Anne Shirley books in order

The Anne Shirley series by L.M. Montgomery follows the beloved red-haired orphan from Green Gables through adulthood across nine books, published from 1908 to 2008.

Reading order

# Title Published Author Buy on Amazon
1 Anne of Green Gables 1908 Lucy Maud L.M. Montgomery Buy
2 Anne of Avonlea 1909 Lucy Maud L.M. Montgomery Buy
3 Anne of the Island 1915 Lucy Maud L.M. Montgomery Buy
4 Anne’s House of Dreams 1917 Lucy Maud L.M. Montgomery Buy
5 Rainbow Valley 1919 Lucy Maud L.M. Montgomery Buy
6 Rilla of Ingleside 1921 Lucy Maud L.M. Montgomery Buy
7 Anne of Windy Poplars / Anne of Windy Willows 1936 Lucy Maud L.M. Montgomery Buy
8 Anne of Ingleside 1939 Lucy Maud L.M. Montgomery Buy
9 Before Green Gables 2008 Lucy Maud L.M. Montgomery Buy

The Anne Shirley series begins with Anne of Green Gables (1908), in which an orphan girl with red hair and a huge imagination is sent by mistake to live with an elderly brother and sister on Prince Edward Island. Anne’s personality, her love of language, and her tendency to get into scrapes made the book an immediate success, and L.M. Montgomery followed it with seven more novels tracing Anne’s life from girlhood through college, teaching, marriage, and raising her own children.

The series spans decades of Anne’s life. The later books shift focus to Anne’s children, particularly Rilla of Ingleside, which follows Anne’s youngest daughter during World War I. Before Green Gables (2008) was written by Budge Wilson and imagines Anne’s life before arriving at Green Gables. The series remains popular with readers of all ages and has been adapted many times for film and television.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Anne Shirley series?

There are nine books in the Anne Shirley series, published between 1908 and 2008.

What is the first book in the Anne Shirley series?

The first book in the Anne Shirley series is Anne of Green Gables, published in 1908.

What order should you read the Anne Shirley books?

The Anne books are best read in the order Anne grows up: Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, Anne of Windy Poplars, Anne’s House of Dreams, Anne of Ingleside, Rainbow Valley, and Rilla of Ingleside. Before Green Gables (2008) is a prequel by another author.

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