Marilla of Green Gables

A bold, heartfelt tale of life at Green Gables before Anne, this historical novel set in nineteenth-century rural Prince Edward Island explores the young life of Marilla Cuthbert and the choices that lead her to heartbreak and greatness. At thirteen, Marilla's world shatters with her mother’s death during childbirth, thrusting her into the responsibilities of a farm wife alongside her brother, Matthew, and father, Hugh. In the small farming town of Avonlea, options for girls are limited, but her Aunt Elizabeth "Izzy" Johnson, a successful seamstress in St. Catharines, inspires Marilla to seek more. Encouraged by Izzy, Marilla ventures beyond Green Gables, forming new friendships and joining the Ladies Aid Society to raise funds for an orphanage that aids runaway slaves. A budding romance with John Blythe, a charming neighbor, offers her glimpses of happiness, but Marilla finds herself entangled in the perilous world of politics and abolition, risking everything she holds dear, including her relationship with John. As she navigates her dreams of making a difference and the realities of small-town life, Marilla faces a crucial reckoning about her future and the impact she wishes to have on the world.