Chronicles of Avonlea (L.M. Montgomery Books) (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Twelve stories set on Prince Edward Island, where Anne of Green Gables grew up.

From the Publisher

On Prince Edward Island, where Anne Shirley grew up in the sea-sprayed town of Avonlea, there was no shortage of wonderful stories. There was the case of Ludovic Speed, who wouldn't propose to the woman he had courted for fifteen years until Anne devised a plan to "speed" him up . . . if it didn't backfire and break his heart. But no one could blame mischievous Anne for the hilarious battle of the sexes that erupted when a man-hating woman and her cat got quarantined in the same house with a woman-hating bachelor and his dog. From sprawling Penhallow Grange, where a family waits nearly forever for two quarreling lovers to break their stubborn silence, to the tumbledown farm of Old Man Shaw, who awaits the return of his beloved daughter, L. M. Montgomery has written twelve tales of secret hopes and hidden dreams, filled with enchantment and humor.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Starfire (August 1, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553213784
• ISBN-13: 978-0553213782
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #94,110 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

• This is item 9 in The Anne of Green Gables Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Heartwarmer by Lucy, August 3, 2000

By A Customer

This book is an endearing collection of short stories. The first time I read the Anne series at age 10, I refused to read this book because it wasn't about Anne. However, at age 21, I have grown up and recently read it. Read this and become enmeshed in other Avonlea lives. Also, look forward to references to our favorite heroine, Anne Shirley! I promise you won't be disappointed!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Anne Shirley, Old Lady Lloyd and Montgomery's other folks of Avonlea, January 4, 2006

By	Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

"Chronicles of Avonlea" is a collection of short stories by L.M. Montgomery, "In which Anne Shirley of Green Gables and Avonlea plays some part, and which have to do with other personalities and events." First published in June of 1912 when Montgomery had published "Anne of Green Gables," "Anne of Avonlea," "Kilmeny of the Orchard," and "The Story Girl," it is my understanding that the author revised some of these stories to work in references to Anne and Avonlea, which would make them more palatable for her growing audience of readers.

This volume contains my favorite Montgomery short story, "Old Lady Lloyd," which is actually set in Spencervale. The title character is thought to be rich, mean and proud but is really only the last that is true. But then she hears of the plight of young Sylvia Gray and Margaret Lloyd finds there is something more important than her wicked pride. Montgomery does some nice twists with what is basically a fairy godmother story. "Old Lady Lloyd" also provided the basis for one of the first season episodes of the television series "Road to Avonlea," as did the comic romances "Aunt Olivia's Beau" and "The Quarantine at Alexander Abraham's" from this volume.

Although "Old Lady Lloyd" is a love story of sorts, many of the dozen stories found here are more traditional romances. "The Hurrying of Ludovic" is about Anne Shirley's plan to help the ironically named Ludovic Speed to hurry up and ask her friend TheodoraDix to be married. "The Winning of Lucinda" and "The Courting of Prissy Strong" follow suit as well, although with Montgomery's wry sense of humor coming into play. But another strong theme in these stories starting with "Old Lady Lloyd" is the love of music, which comes into play in both "Each in His Own Tongue" and "Little Joscelyn." "Old Man Shaw's Girl" fits into neither camp, but is one of the better stories here as well.

This collection was followed by a second, "Further Chronicles of Avonlea," and if you take these two, "The Story Girl" and its sequel "The Golden Road," then you have the four books that served as the basis of various episodes of "Road to Avonlea." But if you are a fan of Montgomery's writing then you already know that even in her novels she often worked in various short stories and might even have come to the conclusion that she was better at short stories than at novels. Still, for those who found seven Anne books to be far too few, this collection is the first place to turn to find her in other stories.

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Short stories to warm your soul., December 22, 1997

By A Customer

Perfect for sitting in front of the fireplace and reading. These stories are all about love-- with all its twists and turns. It'll make you laugh and cry. Each story takes you into a different world where you care about the characters and want their dreams to be fulfilled.