Introduction

Published in 1908, Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables has become one of the most beloved children’s books of all time. This coming-of-age novel tells the story of Anne Shirley, an imaginative and talkative 11-year-old orphan who is mistakenly sent to live with Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, a quiet and elderly brother and sister who live at Green Gables farm on Prince Edward Island in Canada. What follows is a heartwarming tale of family, friendship, and growing up in a simpler time that has enchanted readers for over a century.

In this review, we’ll explore the enduring magic of this children’s classic, from its endearing heroine and vivid setting to its timeless themes and old-fashioned charm. I’ll provide an overview of the plot and characters without giving away any major spoilers. We’ll also discuss why Anne of Green Gables continues to captivate new generations of readers more than 100 years after its original publication. So whether you’re returning to a beloved book from your childhood or discovering Anne’s story for the first time, read on for a comprehensive look at this iconic novel!

You can find Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery on your favorite bookstore, including Amazon.com and Amazon UK.

About author Lucy Maud Montgomery

Lucy Maud Montgomery was a prolific Canadian author best known for her acclaimed 1908 novel Anne of Green Gables. Born in 1874 on Prince Edward Island, Canada, Montgomery drew heavily on the island’s natural beauty as the setting for many of her stories. She lost her mother to tuberculosis at a young age and was raised by her maternal grandparents, whose farm became the inspiration for Green Gables. Despite a lonely childhood, Montgomery went on to become one of the world’s most popular children’s book authors.

Her body of work numbers 22 novels, over 500 short stories, 500 poems, and 30 essays. Beyond the Anne series, she also authored the Emily Starr trilogy and The Blue Castle. While her books portray an idealized version of rural Prince Edward Island life, Montgomery didn’t shy away from incorporating human struggles as well. Her lyrical, emotive style and endearing characters like Anne Shirley went on to inspire generations of readers. Long after her death in 1942, Montgomery’s moving coming-of-age tales continue to captivate both children and adults. Her keen understanding of human hopes, dreams and relationships made Montgomery one of the most cherished voices in children’s literature.

Meet Anne Shirley, One of Literature’s Most Imaginative Heroines

The driving force behind the novel’s enduring popularity is undoubtedly its protagonist, Anne Shirley. Anne arrives at Green Gables a skinny, freckle-faced orphan with red braids and a boundless imagination. She immediately wins over the Cuthberts and the reader with her colorful personality and non-stop chatter.

While shy Matthew is charmed by Anne from the start, his more pragmatic sister Marilla initially finds Anne’s talkativeness and dreamy nature troublesome. But Anne’s optimism and enthusiasm for life gradually soften Marilla’s stern exterior. Anne brings laughter and energy to Green Gables, naming landmarks on the farm like “The Lake of Shining Waters” and envisioning a flower garden blooming with life. Through clever mishaps and misunderstandings, this orphan girl transforms the Cuthberts’ quiet existence.

One of Anne’s most iconic traits is her flair for the dramatic. She revels in reciting poetry and coming up with romantic backstories for items as mundane as an old willow tree. Montgomery writes that Anne has “a little too much imagination and a little too little judgment.” But it is precisely this active imagination that makes Anne such an engaging heroine. She names her reflection in the pond “Katie Maurice” and apologizes remorsefully to trees she imagines she has hurt by standing in their way. The reader delights in Anne’s ability to find magic in ordinary life on Prince Edward Island.

While certainly quirky, Anne is also intelligent and ambitious. She excels academically in school, where she develops a fierce academic rivalry with classmate Gilbert Blythe. Anne has her share of mishaps too, like accidentally dyeing her hair green and breaking her ankle while walking the ridgepole of a roof. But she handles these bumps in the road with good humor and resilience. Montgomery creates such a fully realized character in Anne that readers really feel like they know this talkative, emotional, creative orphan girl.

The Memorable Cast of Supporting Characters

Beyond Anne herself, Montgomery populates the world of Avonlea with a cast of supporting characters who have become just as legendary. First, there are Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert themselves. Matthew is a shy, kindhearted man who takes to Anne right away, while Marilla is more reserved but equally caring once Anne works her way into her heart. Montgomery based these siblings on her own grandparents, bringing a personal touch to their warm bond.

At school, Anne’s academic rival Gilbert Blythe serves as a source of frustration and secret admiration for Anne. Gilbert is smart and mischievous, and his teasing of Anne sets a combative tone for their relationship from the start. But over time, he comes to recognize Anne’s intellectual gifts even if she remains stubbornly unwilling to forgive past slights.

Anne’s best friend Diana Barry is the calm, sensible yin to Anne’s dramatic yang. Diana provides a loving, non-judgmental ear for Anne’s musings. Kindred spirit Leslie Moore arrives at Avonlea school in a later book, bonding with Anne over their shared love of nature and literature. While very different from Anne, Leslie shares her active imagination.

The minor characters similarly leap off the page, from busybody town gossip Rachel Lynde to Anne’s flighty friend Ruby Gillis to Anne’s kindly adoptive mother, Marilla. Montgomery creates a vibrant community of personalities orbiting Anne’s world, making Avonlea feel like a real place populated by quirky but familiar folks.

The Picturesque Prince Edward Island Setting

Part of what makes the fictional town of Avonlea feel so real is that it is inspired by an actual place dear to Montgomery’s heart – Canada’s Prince Edward Island. Montgomery grew up on a farm in Cavendish on PEI and drew heavily on her experiences there to paint a rich portrait of turn-of-the-century island life.

Through Anne’s eyes, we experience the beauty of Prince Edward Island’s natural landscapes, from the famed Lake of Shining Waters to the White Way of Delight to the cherry tree grove known as the Avenue. Montgomery’s lyrical descriptions transport the reader to a rural seaside idyll, with ox-eye daisies dotting the fields and red sandstone cliffs overlooking the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Beyond the scenery, Montgomery also perfectly captures the rhythms of small town life in the early 1900s. We follow the progression of seasons through community rituals like taffy pulls, sleigh rides and bonfires at Christmas, May Day celebrations, and harvest feasts. Montgomery attended a one-room schoolhouse much like Avonlea’s, allowing her to realistically portray the school day environs and neighboring farms.

While the setting evokes nostalgia for a simpler time, Montgomery doesn’t gloss over the hardships of turn-of-the-century farm life. We see the danger of outbreaks like diphtheria, the backbreaking labor of farm chores, and the economic uncertainty tied to fluctuating crop yields. But the rewards of community, family, and natural splendor give the people of Avonlea strength. Prince Edward Island is as essential a character in Anne’s story as any human member of the cast.

Central Coming-of-Age Themes

At its heart, Anne of Green Gables is a beautifully crafted coming-of-age novel. Anne arrives at Avonlea on the cusp of adolescence, and so much of the book’s plot traces her intellectual, emotional, and social development into young adulthood. Montgomery explores timeless themes around growing up through Anne’s experiences.

One of the core themes is the search for belonging. Having grown up as an orphan moving between households, Anne longs for a true home and family. Green Gables gives her the unconditional love and stability she has always needed. She forges a powerful adoptive family bond with Matthew and Marilla. As she reflects at one point, “Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think.”

The novel also reflects on the importance of imagination and sense of wonder, especially in childhood. Anne retains a remarkable ability to find magic and poetry in everyday life. While some mistake her daydreaming as immaturity, Anne’s creativity is ultimately her greatest strength. She teaches those around her to see the world through more imaginative eyes.

As Anne grows up, she must also learn resiliency in the face of hardship and self-forgiveness when she makes mistakes. After accidentally poisoning her best friend Diana, Anne says she will “never be able to look Diana in the face again” but ultimately learns to move past regret. Her journey isn’t without bumps in the road, but Anne always responds with grace.

These themes of family, belonging, youthful exuberance, and resilience resonate just as powerfully with readers today as they did over a century ago. We root for Anne every step of the way as she comes into her own on Prince Edward Island.

Signature Montgomery Writing Style

Lucy Maud Montgomery’s writing style as displayed in Anne of Green Gables is a huge part of what makes this book so memorable. She crafts lyrical, beautiful sentences using vivid imagery and figures of speech. The narration seamlessly blends Montgomery’s elegant literary voice with Anne’s own unique, imagistic mode of speaking.

Montgomery has a talent for capturing nostalgia and childhood innocence without becoming unrealistically sentimental. While idealistic at times, Anne still feels like a fully developed child, not just a quaint stereotype. Montgomery’s writing contains warmth and wisdom without ever patronizing its young heroine.

The novel beautifully balances lighthearted hijinks with introspective character development. The humorous scrapes Anne gets herself into – like accidentally dyeing her hair green with aniline dye – make us laugh and cringe simultaneously. But these comical episodes often lead to deeper realizations about Anne maturing into a thoughtful young woman.

Natural beauty imagery also abounds in Montgomery’s writing. She paints pastoral scenes reminiscent of the Bronte sisters like this line: “The morning glories along the fence waved their purple plumes in the soft, alluring October wind.” The setting evolves into a character unto itself through this richly descriptive prose.

Overall, Montgomery’s elegant yet accessible writing style allows Anne of Green Gable’s themes to resonate with readers young and old. Her memorable images, relatable characterization, and keen emotional insights explain the novel’s enduring magic.

Adaptations and Spin-Offs

Given its popularity as a children’s classic, it’s no surprise that Anne of Green Gables has been reimagined in various adaptations for stage and screen over the decades. These reinterpretations have played a major role in introducing new generations to the beloved book.

As early as 1919, a silent film version titled Anne of Green Gables was released, starring Mary Miles Minter as Anne. In 1934, a talkie adaptation featured Dawn O’Day as Anne and was the first to technicolor to bring the verdant Greens Gables landscape to life. The book was also adapted into a long-running Broadway musical in 1955.

But the most definitive adaptation came in the form of Kevin Sullivan’s 1985 Anne of Green Gables mini-series starring Megan Follows. This two-part television movie faithfully brought the novel to the screen, filming on location on Prince Edward Island. Follows embodied the free-spirited, talkative Anne, winning an Emmy for her portrayal.

The popularity of this 1985 version inspired an entire television franchise including three sequel miniseries as well as the long-running CBC/Netflix series Anne with an E from 2017 to 2019. Through these TV adaptations and more, Anne of Green Gables continues winning over fans 80 years after publication. There is no doubt Anne’s story will continue being retold for generations to come.

Why This Book Endures

So why has Anne of Green Gables remained a beloved fixture of children’s literature for over a century while other books fade from popularity? There are a few key reasons this coming-of-age story continues to captivate generation after generation of readers.

Firstly, Anne is such a vivid, fully-realized character that readers form a powerful bond with her right from the start. Her imagination, talkativeness, and dramatic flair allow readers to see the world through her unique lens. Watching Anne grow up over the course of the series makes her feel like a friend.

Additionally, the themes of belonging, family, and resilience remain profoundly relevant for young readers today. We all understand the longing Anne feels to find her place in the world and the joy she experiences befriending kindred spirits. These emotions speak to the human experience in a timeless way.

The book also evokes nostalgia for a simpler time and place. Montgomery’s writing transports readers to turn-of-the-century Prince Edward Island, with its lush farmland and slower pace of life. Yet she balances this idyllic setting with realistic characters who work through relatable struggles.

Ultimately, Anne of Green Gables profoundly impacts many readers at a formative point in their lives. Anne’s story resonates so deeply that she becomes more than just a character – she’s a lifelong friend. The ‘Puffs of white cloud sailing over the Tree Lovers’ Lane’ will continue floating over Avonlea to delight generations to come.

Anne of Green Gables: A True Children’s Literature Classic

In closing, Anne of Green Gables deserves its status as a beloved children’s book more than a century after initial publication. Lucy Maud Montgomery skillfully crafted an iconic coming-of-age story filled with vivid characters, lyrical prose, and powerful themes of adolescence. Anne Shirley remains one of literature’s most unforgettable heroines thanks to her humor, resiliency, and quest for belonging.

I highly recommend Anne of Green Gables whether you’re 8 or 80. Return to this classic novel about the joys and struggles of growing up, or discover Montgomery’s magical island of Avonlea for the first time. Join Anne Shirley on her heartwarming journey to finding family, friendship, and home. Let yourself get swept away by this timeless story just as readers have been doing since 1908, and you’re sure to find a lifelong kindred spirit in Anne.

Other Recommended Children’s Classics

If you enjoyed escaping into the turn-of-the-century world of Anne of Green Gables, here are a few other enduring classics of children’s literature I’d suggest:

• Little Women by Louisa May Alcott – Follow the four March sisters on their path to womanhood in this Civil War-era coming of age story. Marmee, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy feel as real as one’s own sisters.
• The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett – Orphaned Mary Lennox discovers friendship and magic when she uncovers a locked secret garden on her mysterious uncle’s estate. An English manor house comes alive in this captivating classic.
• Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White – Beloved farm animal tale of friendship between a runty pig named Wilbur and clever spider Charlotte who weaves words into her web to save his life. Guaranteed to pull at the heart strings.
• Matilda by Roald Dahl – Laugh along with the antics of gifted child Matilda Wormwood as she plays marvelous pranks on her unsuspecting parents and headmistress, the dreaded Miss Trunchbull. Imagination triumphs in this witty book.
• The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis – Step through the wardrobe into the enchanted, eternal winter world of Narnia as Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter battle the evil White Witch alongside Aslan the lion. A fantasy series with timeless appeal.

Whimsical settings, unforgettable characters, childhood hijinks, and life lessons abound in these tales, just like in Anne’s story. Escape into the pages and join these plucky, sympathetic protagonists on their adventures. These children’s stories have brought joy to generations and surely will continue to do so.