Maria's Italian Spring

When Maria's uncle and guardian dies, her uncle's scholarly cousin whisks her away to Italy, where she befriends the mischievous Cordelia and discovers the hidden marvels of Italy.

Grade 5-6-- In the latter part of the 19th century, Maria's great uncle dies and she is whisked off to Italy in the charge of her reclusive, eccentric cousin, Mr. Burghclere. His interest in Maria is strictly academic--he's impressed with her ability to read Greek. In a very real sense, she is orphaned once more, alone in a country whose language she does not speak, and without adults who are concerned about her. The story really begins two-thirds of the way through the book, when Maria responds to her neighbor, mischievous Lady Cordelia, and realizes she's been wasting herself pining. The conclusion is satisfying, but the characterizations are stereotypical. Maria languishes too long for belief. Her maid is terrified of all things un-British; Burghclere is a hermit; the Italian doctor is foppish; and the British Dr. Jessop, who discourages independence in females, is large, comforting, and solid. Only Cordelia is feisty and complex, if conveniently royal. The book's mood is ponderous. Readers see the artistic wonders of Italy through Maria's eyes, and they are almost all dark and gloomy. All told, the pacing is deliberate and old-fashioned, as appropriate to the Victorian era. Originally published in 1964, the book lacks stylistic vitality. This title might be read and discussed in an examination of jingoistic stereotype and change, but readers seeking adventure or entertainment will not find much here. --Carolyn Noah, Central Mass. Regional Library System, Worcester, MA
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

A reissue of The Italian Spring (NY, 1972), published in Britain in 1964. After the 1877 death of her scholarly guardian, who was teaching her Greek in Maria Escapes (1957; NY, 1992), Maria goes to an even more reclusive cousin in Italy. Her sojourn with him there--in Venice, where he instructs her on nearly invisible paintings in dark churches and she catches a shocking cold; in Florence, where she uses her invalid status to avoid his boring art lectures, or avoid being sent to another stultifying school--is an interesting contrast to the previous scenario: In care of Mr. Burghclere (substantially more oblivious and less amiable than her former guardian) and an Italian physician who's sure that education overtaxes the female brain, Maria is well on her way to becoming that staple of Victorian fiction--the lady invalid--when a lively young neighbor lures her forth. Another unusually rich picture of the period--especially for friends of book one and its likable, intelligent heroine. (Fiction. 9-12) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.