Set on Prince Edward Island, Canada, in the early twentieth century, this beloved series begins when a spirited and imaginative red-haired orphan girl is accidentally sent to live with an elderly brother and sister who had requested a boy to help on their farm — and proceeds to win over her new community through her irrepressible personality, passionate friendships, and love of beauty in the world. The series follows her from childhood through adulthood across eight books, tracing her education, friendships, romances, and life as a woman in a changing era.
Eleven-year-old orphan Anne Shirley arrives at Green Gables expecting to find a home, only to discover the elderly siblings Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert wanted a boy to help with farmwork; Anne's imagination, spirit, and relentless optimism gradually win them over. A beloved classic full of humor, heart, and the beauty of Prince Edward Island. The first in an iconic series.
At sixteen, Anne becomes a schoolteacher in Avonlea while continuing to live at Green Gables, navigating the challenges of teaching, managing impulsive decisions, and caring for two orphaned twins. The second book continues Anne's growth with warmth and humor.
Anne leaves Green Gables to attend Redmond College, where she navigates university life, deepening friendships, romantic proposals, and ultimately the realization of her true feelings for her childhood friend Gilbert Blythe. The third book marks Anne's transition to young adulthood.
Anne spends three years as principal of Summerside High School while waiting for Gilbert to finish medical school, facing the hostility of a powerful local family and the challenges of earning respect in a new community. Told through letters to Gilbert, the novel fills in the gap between Anne's engagement and marriage.
Newly married, Anne and Gilbert move to a small fishing village where Anne establishes her first home, forms deep friendships, and experiences the joys and sorrows of early married life including the loss of her first baby. A more mature entry in the series that tackles themes of grief and healing.