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 nineteenth 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 thirteen … thirteen years old when her world is turned upside down. Her beloved mother has 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.
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I absolutely adored Marilla Cuthbert’s story that was brought to life by the brilliant and beautiful writing of Sarah McCoy. The characters in this book are lovable and unforgettable. I loved Aunt Izzy and the relationship that grew between her and Marilla. And the romance between Marilla and John Blythe was so charming and sweet. I felt Sarah McCoy did an excellent job researching and writing about life back in the late 1800’s, the food, how people lived and worked, about politics, religion, and also Canada’s role in the underground railroad. I feel L. M. Montgomery would be incredibly proud of this book. Now after reading Marilla’s story, I must go and revisit Anne’s. This is going on my 2018 Favorites list and is one I will be recommending to friends. It is truly a gem.
i read preface of this book and it was amazing in reading. i was imagining this book while reading
Thank you for not exporting 21st century sentiments and ideologies into late 19th century times!
This was a touching and entirely believable account of what could have been Marilla’s life story. The writing was convincingly reminiscent of Montgomery’s and it set the stage beautifully for Anne.
Truly a beautiful book from the cover to the last word of the last page. I could not put this one down.
I also want everyone to know even if you have read or not read Anne of Green Gables, this book can stand alone.
Wonderful endearing characters and beautiful settings. The author’s words will make you feel their joys and their sorrows. You will feel transported to the world of Green Gables on Prince Edward Island.
A very high 5 for this one and keep those tissues close by.
Anne of Green Gables has always been my favorite set of books. A orphan no one wanted but stole the hearts of Matthew and Marilla. Marilla always seemed distant and cold until Anne cracked her shell but what happened why were her and Matthew never married?
This book shined a new light on Marilla and Matthew it was just magical. The story was well written and just made it feel like a prequel that L.M. Montgomery wrote herself. As much as I wanted the ending to be different and see her marry John Blyth it could not be.
I loved this story so much and it had its moments that were heart warming and a few tears as well. Don’t forget Racheal she was a great addition to the story she reminded me of Anne.
This book is a must read for all the Anne fans out there!
Like most little girls I read the Little House on the Prairie series written by Laura Ingalls Wilder and the Anne of Green Gables series by Lucy Maud Montgomery. I would guess I ready the Anne of Green Gables series every year when I was growing up. Sadly, it has been a few years since I have picked up Anne of Green Gables, I purchased the kindle versions of the books in anticipation of reading Sarah McCoy’s, Marilla of Green Gables. McCoy’s publishers have done an amazing job of marketing her newest book. I first saw advertisements over a year ago and pre-ordered the book the first chance I got.
Marilla of Green Gables is McCoy’s attempt at explaining why the character Marilla was the way Marilla was. Marilla, a person mysteriously hardened by life comes alive with the arrival of a young girl with a vast imagination managed to pull her out of her shell. Readers of the Montgomery’s Anne series know that Marilla alludes to a love lost and regrets in conversations with Anne about Gilbert Blythe. Keeping in mind that this version of the story is not Lucy Maud Montgomery’s telling, Sarah McCoy does Marilla’s story justice. Early in the book I remembered that at some point in life Marilla loved, was loved, and lost love. Watching the relationship between John Blythe and Marilla develop it was hard not to feel a tightening in my chest with the knowledge that their love would end tragically. It was an interesting perspective, the loss of Marilla’s mother, promises made on a death bed, and a loyalty to family, all of which made Marilla the woman she was when we first meet her in Anne of Green Gables.
McCoy claims to have done extensive research on Montgomery, the Anne series, and Prince Edward Island in an effort to bring new life to old characters. I believe that Montgomery would feel honored by the story that was told.
I am not ready yet to leave PEI and look forward to continuing my journey with Anne’s arrival to Green Gables and a re-read of an old friend.
Cover Design – 5.0
The cover does a really great job of capturing Montgomery’s Green Gables.
Grammer – 5.0
Beautifully edited. I am not familiar with Sarah McCoy as an author but this first introduction into her work brought me great pleasure.
Plot – 4.0
I did a Heather “no-no” and read some early reviews; prior to the book being released. People don’t like change or things that are different. There were a lot of critics out there who feared that McCoy was treading on Montgomery’s “turf”. Now, I am all about originality and I feel that Hollywood continues to recycle old stories. I also believe that some mystery in a book’s storyline allows the reader to use their own imagination. When reading the Anne of Green Gables series my heart always broke for Marilla and her love lost but I never really considered what could have caused her such heartache. Do I buy McCoy’s versions of events? It’s as much as a possibility as any and in this day in age when politics are causing so much division in our country it makes it a completely reasonable rationale that Marilla and John Blythe allowed heated beliefs to divide them. Marilla always was hard headed, Anne tames that, but she always spoke first and came to her senses later. It makes sense that speaking without thinking first plus her pride was Marilla’s demise in love.
Believability – NA
I am not sure that this category applies to this book so I am going to leave it as NA.
Ending – 5.0
This book opens at the beginning of the Anne stories, before Anne arrives, and then with Marilla reminiscing about the past. Closure comes with the continuation of the series and Montgomery’s telling of Anne’s story.
Price Value – 4.0
I think the story was well written and well worth the price. I am all about the deal so doubt if you put this book on your wish list, in a couple of years the book with go on sale.
Overall – 4.5
I enjoyed this story. I don’t usually get emotional over a book but for most of this story I had to try hard not to cry. Knowing the outcomes of the characters made it hard to root for the love story developing between Marilla and John. I think the additional story of the American Civil War and the Underground Railroad brings a depth to Marilla’s character. Marilla could have easily sent Anne back to the orphanage. Anne certainly wasn’t what they needed or what they wanted but if you believe that Marilla held a soft place in her heart for the rights of all people you can understand why she would not send a child back to such suffering.
If you loved the Anne books, this is a must read!!! I’d love to see one about Matthew as well.
I can’t believe I waited this long to read this book, but I also think I read it at just the right time. I recently watched a few episodes of Anne with an E, which made me more interested in Marilla than I ever was after reading Anne of Green Gables. I picked up Marilla of Green Gables thinking it might give me a better picture of who Marilla was in her early years, and boy did it. I know this wasn’t an L.M. Montgomery novel, but it feels like it could have been. Sarah McCoy captures the language, the emotion, and the sense of place from the Anne of Green Gables books and offers us a glimpse at who Marilla Cuthbert may have been as a younger woman. I wanted to race through this book because it was so good, but I also wanted to savor it. I loved it and can’t say enough good about it.
To me, this was the perfect prequel to the Anne of Green Gables books I love so much.
Not quite as good as the Lovelace books, but an interesting addition & history of one of my favorite characters.
Loved to read Marilla’s story. Anne of Green Gables is one of my favorite books and this one complemented it.
Great prequel to Anne of Green Gables. Loved it.
A good back ground story of Marilla from Anne of Green Gables. Not only does it tell you about her back ground it tells you about some of the events that happened like Canada being a stop in the Underground RailRoad and how her aunt helped some of them escape.
I enjoyed reading it. It is the story of Marilla before Anne arrived. Even though I knew the end because I have read all the Anne books way more than once and new the outcome I enjoyed the book and think it led me to appreciate Marilla more.
I wasn’t able to get into the story, so I was unable to finish it. It is a well written story and that is the reason for the three stars. Just because it wasn’t my cup of tea, doesn’t mean that it wasn’t good.
If you are reading this because of the Anne series, keep an open mind.
As a fan of L.M. Montgomery, I wasn’t sure I could visit Green Gables with another author, but this book was so true to Marilla and imagined an amazing backstory that has only enhanced my enjoyment of Anne’s stories.
I absolutely loved this book. It is the perfect prequel to the Anne of Green Gables books.
I’ve been a fan of Anne of Green Gables since I was a girl. In Marilla of Green Gables, Sarah McCoy gives us some insight into Marilla Cuthbert. Marilla always seemed so strict and stern in Anne’s raising. It was fascinating to consider the events Ms. McCoy describes and think about how her life experience made Marilla the woman we knew in Anne’s story. I really enjoyed it.
Marilla is an important character in all of the Green Gables books, but this one really focuses on her as a young person which explains her attitude as a grown woman.
I am having a hard time getting through this book. I loved the original series but this seems dull.