The Enchanted April — both the book and the film — has long been a favourite of mine, since the film was first released back in the early 1990s. I can’t remember which I encountered first. I expect it was the film, and then the book. My copy, which I’ve had now more than thirty years, is the movie-adaptation cover. Typically I loathe these types of covers and refuse to buy them, or at the least, swap out for another edition when I’m able, but I’ve held onto this one despite coming across nicer editions. 

Anyway, it’s been at least a couple decades since I’ve read the book, and so I decided to make it the next in my selection of re-reads for the year and of course, what better month to do so than April? It was just as delightful reading as I remember, nothing too heavy and just a balm for the soul emerging from winter (not to mention escaping reality) to find myself joining these four women on holiday in an Italian castle.  It’s a bit of a fairy tale and I say that with no complaints. 

Then I had to rewatch the film, and it’s been almost as long since I’ve done so. There are some familiar faces among the cast: Joan Plowright, Miranda Richardson, Alfred Molina, and Jim Broadbent, and it had that almost Merchant-Ivory quality to the production.  There were a few key, but minor differences from the book but nothing that  took away my enjoyment of the film. (Side note: Polly Walker, who played the cynical ingenue, Lady Caroline Dester, is now playing the middle-aged wife in a lavender marriage in a new series I’ve been watching, Bookish.)

Revisiting favourites, especially those from when we were young or long ago (in this instance, both circumstances were true) can be a daunting experience, as we realize that for whatever reasons, they don’t stand the test of time. I’m happy to say that was not the case here. The Enchanted April is as enchanting as ever.