Anne of Green Gables, published in 1908, is a classic children’s novel written by Lucy Maud Montgomery and widely known across the globe (and across generations!). It has been translated into 35 languages and has sold more than 5 million copies. It is also one of the most adapted stories of all time with films, radio dramas, television films, miniseries, animated series, audio adaptations, web adaptations as well as book adaptations.
The novel tells the story of Anne Shirley, a young red-haired orphan, who ends up being sent by mistake to a pair of old siblings, Andrew and Marilla Cuthberts, desiring to adopt a young boy to help them on their farm in Avonlea. Although she is not the right gender, they decide to keep her as they have already grown quite fond of her. Anne gets the family she always longed for. As she attends school, she quickly becomes best friends with Diana Barry, whom she likes to call her “bosom friend”. She also becomes the enemy of Gilbert Blythe, who got a slate broken on his head as he teased her by calling her “carrots”. She never forgives him despite his numerous apologies. Even long after the event, she refuses to talk to him because of her pride.
Anne eventually grows up, matures, and attends the Queen’s Academy, a school for teachers, with Gilbert Blythe. She returns home with a full scholarship to attend Redmond University. Unfortunately, Andrew dies shortly afterwards of a heart attack caused by the loss of all their savings in a bankruptcy. Anne decides to stay beside Marilla in these difficult times rather than go to Redmon. Gilbert hears of Anne’s decision and decides to give up his teacher position in Avonlea’s school so that Anne can have a job near home. This event ends the long feud between them, and they finally become friends.
Even if it is originally marketed towards children, Anne of Green Gables appeals to people of all ages with her cheerfulness in all situations, her intelligence, her strong imagination, outspoken character and stubbornness. People can relate to her and eventually grow fond of her over time. The vast translation of the book has also helped its global recognition. Moreover, the fact that the author has so many similarities with the lead character, such as being an orphan led to live with an older couple on a farm, helps to create this interest around the story. Thanks to this, Prince Edward Island has known years of major tourism, with the tourists all eager to see Anne’s Green Gables along with the scenery of fields and forests.
SOURCES:
- Washington Post: ‘Anne of Green Gables’ is very much alive in Canada?
<https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/kidspost/anne-of-green-gables-comes-to-life-in-canada/2018/08/27/9d2eff42-a0a3-11e8-8e87-c869fe70a721_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.452ed2bdaade>
- Vocativ: How Anne of Green Gables Became an Icon Of The Abortion Debate
<https://www.vocativ.com/277749/how-anne-of-green-gables-became-an-icon-of-the-abortion-debate/index.html>
- Fandom: List of Anne of Green Gables series adaptations
<https://anneofgreengables.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_Anne_of_Green_Gables_series_adaptations>
- The Guardian: “Nobody ever did want me”
<https://www.theguardian.com/books/2008/mar/29/fiction.margaretatwood>
- Britannica: “Anne of Green Gables”
<https://www.britannica.com/topic/Anne-of-Green-Gables>
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