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Available
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Publication
Publisher Unknown (1969)
Description
As the First World War looms, Anna-Rose and Anna-Felicitas, seventeen-year-old orphan twins, are thrust upon relatives. But Uncle Arthur, a blustering patriot, is a reluctant guardian: the twins are half-German and, who knows, they could be spying from the nursery window... Packed off to America, they meet Mr Twist, a wealthy engineer with a tendency to motherliness, who befriends them on the voyage. However, he has failed to consider the pitfalls of taking such young and beautiful women under his wing, especially two who will continue to require this protection long after the ship has docked, and who are incapable of behaving with tact. Many adventures ensue (and befall them) in this sparklingly witty, romantic novel in which Elizabeth von Armin explores the suspicions cast upon the two Annas and Mr Twist in a country poised for war.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member lauralkeet
When twins Anna-Rose and Anna-Felicitas are orphaned in their teens, their aunt and uncle take them in. But with the onset of World War I, the girls’ half-German parentage makes them a target for suspicion and bigotry. Their uncle, being a bit of jerk, decides he can’t handle the responsibility
This may sound like the beginning of a tragic drama, but Elizabeth von Arnim is known for her superb wit, and she applies a heavy dose to Christopher and Columbus:
And so, on a late September afternoon, the St Luke, sliding away from her moorings, relieved Uncle Arthur of his burden. It was final this time, for the two alien enemies once out of it would not be let into England again til after the war. The enemies themselves knew it was final; and the same knowledge that made Uncle Arthur feel so pleasant as he walked home across his park from golf to tea that for a moment he was actually of a mind to kiss Aunt Alice when he got in … the same knowledge that produced these amiable effects in Uncle Arthur, made his alien nieces cling very close together as they leaned over the side of the St Luke hungrily watching the people on the wharf.
On board the St Luke, the Annas meet Mr Twist, a thirty-something businessman quickly enchanted by their good looks and engaging demeanor. Their naivete triggers his “motherly” instincts, and he takes them under his wing for the duration of the voyage. A comedy of errors ensues when no one meets the twins on arrival in New York, and Mr Twist valiantly tries to unite them with the designated family friends while attempting to conceal their German heritage from everyone they meet. Through a series of amusing situations and encounters with equally amusing characters, Mr Twist and the Annas develop strong bonds with each other which initially appear to present a conflict, but are resolved in a very satisfying way.
This was a delightful light read recommended for anyone who has enjoyed other books by Elizabeth von Arnim, or D. E. Stevenson’s Miss Buncle novels.
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and puts them on a ship from England to America armed only with their suitcases and the names of two family friends allegedly prepared to house them. This may sound like the beginning of a tragic drama, but Elizabeth von Arnim is known for her superb wit, and she applies a heavy dose to Christopher and Columbus:
And so, on a late September afternoon, the St Luke, sliding away from her moorings, relieved Uncle Arthur of his burden. It was final this time, for the two alien enemies once out of it would not be let into England again til after the war. The enemies themselves knew it was final; and the same knowledge that made Uncle Arthur feel so pleasant as he walked home across his park from golf to tea that for a moment he was actually of a mind to kiss Aunt Alice when he got in … the same knowledge that produced these amiable effects in Uncle Arthur, made his alien nieces cling very close together as they leaned over the side of the St Luke hungrily watching the people on the wharf.
On board the St Luke, the Annas meet Mr Twist, a thirty-something businessman quickly enchanted by their good looks and engaging demeanor. Their naivete triggers his “motherly” instincts, and he takes them under his wing for the duration of the voyage. A comedy of errors ensues when no one meets the twins on arrival in New York, and Mr Twist valiantly tries to unite them with the designated family friends while attempting to conceal their German heritage from everyone they meet. Through a series of amusing situations and encounters with equally amusing characters, Mr Twist and the Annas develop strong bonds with each other which initially appear to present a conflict, but are resolved in a very satisfying way.
This was a delightful light read recommended for anyone who has enjoyed other books by Elizabeth von Arnim, or D. E. Stevenson’s Miss Buncle novels.
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LibraryThing member bookwoman247
Anna Rose and Anna Felicitas Twinkler are twins who have been orphaned at age 17 at the outbreak of WWI. Their father was German and their mother was English. Their half-German heritage causes problems when they are thrown upon the mercies of their Engish relatives. They are promptly sent away to
On the ship to America they find a protector in Mr. Twist, an inventor/entreprnruer who has recently made a fortune with a simple nvention that improves the function of tea pots. He becomes fascinated with "the Twinklers", and very sympathetic to their plight.
This book was just wonderful! The twins' naïvite and lack of a social filter leads to many scrapes and adventures, and gives Mr. Twist many headaches. I laughed out loud in several places.
The ending was the sweetest and most satisfying of any book I've ever read.
Christopher and Columbus confirmed by love for Elizabeth von Arnim's work. I promptly added it to my list of favorites.
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America, where they find the protection they had counted on from their uncle's friends to be non-existent.On the ship to America they find a protector in Mr. Twist, an inventor/entreprnruer who has recently made a fortune with a simple nvention that improves the function of tea pots. He becomes fascinated with "the Twinklers", and very sympathetic to their plight.
This book was just wonderful! The twins' naïvite and lack of a social filter leads to many scrapes and adventures, and gives Mr. Twist many headaches. I laughed out loud in several places.
The ending was the sweetest and most satisfying of any book I've ever read.
Christopher and Columbus confirmed by love for Elizabeth von Arnim's work. I promptly added it to my list of favorites.
Show Less
LibraryThing member krazy4katz
Cute and funny diversion charmingly written.
Original publication date
1919