The Princess Priscilla's Fortnight

"The Princess Priscilla's Fortnight" by Elizabeth Von Arnim is a novel written during the early 20th century. It explores the life of Princess Priscilla of Lothen-Kunitz, a young royal who feels suffocated by her noble duties and yearns for freedom. As she grapples with the expectations imposed upon her by her royal lineage, the story promises to delve into themes of self-discovery and rebellion against societal norms. The opening of the novel introduces Princess Priscilla, painting a vivid portrait of her beauty and character while setting the stage for her internal conflict. Raised in the lush and picturesque Grand Duchy of Lothen-Kunitz, she has lived a life dictated by strict etiquette and expectations that clash with her poetic soul. Here, we meet Fritzing, the librarian who fosters Priscilla's dreams of escape and independence. As Priscilla reveals her desire to abandon her royal life for a simpler existence, the story unfolds with comical undertones, highlighting her naive yet earnest plans to run away, embark on a new life in England, and experience the freedom she so desperately seeks. The early chapters set a tone that balances humor with a critique of the constraints of aristocratic life while establishing the relationships that will be pivotal to her journey. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Elizabeth von Arnim, born Mary Annette Beauchamp, was an English novelist. Born in Australia, she married a German aristocrat, and her earliest works are set in Germany. Her first marriage made her Countess von Arnim-Schlagenthin and her second Elizabeth Russell, Countess Russell. After her first husband's death, she had a three-year affair with the writer H. G. Wells, then later married Frank Russell, elder brother of the Nobel prize-winner and philosopher Bertrand Russell. She was a cousin of the New Zealand-born writer Katherine Mansfield. Though known in early life as May, her first book introduced her to readers as Elizabeth, which she eventually became to friends and finally to family. Her writings are ascribed to Elizabeth von Arnim. She used the pseudonym Alice Cholmondeley for only one novel, Christine, published in 1917.