Since its publication in 1908, Anne of Green Gables has become a hallmark of Canadian literature and culture.
For those unfamiliar, the story is set in Prince Edward Island, within the fictional town of Avonlea. Red-haired, freckled, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed orphan, Anne Shirley, is mistakenly sent to the farm of elderly brother and sister, Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, who have been looking to adopt a boy to help out around the farm. Determined to win over the affections of the Cuthberts and the small town, Lucy Maud Montgomery’s artfully crafted tale follows Anne and her adventures within her new home, Green Gables.
The story was an immediate success, selling over 19 000 copies within the first five months after its initial publication. Over the next 17 years, it had been translated into Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian, French, and several other languages across the globe. The story of this little Canadian 11-year old girl had found its way into the bookshelves of children all around the world. The success didn’t stop there, however, and soon enough the story hit the big screen in 1919 as a silent film. Since then, nearly two dozen TV, movie, and musical adaptations have been based upon the iconic story, including Anne of Green Gables: The Musical, which has been performed every year at the Charlottetown Confederation Centre of the Arts since 1965, making it the “longest running annual musical theatre production” in the world. In fact, even this year, the CBC put together a critically acclaimed TV show called “Anne.”
Despite it being over a century old, L.M. Montgomery’s first novel is timeless. People adore Anne and her story, as the notions discussed within the story are relevant to this day. Yes, the origins of the novel are that of a children’s book, but over several decades, the story has evolved to represent much more than that; it is integrated within Canadian history and culture. After publication, thousands of tourists across the globe began to visit Cavendish, the real-life town that served as inspiration for Avonlea, as well as Montgomery’s home. By 1936, the Green Gables house had been declared part of a national park and was turned into a museum. Furthermore, the creation of Anne’s character is still brought up within discussion today in regards to early representations of the feminist movement, as the book is known for its defiance of stereotypes and tendency to delve deeper within themes of equality and prejudice.
Comprehensively, the year that Anne of Green Gables came to fruition was definitely a notable one in Canadian history, considering the incredible legacy L.M. Montgomery has created with her story. Hopefully, Anne’s character will continue to inspire individuals across Canada and around the world, for the next 150 years and beyond.
It’s delightful when your imaginations come true, isn’t it?
― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables