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Benefactress

Anna Estcourt, twenty-five and beautiful, is the penniless ward of her distant brother and his exasperating wife. Turning down all offers of marriage, scornful at the thought of leaning on a man for help and comfort, she thinks only of the independence which seems an impossible dream. But out of the blue Uncle Joachim, her mother's brother, leaves her a handsome property in Germany. Her longed for independence is within her grasp, and though it's a rocky beginning with the locals, she loves her new home. Keen to use her new-found wealth for the benefit of others, she embarks on a plan to throw open her doors to distressed gentlewomen - a project which takes a far greater physical and emotional toll than she could have imagined. Although she maintains that she is not interested in men, might the friendship of her neighbouring landowner, Axel Lohm, make her new life a little easier to bear?...

A warm, charming story which is packed with Elizabeth von Arnim's trademark humour and wry observation of character. It's also a perceptive critique of society's constraints on women, holding up a glass to all the artfulness and falseness of 'femininity' - but despite its strong feminist overtones, it manages simultaneously to be a wonderful romantic comedy! - Summary by Helen Taylor

Year of Publication: 1901Genres: Published 1900 onward

Running Time: 11 hours 28 minutes 06 seconds(32 chapters)

Language: EnglishRead by: Helen Taylor

#	Chapter Name
	Chapter 1 Helen Taylor	21:52
	Chapter 2 Helen Taylor	13:34
	Chapter 3 Helen Taylor	28:55
	Chapter 4 Helen Taylor	11:01
	Chapter 5 Helen Taylor	39:23
	Chapter 6 Helen Taylor	34:44
	Chapter 7 Helen Taylor	34:26
	Chapter 8 Helen Taylor	20:40
	Chapter 9 Helen Taylor	16:01
	Chapter 10 Helen Taylor	29:58
	Chapter 11 Helen Taylor	19:05
	Chapter 12 Helen Taylor	22:54
	Chapter 13 Helen Taylor	18:33
	Chapter 14 Helen Taylor	17:45
	Chapter 15 Helen Taylor	30:13
	Chapter 16 Helen Taylor	15:27
	Chapter 17 Helen Taylor	18:43
	Chapter 18 Helen Taylor	20:41
	Chapter 19 Helen Taylor	18:26
	Chapter 20 Helen Taylor	17:01
	Chapter 21 Helen Taylor	25:38
	Chapter 22 Helen Taylor	23:18
	Chapter 23 Helen Taylor	17:16
	Chapter 24 Helen Taylor	26:04
	Chapter 25 Helen Taylor	11:46
	Chapter 26 Helen Taylor	7:38
	Chapter 27 Helen Taylor	23:14
	Chapter 28 Helen Taylor	21:00
	Chapter 29 Helen Taylor	15:52
	Chapter 30 Helen Taylor	22:48
	Chapter 31 Helen Taylor	32:01
	Chapter 32 and Conclusion Helen Taylor	12:09