Book Review: Katherine Mansfield's Europe by Redmer Yska

Katherine Mansfield was diagnosed with TB while still in her twenties. She spent the latter part of her life in search of a cure for her failing health, often the warmer climate of the Mediterranean or the clear mountain air of Switzerland, finally settling at Avon where she hoped that a more spiritually focused regimen might re-energise her body. It was here at a grand house on the edge of the Fontainebleau forest that the illness that had dogged her for so long finally claimed her life in 1923.

Redmer Yska relives those journeys and more, talking to the people in Italy, Germany, Switzerland and France with interesting anecdotes about the Bloomsbury author in his latest book Katherine Mansfield’s Europe. He visits the hotels and watering holes, train stations and the memorials and other sites of significance that describe KM’s life and coloured her writing.

Katherine Mansfield’s Europe: Station to Station is a gorgeously illustrated book full of double page illustrations and photographs, some of them taken by Mansfield’s close friend Ida, making for a very pictorial reading experience. But do take the time to read the text as well. Yska writes so interestingly of his discoveries as he journeyed around Europe speaking to the people who keep KM’s memory alive.

What is particularly interesting is how much she is respected and even loved in those places with groups that regularly hold memorials and campaign for ways to commemorate her life whether it be in street signs or statues.  As well revealing Katherine’s experience in her own words, Yska uncovers new aspects of her life, as seen from across the Channel. The author has a remarkable way of putting himself inside Mansfield’s shoes and imagining her thoughts and feelings.

It all comes together in a stunning book, that describes another aspect of the Katherine Mansfield story. The library has a couple of copies of the book which is the perfect read for KM 100, which marks a centenary since Mansfield’s death. It is also her birthday on 14 October.

10 October 2023

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