Lucy Maud Montgomery

Anne's House of Dreams (illustrated) Lucy Maud Montgomery

"Anne's House of Dreams" by L. M. Montgomery is the continuing story of Anne Shirley Blythe who lived in Green Gables. This book is the fifth in the "Anne of Green Gables" series. In this episode, Anne is twenty-five years old and is preparing for her wedding. She is going to marry young Gilbert Blythe who is an up and coming physician. They will be moving from Green Gables to Four Winds, a sleepy seaside community on Prince Edward Island in Nova Scotia. Anne, tall, slender and flame-haired, has been a teacher for three years at a school called Summerside. Gilbert Blythe has been after Anne for years and is finally going to make her his own. After a small ceremony with family and close friends, the couple takes off from Green Gables to being their new life together. Anne cannot wait to get to the house where they will make that start. Gilbert doesn't want her to expect too much. The house is old and small and they will just be renting it. But Anne is not dissuaded from believing that the house will be her house of dreams especially when Gilbert tells her about the grounds around the house. It has many large old trees and a brook that runs through the property. And there are gardens that prior owners have cultivated. Anne has foregone having a honeymoon. To her the best honeymoon she can think of is being with Gilbert in their new residence. Anne is not disappointed with her house. She enthusiastically decorates the inside and works diligently on the flower gardens outside. She loves walking around the grounds and at the beach on the harbor. The area is more beautiful than she had imagined. Anne becomes acquainted with some of the locals and forms some strong and lasting friendships with them. There is Captain Jim who operates the lighthouse. He's an old tar who entertains everyone with stories of his adventures on the sea. Jim is a sensitive and caring older man and feels an immediate affinity for Anne.