Anne of Green Gables

Story

Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert want to adopt a boy to help on their farm, Green Gables, in the town of Avonlea on Prince Edward Island. Instead, however, they are sent a feisty red-haired girl called Anne Shirley by mistake. The story follows Anne as she charms her way into the Cuthbert’s hearts. But it is not long before Anne gets herself into trouble.

Why we chose it

Anne of Green Gables is a lifeforce of a female character, with an insatiable appetite for the imagination and the beauty of nature. She isn't perfect, makes mistakes and often says or does the wrong thing - but everything she does is heartfelt and well meaning, and infectiously exhilarating!

Where it came from

Canadian author, Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874-1942), was herself born on Prince Edward Island. Her initial inspiration for the novel came from one of her childhood journals, in which she had outlined a story of an orphan girl sent to a couple by mistake. Montgomery based many of the characters on people she knew, and many of the places on locations she had visited as a child.

Where it went next

Montgomery’s novel was published over 100 years ago but has never been out of print. Tourism by book fans has massively boosted the island’s economy, and several museums and a theme park have opened based on Anne’s hometown. There have been multiple TV and film adaptations, including a Japanese anime and a Netflix series called Anne with an E. There have also been multiple stage adaptations and the Anne of Green Gables Musical, performed every year since 1965, was named the longest running annual musical in the world by Guinness World Records in 2013.

Associated stories

Montgomery went on to write seven sequels, including Anne of Avonlea (1909) and Anne of the Island (1915), and a prequel was written by Budge Wilson in 2008. The novels also inspired a series of picture books for young children by Kelly Hill and a graphic novel, Anne of Green Gables: A Graphic Novel by Mariah Marsden.