March 08, 2021

Rilla of Ingleside

Rilla of Ingleside book cover


Rilla of Ingleside (1921) is the eighth and final novel in the Anne of Green Gables series. The novel is rare in that it is the only book about the Canadian World War I home front written contemporaneously from a female perspective.

The novel's protagonist is Anne and Gilbert's youngest daughter Bertha Marilla Blythe, who is known by her nickname "Rilla." Rilla is a fun-loving, fifteen-year-old girl. Like most her age, Rilla has not yet gained an awareness of the wider world around her. As the story opens, World War I begins, and Rilla's eldest brother Jem and childhood friend Jerry enlist. Rilla must adapt and mature to her changing world. She organizes a Junior Red Cross for young girls at her mother's suggestion when Anne tells her, "We will all have to do a great many things in the months ahead of us that we have never done before, Rilla."

Eventually Rilla's brother Walter enlists, although he is afraid of war and death, and her youngest brother Shirley heads to the front when he comes of age. Along with worrying about her brothers, Rilla fears for Kenneth Ford. Before leaving for the war, Kenneth kisses Rilla for the first time and asks Rilla to promise not to kiss anyone else until he returns. With her brothers, childhood friends, and sweetheart all at war, Rilla does her part for the war effort. She keeps track of war news and eagerly awaits letters from those she loves until the war comes to an end.

Purchase and read Rilla of Ingleside and the Anne of Green Gables series:

Rilla of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery Anne of Green Gables Book Set by L.M. Montgomery


Created November 2, 2002. Re-posted online March 8, 2021. Last updated March 8, 2021.

March 07, 2021

Rainbow Valley

Rainbow Valley, 1919 Cover

Rainbow Valley by L.M. Montgomery is the seventh novel in the Anne of Green Gables series. Published in 1919, the focus of this book shifts away from Anne Shirley Blythe to her six children: Jem, Walter, Nan, Di, Shirley, and Rilla. As the story begins, Anne and Gilbert have just returned home from a three-month trip to Europe.

Upon her arrival home, Miss Cornelia gives Anne the gossip that the church has settled on a new minister. His name is John Meredith, and he's a widower with four children: Gerald ("Jerry"), Faith, Una, and Thomas Carlyle ("Carl"). The Blythe and Meredith children grow close, playing together in little valley behind a maple grove that they call "Rainbow Valley."

Purchase and read Rainbow Valley and the Anne of Green Gables series:

Rainbow Valley by L.M. Montgomery Anne of Green Gables Book Set by L.M. Montgomery


Created September 1, 1999. Re-posted online March 7, 2021. Last updated March 7, 2021.

March 06, 2021

Anne of Ingleside

Anne of Ingleside, Bantam Classic book cover

Anne of Ingleside (1939) is book 6 in the Anne of Green Gables series by L.M. Montgomery. The plot of this novel falls between Anne’s House of Dreams (1917) and Rainbow Valley (1919), both of which were published 20 years earlier. This novel was the last that L.M. Montgomery published during her lifetime.

After leaving their "House of Dreams," Anne and Gilbert moved to a home they call "Ingleside." As the story begins, Anne Shirley Blythe is the mother of five children: James Matthew ("Jem"), Walter, twins Anne ("Nan") and Diana ("Di"), and Shirley Blythe. During this story, Anne gives birth to her youngest daughter Bertha Marilla, known as "Rilla." The focus of the novel shifts in part to Anne's children's adventures, but Anne still plays a role. The family must cope with a visit from Gilbert's unpleasant aunt. Later in the novel, Anne begins to worry that Gilbert has become distant and no longer loves her.

Purchase and read Anne of Ingleside and the Anne of Green Gables series:


Anne of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery Anne of Green Gables Book Set by L.M. Montgomery


Created September 1, 1999. Re-posted online March 6, 2021. Last updated March 6, 2021.

March 05, 2021

Anne's House of Dreams

Anne's House of Dreams, Starfire cover

L.M. Montgomery's Anne's House of Dreams was first published in 1917. This novel is the fifth book in the Anne of Green Gables series. The story begins as Anne Shirley marries Gilbert Blythe at Green Gables. The newlyweds then move to a home on the shore at Four Winds Point, and Gilbert begins his work as a doctor in the nearby village of Glen St. Mary. Anne calls their new home her "House of Dreams."

Anne and Gilbert's new neighbors include Captain Jim, a storytelling lighthouse keeper, who was formerly a sailor, and Miss Cornelia, a woman with strong opinions. Anne also tries to befriend the embittered Leslie Moore. During their time living in their House of Dreams, Anne and Gilbert experience both joy and sorrow as they begin their married life together.

Purchase and read Anne's House of Dreams and the Anne of Green Gables series:

Anne's House of Dreams by L.M. Montgomery Anne of Green Gables Book Set by L.M. Montgomery


Created September 1, 1999. Re-posted online March 5, 2021. Last updated March 5, 2021.

March 04, 2021

Anne of Windy Poplars

Anne of Windy Poplars, 1936

Anne of Windy Poplars (1936) is the fourth novel in the Anne of Green Gables series by L.M. Montgomery. After Anne graduates from Redmond, she returns to Prince Edward Island and takes a job as the principal of Summerside High School. She lives in a home called Windy Poplars with two elderly women, Aunt Kate and Aunt Chatty, and their housekeeper, Rebecca Dew. Anne faces several challenges in Summerside, including having to deal with the bitter vice principal Katherine Brooke and the clannish and unwelcoming Pringle family who run the town.

The plot of Anne of Windy Poplars falls between Anne of the Island (1915) and Anne’s House of Dreams (1917), but the novel was written roughly two decades later in 1936. L.M. Montgomery returned to Anne Shirley in the 1930s to tell the story of Anne's years in Summerside before her marriage to Gilbert. Compared to the other Anne novels, Anne of Windy Poplars is unusual in that much of the story is told through extracts of letters written by Anne Shirley to her fiancĂ© Gilbert Blythe.

Purchase and read Anne of Windy Poplars and the Anne of Green Gables series:

Anne of Windy Poplars by L.M. Montgomery Anne of Green Gables Book Set by L.M. Montgomery


Created September 1, 1999. Re-posted online March 4, 2021. Last updated March 4, 2021.

March 03, 2021

Anne of the Island

Anne of the Island, book cover by Elly MacKay


Anne of the Island, published in 1915, is the third novel in the Anne of Green Gables series by L.M. Montgomery. In this book, Anne leaves her home in Avonlea, Prince Edward Island for Redmond College in Nova Scotia to study for her B.A. Anne's childhood classmates Gilbert Blythe and Charlie Sloane head off to attend Redmond as well. While at college, Anne interacts with these familiar faces, and she also makes new friends like the beautiful Philippa Gordon. During her time at college, Gilbert proposes marriage, but Anne turns him down. Anne is then courted by the dark and handsome Roy Gardner, and she must eventually decide if they truly belong together.


Purchase and read Anne of the Island and the Anne of Green Gables series:

Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery Anne of Green Gables Book Set by L.M. Montgomery


Created September 1, 1999. Re-posted online March 3, 2021. Last updated March 3, 2021.

March 02, 2021

Anne of Avonlea

Anne of Avonlea, Bantam book cover

Anne of Avonlea, the sequel to Anne of Green Gables, was published in 1909 as the second novel in the Anne of Green Gables series. Anne Shirley is now 16 years old and teaching at the Avonlea school. As reflected in the title of the book, Anne's circle of influence has widened from affecting her home in Anne of Green Gables to influencing her town in Anne of Avonlea.

We follow Anne as she experiences both the rewards and challenges of being a new teacher. Outside of the classroom, Anne and her friends endeavor to improve Avonlea by forming an Avonlea Village Improvement Society (AVIS). Their efforts have varied results. Meanwhile, Marilla takes in twins named Davy and Dora, who are her distant relations, after their mother dies. The twins add a new energy to Green Gables.

Purchase and read Anne of Avonlea and the Anne of Green Gables series:


Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery Anne of Green Gables Book Set by L.M. Montgomery

Created September 1, 1999. Re-posted online March 2, 2021. Last updated March 2, 2021.

March 01, 2021

Anne of Green Gables

Anne of Green Gables, 100th anniversary cover

Anne of Green Gables is a novel published by L.M. Montgomery in 1908. The story begins when Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert decide to adopt a young boy to help them on their farm. The two elderly siblings send word of their request through a neighbor instead of visiting the orphanage themselves. The Cuthberts are surprised when their neighbor makes an error and returns with a young girl named Anne Shirley instead of the boy they expect.

The Cuthberts at first seem ill-equipped and unlikely to raise Anne. Matthew is extremely shy and afraid of women and girls. Marilla is orderly, sarcastic, and has difficultly expressing affection. In contrast, Anne is wildly imaginative, talkative, and prone to making mishaps. But the unexpected happens, and instead of sending Anne back to the orphanage, the Cuthberts decide to keep her and raise her. In forming this unusual family, Anne finds her first home, and Marilla and Matthew grow and develop in their own ways.


Purchase and read Anne of Green Gables:

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery Anne of Green Gables Book Set by L.M. Montgomery


Created September 1, 1999. Re-posted online March 1, 2021. Last updated March 1, 2021.