The Caravaners, a comic novel by Elizabeth von Arnim, describes an Edwardian caravan holiday in the English county of Kent from the viewpoint of the pompous and self-important Baron Otto von Ottringel, a major in the German army. The Baron becomes increasingly bewildered by the behaviour of the English people with whom he has chosen to spend a month in a convoy of horse-drawn caravans.
The humorous and, at times, satirical narrative portrays the Baron’s platonic and one-sided pursuit of one unfortunate lady while his second wife, the long-suffering Edelgard, discovers her newly found freedom, much to the Baron’s dismay. However, it also serves as a thoughtful exploration of human nature, with its perceptive examination of social class and unlikely relationships.
First published in 1913, The Caravaners is von Arnim’s eighth novel, and its mood and voice represent a marked departure from much of her other fiction.