Elizabeth Goudge’s 1947 novel, Green Dolphin Street, tells a sweeping historical romance set in the Channel Islands and New Zealand during the 19th century. It follows the intertwined lives of two sisters, Marguerite and Marianne Patourel, and the man they both love, William Ozanne. A crucial plot point revolves around a letter misdirecting William to New Zealand in pursuit of the wrong sister.
The novel achieved widespread acclaim, winning the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Annual Novel Award and later adapted into a popular 1947 film. It provides a vivid depiction of life in both the Channel Islands and early colonial New Zealand, exploring themes of love, loss, duty, and the challenges of forging a new life in an unfamiliar land. Its enduring popularity speaks to the timeless appeal of its romantic narrative and its richly detailed historical setting.
