Eric Marshall agrees to substitute teach a school in a small Prince Edward Island village. He stumbles across an abandoned orchard and meets the beautiful Kilmeny, who is mute and plays the violin beautifully. Eric begins to fall in love, but gradually he discovers Kilmeny’s tragic past.


This is one of my top favorites of this author’s works! So bewitchingly lovely! Every time I reread this book I am swept away in the enchantment of the orchard and the innocence of first love.

I really love Kilmeny’s character! She is sheltered and naïve, but she’s very intelligent and even wise in her own way.

The only sour note in the book is the little bit of prejudice against an Italian character who is “lowborn“. If it was necessary to have a villain in the story, I’m not sure why it was necessary for him to be Italian. It seems out of place with the rest of the story, and with the rest of this authors books.

I really love the beautiful writing style that describes the loveliness of the orchard, the flower blossoms, and the sweetness in the wind. It would be easy to fall in love surrounded by the beauties of nature in a lovely orchard like that.