Marilla of Green Gables

A Novel

De: Sarah McCoy

Narrado por: Cassandra Campbell

A bold, heartfelt tale of life at Green Gables...before Anne: A marvelously entertaining and moving historical novel, set in rural Prince Edward Island in the 19th century, that imagines the young life of spinster Marilla Cuthbert and the choices that will open her life to the possibility of heartbreak - and unimaginable greatness.

Plucky and ambitious, Marilla Cuthbert is 13 years old when her world is turned upside down. Her beloved mother dies in childbirth, and Marilla suddenly must bear the responsibilities of a farm wife: cooking, sewing, keeping house, and overseeing the day-to-day life of Green Gables with her brother, Matthew, and father, Hugh.

In Avonlea - a small, tight-knit farming town on a remote island - life holds few options for farm girls. Her one connection to the wider world is Aunt Elizabeth "Izzy" Johnson, her mother’s sister, who managed to escape from Avonlea to the bustling city of St. Catharines. An opinionated spinster, Aunt Izzy’s talent as a seamstress has allowed her to build a thriving business and make her own way in the world.

Emboldened by her aunt, Marilla dares to venture beyond the safety of Green Gables and discovers new friends and new opportunities. Joining the Ladies Aid Society, she raises funds for an orphanage run by the Sisters of Charity in nearby Nova Scotia that secretly serves as a way station for runaway slaves from America.

Her budding romance with John Blythe, the charming son of a neighbor, offers her a possibility of future happiness - Marilla is in no rush to trade one farm life for another. She soon finds herself caught up in the dangerous work of politics and abolition - jeopardizing all she cherishes, including her bond with her dearest John Blythe.

Now, Marilla must face a reckoning between her dreams of making a difference in the wider world and the small-town reality of life at Green Gables.

©2018 Sarah McCoy (P)2018 HarperCollins Publishers

Marilla of Green Gables

I loved the story. It had to end this way or there couldn’t have been Anne. But I was sad for Marilla.

So emotional right now

written in a style similar to Anne of Green Gables
and even though I knew how the romance progressed, I still cried my eyes out.

if you love Anne of Green Gables, this is a must read

Answered so many questions

This gives a beautiful backstory about Marillla and Matthew. I now know why he or she never married.

Delightful to watch Avonlea grow up as a community

How enchanting to be introduced to characters you have known as grown ups your whole life and to encounter them as children or young adults.

If it’s possible to have fictional mother figures in your life, Marilla Cuthbert was one of mine. And in the ignorance of childhood, I never thought to wonder what her story was, how she came to be the woman who nurtured Anne through all the soaring through sunsets and the thuds. I came to this story because who doesn’t love more of Green Gables? But I wasn’t expecting Marilla’s experiences of being single and without children of her own to resonate quite so deeply. I needed Marilla of Green Gables as much at age 50 as I needed Anne of Green Gables at age 10. Tomorrow is a new day….

I want more!

Oh I loved, loved, loved this beautiful story. I’m a long time devoted reader of LM Montgomery books and this addition to the beloved characters I’ve loved for so long doesn’t disappoint.

Highly recommend to any readers who love Anne stories. Get to know the woman behind the tough exterior of Marilla Cuthbert. So much love and heartache and grit.

loved it.

I loved this book. It was well preformed. Even though I know that it is fan fiction, it was nice to see Marilla in this light.

Lovely!

I am a huge fan of the L.M. Montgomery series, and this was a wonderful peek into why Marilla is who she is. It wasn't a thrilling book, but I enjoyed it a lot! I do wish the narrator had voiced Marilla a bit more true to her character, more sturdy and strong, and not so soft and sweet. But overall, it was a good performance!

Such a beautiful story!

This was such a lovely story bringing such complex characters to a whole new dimension. It felt very in keeping with the original stories and was such a pleasure to hear unfold. I loved it!

Excellent prequel

The story is another classic. The narrator was excellent. I'd love to read a sequel.

A wonderful prequel

A huge fan of LMM's Anne of Green Gables series, I was extremely excited to read an adaptation sharing Marilla's backstory. Well done!