Rilla of Ingleside is the eighth book in the Anne of Green Gables series by L. M. Montgomery. It centres on fourteen-year-old Rilla Blythe during World War I, known then as the 'Great War'.
Dedication[]
"To
the memory of
FREDERICA CAMPBELL MACFARLANE
who went away from me when the dawn broke on January 25, 1919—a true friend, a rare personality, a loyal and courageous soul."
Blurb[]
Anne's children are almost grown up, except for pretty, high-spirited Rilla. No one can resist her bright hazel eyes and dazzling smile. Rilla, almost fifteen, can't think any further ahead than going to her very first dance at the Four Winds lighthouse and getting her first kiss from handsome Kenneth Ford. But undreamed-of challenges await the irrepressible Rilla when the world of Ingleside becomes endangered by a far-off war. Her brothers go off to fight, and Rilla brings home an orphaned newborn in a soup tureen. She is swept into a drama that tests her courage and leaves her changed forever. (from the 1998 Bantam Books reissue)
Plot[]
Chapter 1: Glen "Notes" and Other Matters[]
Just discussing the Glen and the Blythes
Chapter 2: Dew of Morning[]
Discussing Rilla, Walter, Miss. Oliver and others
Chapter 3: Moonlit Mirth[]
Rilla at her first dance, with Kenneth Ford!!
Chapter 4: The Piper Pipes[]
Jack Elliott tells them war has been declared, Jem and Jerry determined to enlist.
Chapter 5: "The Sound of a Going"[]
Jem and Jerry enlist and leave, upsetting Anne Blythe, Nan, and Faith Meredith
Chapter 6: Susan, Rilla, and Dog Monday Make a Resolution[]
Rilla begins to think about life seriously
Chapter 7: A War-Baby and a Soup Tureen[]
Rilla meets Jims (James Kitchener Anderson)
Chapter 8: Rilla Decides[]
Rilla decides to keep Jims at Ingleside
Chapter 9: Doc Has a Misadventure[]
The crazy cat loses it and gets his head stuck in a pan!
Chapter 10: The Troubles of Rilla[]
Rilla is disturbed about Walter at college and Jem on the war front
Chapter 11: Dark and Bright[]
Rilla is scared about Walter and Ken joining; Jims is making her happy
Chapter 12: In the Days of Langemarck[]
Walter is back from college, but Rilla is still rather frightened. Ken is a lieutenant.
Chapter 13: A Slice of Humble Pie[]
Rilla goes to Irene Howard, and realizes that she is wearing one slipper and one boot! Irene humiliates her.
Chapter 14: The Valley of Decision[]
Rilla is at the Junior Red Cross' show, and Irene tells her—horror!--Walter has enlisted.
Chapter 15: Until the Day Break[]
Walter leaves. Rilla and Una Meredith will "keep the faith."
Chapter 16: Realism and Romance[]
Ken comes to say good-bye. Rilla is absolutely flustered!
Chapter 17: The Weeks Wear By[]
Carl also leaves. Rilla misses him, her best friend when they were young. Weeks go on and on.
Chapter 18: A War-Wedding[]
Rilla plans for Joseph Milgrave and Miranda Pryor to marry!
Chapter 19: "They Shall Not Pass"[]
Miss. Oliver has a dream. Robert Grant is reported "dead", then Rilla finds out it's another Robert Grant!
Chapter 20: Norman Douglas Speaks Out in Meeting[]
Norman Douglas gets mad at Whiskers-on-the-moon!
Chapter 21: "Love Affairs are Horrible"[]
Rilla is sad Fred Arnold is so unhappy about the fact she loves Ken Ford rather than him.
Chapter 22: Little Dog Monday Knows[]
Rilla finds out Walter is killed at Courcelette
Chapter 23: "And So, Goodnight"[]
Rilla and her family learns to deal with the fact that Walter is dead.
Chapter 24: Mary is Just in Time[]
Mary Vance saves Jims
Chapter 25: Shirley Goes[]
Shirley goes to France
Chapter 26: Susan Has a Proposal of Marriage[]
Whiskers-on-the-Moon proposes to Susan, and Susan chases him out with a pan of boiling water!
Chapter 27: Waiting[]
They are still waiting for the end of the war.
Chapter 28: Black Sunday[]
The Germans are shelling Paris! This is the worst week.
Chapter 29: "Wounded and Missing"[]
Jem is reported "Wounded and Missing" in a trench raid
Chapter 30: The Turning of the Tide[]
The beginning of the end!!
Chapter 31: Mrs. Matilda Pitman[]
Rilla and Jims get into a misadventure with an old lady.
Chapter 32: Word from Jem[]
The Blythes FINALLY receive a telegram from Jem, who has been missing in France
Chapter 33: Victory![]
Germany surrenders!!
Chapter 34: Mr. Hyde Goes to His Own Place and Susan Takes a Honeymoon[]
The cat disappears, and Susan takes a break
Chapter 35: "Rilla-My-Rilla!"[]
Kenneth Ford returns home to Rilla and Rilla doesn't know him until he says "Rilla-my-Rilla!"
Timeline[]
This setting of the book is during the war years in the 1910s. It starts on June 29, 1914, and ends in early 1919.
Editions[]
Anne of Green Gables Wiki has 76 images of Rilla of Ingleside (view gallery). |
Adaptations[]
Radio dramas
- Rilla of Ingleside (1991), a Polish radio drama, originally produced and broadcast in 1991 on IVPR. It was directed by Stanisława Grotowska and starred Monika Bezak as Rilla.
Stage
- Rilla of Green Gables (2015), a musical that transplants Rilla's world of the Glen to Avonlea and Green Gables.
Behind the scenes[]
- Rilla of Ingleside is dedicated to Frederica Campbell MacFarlane, Montgomery's first cousin and most intimate friend. Frede died on January 25, 1919, of the influenza epidemic brought to North America from Europe’s war trenches.
- Montgomery didn't like the title Rilla of Ingleside - it was the choice of her publishers. She wanted to call it Rilla-My-Rilla or at least Rilla Blythe.
- The manuscript of Rilla of Ingleside was lost for half a century. It was written between March 7, 1919, and August 24, 1920, and is 564 pages in length. In 2000, the manuscript was rediscovered and donated to the University of Guelph.
- In Germany, Rilla of Ingleside was divided into two books - Anne und Rilla: Zum ersten Mal verliebt and Anne und Rilla:Der Weg ins Glück.
External links[]
- Rilla of Ingleside on Classic Reader
- Rilla of Ingleside full text, PDF, and ebook
- Rilla of Ingleside at L.M. Montgomery Online
- Rilla of Ingleside (2010) at L.M. Montgomery Online
- Rilla of Ingleside on Wikipedia