Anne of Green Gables
1908
Anne of Green Gables
1908
The book that taught millions of readers to believe in the transformative power of love. When the Cuthbert siblings of Prince Edward Island send away for an orphan boy, they get instead an eleven-year-old girl with a wild imagination, a tongue that runs ahead of her thoughts, and hair the color of carrots. Anne Shirley is too much for the practical Marilla, too dreamy for the quiet Matthew, and too alive for the small town of Avonlea to ignore. She breaks things, says the wrong thing, dreams too loudly, and loves too fiercely. But somehow, impossibly, she becomes the thing none of them knew they needed: a daughter. Montgomery's prose has the rare quality of making you feel eleven again, of remembering what it was to believe that beauty mattered and that somewhere, finally, someone would choose you. Over a hundred years later, it still does.
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“I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.””
— L. M. Montgomery
“It's been my experience that you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will.””
— L. M. Montgomery
“Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It's splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world.””
— L. M. Montgomery
“True friends are always together in spirit.””
— L. M. Montgomery
“My life is a perfect graveyard of buried hopes.””
— L. M. Montgomery
“Life is worth living as long as there's a laugh in it.””
— L. M. Montgomery
“Dear old world', she murmured, 'you are very lovely, and I am glad to be alive in you.””
— L. M. Montgomery
“People laugh at me because I use big words. But if you have big ideas, you have to use big words to express them, haven't you?””
— L. M. Montgomery
“There's such a lot of different Annes in me. I sometimes think that is why I'm such a troublesome person. If I was just the one Anne it would be ever so much more comfortable, but then it wouldn't be half so interesting.””
— L. M. Montgomery
About Anne of Green Gables
Chapter Summaries
- 1
- Mrs. Rachel Lynde, Avonlea's chief busybody, observes Matthew Cuthbert driving out in his best clothes and buggy, an unusual event that deeply puzzles her. She decides to visit Marilla Cuthbert to uncover the reason, only to be astonished by Marilla's news that they are adopting an orphan boy.
- 2
- Matthew Cuthbert arrives at Bright River station to pick up the orphan boy, but instead finds a talkative, imaginative girl named Anne Shirley. Despite the mistake, Matthew is charmed by Anne and decides to bring her back to Green Gables, deferring the explanation to Marilla.
- 3
- Marilla is shocked to find a girl instead of a boy and initially wants to send Anne back. Anne, heartbroken by the rejection, bursts into tears. Matthew's quiet defense of Anne and Marilla's own softening resolve lead them to keep her for a night while they decide her fate.
Key Themes
- Imagination vs. Reality
- Anne's vivid imagination is a central aspect of her character, allowing her to transform mundane surroundings into magical landscapes and cope with hardship. However, it often clashes with the practical realities and expectations of Marilla and Avonlea society, leading to humorous and sometimes disastrous consequences.
- The Power of Friendship and Love
- The book explores the profound impact of genuine connection, particularly through Anne's 'bosom friendship' with Diana and the deep, unspoken love of Matthew and Marilla. These relationships provide Anne with the acceptance and support she craves, fostering her growth and happiness.
- Belonging and Home
- Anne's lifelong longing for a true home and family is a core theme. Green Gables, initially a place of mistaken identity, gradually becomes her cherished home, symbolizing acceptance, stability, and love, fulfilling her deepest desires for belonging.
Characters
- Anne Shirley(protagonist)
- An imaginative, talkative, and passionate orphan girl who is mistakenly sent to Green Gables and eventually wins the hearts of Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert.
- Matthew Cuthbert(supporting)
- A shy, kind-hearted farmer who instantly connects with Anne and becomes her quiet champion.
- Marilla Cuthbert(supporting)
- Matthew's stern, practical, but ultimately loving sister who takes on the challenge of raising Anne.
- Diana Barry(supporting)
- Anne's first and best friend in Avonlea, sharing many adventures and secrets.
- Mrs. Rachel Lynde(supporting)
- Avonlea's observant and outspoken neighbor, who initially disapproves of Anne but eventually comes to appreciate her.
- Gilbert Blythe(supporting)
- A handsome and clever schoolmate who becomes Anne's academic rival and later a close friend.
