A Tangled Web (Voyageur Classics) [Paperback]

Lucy Maud Montgomery (Author), Benjamin Lefebvre (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 30, 2009 | ISBN-10: 1554884039 | ISBN-13: 978-1554884032

No amount of drama between the Dark and Penhallow families can prepare them for what follows when Aunt Becky bequeaths her prized heirloom jug - the owner to be revealed in one year's time. The intermarriages, and resulting fighting and feuding, that have occurred over the years grow more intense as Gay Penhallow's fiancé leaves her for the devious Nan Penhallow; Peter Penhallow and Donna Dark find love after a lifelong hatred of each other; and Joscelyn and Hugh Dark, inexplicably separated on their wedding night, are reunited.

Hopes and shortcomings are revealed as we follow the fates of the clan for an entire year. The legendary jug sits amid this love, heartbreak, and hilarity as each family member works to acquire the heirloom. But on the night that the eccentric matriarch's wishes are to be revealed, both families find the biggest surprise of all.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Two family clans, the Darks and the Penhallows, fight for possession of a big, brown jug--a family heirloom. The book spans a year in the life of various family members. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Inside Flap

Over the years sixty members of the Dark family and sixty Penhallows have married one another--but not without their share of fighting and feuding. Now Aunt Becky, the eccentric old matriarch of the clan, has bequeathed her prized possession: a legendary heirloom jug. But the name of the jug's new owner will not be revealed for one year. In the next twelve months beautiful Gay Penhallow's handsome fiance Noel Gibson leaves her for sly and seductive Nan Penhallow; reckless Peter Penhallow and lovely Donna Dark, who have hated each other since childhood, are inexplicably brought together by the jug; Hugh and Joscelyn Dark, separated on their wedding night ten years ago for reasons never revealed, find a second chance--all watched over by the mysterious Moon Man, who has the gift of second sight. Then comes the night when Aunt Becky's wishes will be revealed...and the family is in for the biggest surprise of all. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 296 pages
• Publisher: Dundurn (March 30, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1554884039
• ISBN-13: 978-1554884032
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #740,998 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lucy Maude Montgomery (1874-1942) was born on Prince Edward Island, Canada, the setting for Anne of Green Gables. She left to attend college, but returned to Prince Edward Island to teach. In 1911, she married the Reverend Ewan MacDonald. Anne of Green Gables, the first in a series of "Anne" books by Montgomery, was published in 1908 to immediate success and continues to be a perennial favorite.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intricate, Detailed, and Satisfying, April 27, 2001

By 

merrystar (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tangled Web (Mass Market Paperback)

LMM's gift for portraying people's hopes and dreams and shortcomings in a sympathetic fashion shines in this novel. Among her most unique stories in format, it chooses to follow the fates of an entire clan for a year, alternately "peeping in" on the thoughts of first one person and then another. In most of her novels we see everyone through the lens of the main character: here we see each of them as they see themselves.

The characters' actions and decisions are shadowed by either their own, or their loved ones' desire to win possession of a coveted family jug. And although there is only one jug, the impetus to change and improve their lives results in nearly everyone being happy at the end of the story. LMM is as usual able to evoke both the comical and the noble side of her characters, all the while telling a good story.

In feel and in setting this novel is very typical of LMM's work; the delightful characters and small-town politics will be familiar to anybody who loves her writing. It stands out from her other works because of the multiplicity of characters and storylines.

Over the years this has become one of my favourite LMM novels. I would especially recommend it to any adults reading her books for the first time.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything you love about Montgomery in one perfect book!, March 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Tangled Web (Mass Market Paperback)

When I need to be cheered up, I re-read the first two chapters of this book and end up reading the whole book over, enthralled by one or another of the stories. The web may be tangled, but who cares when it's so fun? Montgomery's trademark moments - the ones you keep reading the Anne or Emily series for - pop up all the time, and as usual you keep kicking yourself for forgetting that her characters aren't real. Poignant, mysterious, romantic, Avonleaish, and VERY funny - watch out for the Sams, Uncle Pippen, Peter P., and of course Drowned John (I'd buy the book just to read the explanation of that name!)

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Montgomery's Funniest, April 22, 2005

By 

A. Lundquist - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tangled Web (Mass Market Paperback)

This book along with Blue Castle is tied for my favorite L.M. Montgomery book. The old aunt is hilarious. Other characters are original and generally sympathetic. Everyone will be able to say "I have a relative just like that". Overall, a sweet, romantic, humorous book with a happy ending.