Before You Begin

Before you begin.

In Edgewood, Maine, the old Tory Hill meeting-house gathers a small community under one roof. As the Dorcas Society prepares the church for Christmas, Nancy Wentworth gives special care to the Peabody family pew—and to the memories it holds. Far away in Detroit, Justin Peabody is still part of the story Nancy is trying to leave behind.

Kate Douglas Wiggin published this country romance in 1907. She knew the rhythms of New England village life, and gives Edgewood its warmth through the women who organize, gossip, remember, and look after one another. The church itself becomes a meeting place for old loyalties, practical kindness, and a hope that has not quite gone quiet.

This edition follows the book's eight chapters. Its portraits, maps, full-page scenes, and chapter recaps offer a companion to the people and places as they appear. Begin with the Dorcas Society's visit to the old church, and let the winter story unfold at its own pace.