The Enchanted April
The Healing Powers of a Lady’s Nest Egg & a Quest into the Unknown: The Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Arnim
By Millie Garraway
Ataraxia: The state of serene calmness. Have you ever caught yourself yearning for ataraxy? Ever caught yourself gazing with an aching heart out of a rain-splattered window, head racing with biting worry that pounded and pounded and ground your mind like a rock on a grindstone? Your life has more resemblance to a merry-go-round or a broken record than happiness, and is a far cry from the childhood life dream you once thought sweetly of. What you need, my dear, is a nest egg and the desire for something more.
The 1922 British novel The Enchanted April is primarily set in a medieval castle where transformation, female companionship, and the restorative powers of accepting the unknown are explored. The expansive gardens, all in full bloom, expose the four escapees to a relaxing life outside of the grey, wet concrete of London. Although the thought of disappearing for a month to an unknown place fills the women with trepidation, the pull of a brief life far removed from the monotony of their housewife demands means they are willing to sacrifice their personal nest eggs to cover the cost of this excursion.
The strangeness of the women is soon overlooked when they are hit with the tranquility their leap into their uncertainty brings. The lull of the sea and the scent of carefully prepared food open their eyes to the reward for letting go and submitting to the journey. As the novel progresses, the healing powers of the nest egg are slowly exposed. The women feel a state of calm, and two in particular are able to heal and restore relationships. Without the direction of the nest egg and the possibilities it unlocked, the women could not have been transformed and uplifted. Trusting the unknown led to serenity.
Witty and gently lyrical, The Enchanted April is a must-read. Full of nurturing, growth, and forgiveness, this novel might just allow you to take that leap of faith.
