The Pastor’s Wife

Elizabeth von Arnim’s The Pastor’s Wife is a witty, poignant exploration of freedom, love, and the constraints placed on women in early twentieth-century society.

The novel follows Ingeborg Bullivant, the sheltered daughter of an English bishop, whose impulsive decision to escape her rigid family life leads her on a journey from London to Switzerland and, unexpectedly, into marriage with a German pastor.

As Ingeborg navigates the unfamiliar world of rural East Prussia, she discovers that the promise of liberation can sometimes lead to new forms of captivity.

With a keen eye for social satire and psychological depth, von Arnim brilliantly dissects domestic life and the challenging realities faced by women of her era.

Drawing from her own experiences in aristocratic German society, she crafts a tale that is both deeply personal and universally resonant.

The Pastor’s Wife remains a timeless exploration of autonomy, love, and the quiet rebellion of a woman determined to live life on her own terms.

Faithfully republished here in its original form, this beautifully formatted edition of The Pastor’s Wife preserves the original text, immersing readers in the rich language and societal nuances of the end of the Edwardian era.