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Anne of Green Gables

Anne Shirley, a young orphan from the fictional community of Bolingbroke, Nova Scotia (based upon the real community of New London, Prince Edward Island),is sent to live with Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert, unmarried siblings in their fifties and sixties, after a childhood spent in strangers' homes and orphanages. Marilla and Matthew had originally decided to adopt a boy from the orphanage to help Matthew run their farm at Green Gables, which is set in the fictional town of Avonlea (based on Cavendish, Prince Edward Island). Through a misunderstanding, the orphanage sends Anne instead.


Lucy Maud Montgomery

Lucy Maud Montgomery OBE (November 30, 1874 – April 24, 1942), published as L. M. Montgomery, was a Canadian author best known for a series of novels beginning in 1908 with Anne of Green Gables. The book was an immediate success. The title character, orphan Anne Shirley, made Montgomery famous in her lifetime and gave her an international following.

The first novel was followed by a series of sequels with Anne as the central character. Montgomery went on to publish 20 novels as well as 530 short stories, 500 poems, and 30 essays. Most of the novels were set in Prince Edward Island, and those locations within Canada's smallest province became a literary landmark and popular tourist site – namely Green Gables farm, the genesis of Prince Edward Island National Park. She was made an officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1935.

Montgomery's work, diaries, and letters have been read and studied by scholars and readers worldwide.

Born November 30, 1874 Clifton, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Died April 24, 1942 (aged 67) Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Occupation Fiction writer
Nationality Canadian
Education Prince of Wales College, Dalhousie University
Period 1890–1940
Genre Canadian literature, children's novels, short fiction, poetry
Notable works Anne of Green Gables Rilla of Ingleside Emily of New Moon
Spouse Ewen ("Ewan") Macdonald​​(m. 1911)
Children Chester (1912–1963) Hugh (1914–1914) Stuart (1915–1982)

Anne of Green Gables (1908)

Anne of Avonlea (1909)

Anne of the Island (1915)

Anne of Windy Poplars (1936)

Anne's House of Dreams (1917)

Rainbow Valley (1919)

Rilla of Ingleside (1921)

The Blythes Are Quoted (2009) — was submitted to publisher the day of her death but not published in its entirety until sixty-seven years later.

Montgomery was honoured by King George V as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE); there were no Canadian orders, decorations or medals for civilians until the 1970s.

Montgomery was named a National Historic Person in 1943 by the Canadian federal government. Her Ontario residence was designated a National Historic Site in 1997 (Leaskdale Manse), while the place that inspired her famous novels, Green Gables, was formally recognized as "L. M. Montgomery's Cavendish National Historic Site" in 2004.

On May 15, 1975, the Post Office Department issued a stamp to "Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables" designed by Peter Swan and typographed by Bernard N. J. Reilander. The 8¢ stamps are perforated 13 and were printed by Ashton-Potter Limited.

A pair of stamps was issued in 2008 by Canada Post, marking the centennial of the publication of Montgomery's classic first novel.

The City of Toronto named a park for her (Lucy Maud Montgomery Park) and in 1983 placed a historical marker there near the house where she lived from 1935 until her death in 1942.

On November 30, 2015 (her 141st birthday), Google honoured Lucy Maud Montgomery with a Google Doodle published in twelve countries.

Films

1985 | G Rating | 195 Minutes

When Anne Shirley arrives at the Cuthbert’s Farm on Prince Edward Island, she is a precocious, romantic child, desperate to be loved, and highly sensitive about her red hair and homely looks. Anne moves from one mishap to another as her wild imagination and far-fetched antics combine to constantly bring trouble upon her shoulders. Filmed amidst the spectacular scenery of Prince Edward Island, Canada, this Emmy Award-winning production follows the enchanting life of orphan Anne Shirley, from her struggles as an adolescent to her triumphs as a young woman. A delicate epic full of wit, style, and emotional power.

1987 | G Rating | 232 Minutes

In this enchanting sequel to the Emmy Award-winning ‘Anne of Green Gables’, Anne Shirley makes the transition from a romantic, impetuous orphan to an outspoken, adventurous and accomplished young teacher. After the wedding of her best friend, Diana Barry, and a proposal from Gilbert, Anne decides to leave Avonlea to accept a teaching post at Kingsport Ladies College. In order to succeed, Anne must win over the icy Katherine Brooke and endure tormenting from the snobby Pringle family. Anne finds a kindred spirit in Emmeline Harris, who is being raised by her intolerant grandmother, Mrs. Harris, and wants nothing more than to be loved by her absent father, Morgan Harris. Anne and Emmeline become fast friends, and Anne quickly forces her way into the Harris family and ultimately changes their lives. However, after a chance encounter with Gilbert, Anne begins to re-evaluate what is important to her. Canadian actress Megan Follows returns to her role as Anne. Tony Award-winner Colleen Dewhurst stars opposite her as aging Marilla Cuthbert and Oscar-winning actress Dame Wendy Hiller appears as the prickly dowager Mrs. Harris. A stirring and charming follow-up, to the epic tale of the beguiling red-head.

2000 | G Rating | 185 Minutes

Now in her twenties, Anne returns to Avonlea for the first time since Marilla Cuthbert’s death. Gilbert has been offered a position in a hospital in New York, and he persuades Anne to come with him. He arranges a position for her at a large publishing house. However, big city life isn’t what they expected, especially when Anne’s manuscript is stolen by a dashing American writer, Jack Garrison. After many unsuccessful months, Anne and Gilbert move back to Avonlea and into the middle of wartime society. Gilbert feels pressure to join the army as a medical officer, and is soon listed as missing in action. The indomitable Anne then sets off to the battlefields of Europe in search of Gilbert, and helps a young French woman and her son who are in the line of danger along the way. For more about Anne of Green Gables

2008 | PG Rating | 144 Minutes

It is 1945 and Anne Shirley, now a successful, middle-aged writer, has returned to Prince Edward Island for an extended visit. On a whim, she agrees to write a play for a theater producer. The play, she reasons, will keep her busy – at least busy enough to not go out of her mind with worry about her only son who has yet to return from the war overseas. But a long-hidden secret in the form of a letter from her errant father, discovered under the floorboards at Green Gables, provides a distraction of its own. As Anne struggles to complete the play, she delves into long-buried memories, reliving the troubled years before she arrived as an orphan at the Green Gables farmhouse. Over the course of one remarkable summer, Anne Shirley discovers the astonishing truth about her father, the origins of her quest for “kindred spirits” and the roots of her brilliant, magical imagination.

Book Reviews

ALaVergne 04340
a year ago

This book is awesome and I loved it from the start. I remember getting it from the library, and loving every single word in the book. After I returned it to the library I checked it out again. Then, I went to Barnes and Noble and got that book for my 10th birthday. It is amazing and I just finished reading the 7th book in the series, Rainbow Valley. Anne of Green Gables is my favorite book in the world. The Netflix series is also really good, to.

Jaehyo Song IB Middle Years
a year ago

I think Anne of the Green Gables is such a pleasant and wonderful book to read for people in any age. This story about an orphan girl Anne Shirley being adopted by Marilla and Mathew Cuthbert and Anne having such adventures every day is amazing and a good fun. Not to mention how Anne use long and hard words in every single sentence is strange. But still, this book is very wonderful and you won't be able to stop reading this novel once you have it on your hand.

Raphy Hong
10 months ago

Although personally, I don't specifically enjoy books like this, Anne of Green Gables was a success for me. I love how the author uses literacy with such beauty in this book. The words and descriptions just made me wordless the moment I held this book in my two hands. As a 6th grader, I think it helped me develop my vocabulary as well. Reading sure helps someone learn lots about words and literature. I'll just say that it's a beautiful story.

Publisher’s Information

Anne of Green Gables was first published by L.C. Page & Co. of Boston on June 13, 1908. The book quickly became a best seller. Over 19,000 copies were sold in the first five months. Since then, over 50 million copies have been sold worldwide. A full scan of the first edition, first impression is provided by by the L. M. Montgomery Institute. Montgomery's original manuscript is preserved by the Confederation Centre of the Arts, in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. The Centre has announced a project to publish images of the manuscript online in 2022. A transcript of the manuscript was published by Nimbus Publishing in 2019. Montgomery's original typescript and the corrected proofs are lost. The first edition has errors in the text. Critical editions will identify corrections that have been applied to the text by the editor. The choice of corrections depends on the editor, and will vary between editions.

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