Thursday, 13 January 2022

The Countess from Kirribilli by Joyce Morgan

"She wrote her books in looping cursive, before having them typed. But her typist was about to leave for England."

After having read Vera by Elizabeth von Armin, I was eager to learn more about its Australian author through this recent biography, especially since von Armin grew up in my current post code.

Much like the characters from her books, Elizabeth lived an intriguing life across three continents, married twice, bearing five children, enjoying a hugely successful writing career, and proving to be a fascinating character before her death in 1941.

Joyce Morgan’s brilliantly researched biography transports the reader back in time to an Australia of the 1860s which is difficult to reconcile with my surrounds today. It is fascinating to see central themes of von Armin’s novels played out in her own life story —marrying into royalty, enjoying the French Riviera, experiencing loss and a controlling husband.

Should this biography whet your appetite for more information on von Armin and her works, you’ll find the Elizabeth von Armin Society another interesting resource.

 

4 out of 5… local girl makes good.

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