Marilla of Green Gables Lib/E

Product Description 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 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. Review Fans of L. M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables will rejoice to hear Cassandra Campbell's warm and spirited narration of the imagined life of Marilla Cuthbert...With a steady and unhurried delivery that encourages listeners to savor the details of life in small-town Avonlea, Campbell brings forth a Marilla who is strong and determined but also vulnerable. Campbell's skill in communicating Marilla's quiet melancholy and ever-growing confidence gives shape and depth to this remarkable woman with a rich and storied past.-- "AudioFile" In McCoy's skillful and sensitive hands, Marilla emerges as a heroine of depth, complexity, and heart.-- "Allison Pataki, New York Times bestselling author " Marilla Cuthbert flares to life in Sarah McCoy's enchanting novel of Avonlea...Hats off to McCoy for enlivening this classic with such heart and grace.-- "Paula McLain, New York Times bestselling author" Anne aficionados will get a kick out of seeing Avonlea's eccentric cast in their youth...McCoy captures the magic of Prince Edward Island, describing the changing seasons in lovely prose.-- "Booklist" In fleshing out Marilla's story, McCoy weaves in fascinating historical details of Canada's religious and political tensions of the mid-nineteenth century...Fashioning Marilla as a flawed hero of her times is a lovely tribute.-- "Kirkus Reviews" McCoy's love for the characters is palpable, and with an insightful eye she illuminates the original Avonlea, while also offering glimpses into the turbulent history of the time.-- "Madeline Miller, #1 New York Times bestselling author" Prepare to meet Marilla, a captivating heroine who will transport you back to the treasured world of Anne of Green Gables.-- "Sue Monk Kidd, #1 New York Times bestselling author" About the Author SARAH McCOY is the New York Times, USA Today , and i nternational bestselling author of Marilla of Green Gables (10/23/18); The Mapmaker's Children; The Baker's Daughter, a 2012 Goodreads Choice Award Best Historical Fiction nominee; the novella "The Branch of Hazel," featur