Elizabeth Von Arnim

The Benefactress (Dodo Press) Elizabeth Von Arnim

Elizabeth von Arnim (1866-1941), born Mary Annette Beauchamp, was an Australian born British novelist. By marriage she became Gräfin (Countess) von Arnim- Schlagenthin, and by a second marriage, Countess Russell. Although known in her early life as May, "after the publication of her first book, she was known to her readers, eventually to her friends, and finally even to her family as Elizabeth. " and she is now invariably referred to as Elizabeth von Arnim. She also wrote under the pen name Alice Cholmondeley. Arnim would later refer to her domineering husband as the "Man of Wrath". Writing was her refuge from what turned out to be an incompatible marriage. Arnim's husband had increasing debts and was eventually sent to prison for fraud. This was when she created her pen name "Elizabeth" and launched her career as a writer by anonymously publishing her semi-autobiographical, brooding yet satirical Elizabeth and Her German Garden (1898). Her other titles dealing with feminist protest and witty observations of life in provincial Germany to follow were: The Princess Priscilla's Fortnight (1905) and Fraulein Schmidt and Mr. Anstruther (1907).