2008 marks the 100th anniversary of the first publication of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s classic novel Anne of Green Gables about a mischievous but lovable, red-haired orphan growing up on Canada’s Prince Edward Island. Since 1908, more than 50 million copies of the story have been sold and it has been translated into 20 languages. Because of the success of the first Anne of Green Gables, Montgomery wrote seven sequels and two related books before her death in 1942. Anne’s story has also been made into movies, musicals, and miniseries. Anne has definitely left her mark on the world! To help celebrate Anne’s centennial, a prequel was authorized by the Montgomery’s family to be written. Before Green Gables by Canadian author Budge Wilson is about Anne’s earlier years before she went to live with the Cuthberts at Green Gables and is based on the information about Anne from the first novel.
Before Green Gables has been reviewed by Chris and you can find her review in our Reading Room. http://readingroom.rrpl.org/itemdtl.asp?bid=6950
Take a look at http://www.anne2008.com/ and/or http://www.lmmontgomery.ca/node/127 for more information on the Anne of Green Gables centennial.
“Isn’t it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive–it’s such an interesting world. It wouldn’t be half so interesting if we know all about everything, would it? There’d be no scope for imagination then, would there?”
– Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
I loved Anne of Green Gables and so I’m adding Before Green Gables to my list of books to read! I hope you do too! Happy Reading!
~Donna
Read it or Weep 
