Candy is an orphan who lives with her best friend, Annie, another orphan girl of the same age, in an orphanage called Pony's Home. Annie is adopted by the Brightons and the two girls are separated.



Candy meets a mysterious character that she will nickname the Prince of the Hill, a young boy with fair hair who seems to be the embodiment of Prince Charming and will represent a haunting image for the rest of her life.



At the age of 12, Candy is adopted by the Leagan family to be a companion to Eliza and Neal, the two Leagan children. These two often play cruel pranks on her.



In the Leagan house, Candy also finds friends: the cousins Archibald (Archie), Alistair (Stear) Cornwell and Anthony Brown. The last one bears a striking resemblance to the Prince of the Hill and he will prove to be a romantic interest for the young Candy. Archie, Stear and Anthony convince the head of the Ardlay house, the mysterious Great Uncle William to adopt and save Candy from the Leagans. Candy also befriends Albert, a bearded vagabond that lives in a hunter's lodge with lots of animals. Anthony names a rose after Candy ("Sweet Candy") and the two become close friends, but this relationship is abruptly ended when Anthony dies from a horse fall during a fox hunt.



Uncle William sends Candy to a boarding school in London where she will be joined by Annie, Archie and Stear and she will make new friends like the lovely Patty. Her two enemies Eliza and Neal Leagan are also there and they will continue to make her life harder. It is at this boarding school that Candy will also meet her great love, Terry Grantchester.



Terry is a young handsome rebel who dreams of becoming an actor and has a very troubled past.



Love and hate are intertwined in the adventurous life of Candy Ardlay: going from England to America, witnessing World War I as a nurse, making friends and enemies, Candy becomes a strong, optimistic, young woman.
During the War, her friend, the wandering Albert, suffers a severe head wound which causes his amnesia. Candy proves to be a devoted friend who will try and help him remember his true identity.



Who is the mysterious Uncle William, who will win Candy's heart and what are the secrets hidden in Albert's past? All these are for you to discover in the wonderful story of Candy Candy.



By: Alcyndore