillan
(London) edition of 1900.

Elizabeth was a cousin of the better-known writer Katherine Mansfield
(whose real name was Kathleen Mansfield Beauchamp). Born in Australia,
Elizabeth was educated in England. She was reputed to be a fine organist
and musician. At a young age, she captured the heart of a German Count,
was persuaded to marry him, and went to live in Germany. Over the next
years she bore five daughters. After her husband's death and the decline
of the estate, she returned to England. She was a friend to many of high
social standing, including people such as H. G. Wells (who considered
her one of the finest wits of the day). Some time later she married the
brother of Bertrand Russell; which marriage was a failure and ended in
divorce. Eventually Elizabeth fled to America at the outbreak of the
Second World War, and there died in 1941.

Elizabeth is best known to modern readers by the name "Elizabeth von
Arnim", author of "The Enchanted April" which was recently made into
a successful film by the same title. Another of her books, "Mr.
Skeffington" was also once made into a film starring Bette Davis, circa
1940.

Some of