Anne of Green Gables (Chiltern Classic)

In 1985 when I stumbled upon Kevin Sullivan's wonderful production of "Anne of Green Gables" with Megan Follows as Anne, Colleen Dewhurst as Marilla, and Richard Farnsworth as Mathew, it was my introduction to the Lucy Maud Montgomery's red-headed orphan. Like millions of others, I fell in love with the production and then proceeded to read this novel, the other seven books in the Anne Series, and then "The Chronicles of Avonlea," "The Story Girl," the "Jane of Lantern Hill" books, and every other thing written by Montgomery that I could get my hands on (and this was before all of those paperback collections of Montgomery's short stories were published). In 1904 Montgomery had written down an idea for a story in her notebook: "Elderly couple apply to orphan asylum for a boy. By mistake a girl is sent them." In what must be heartening for many would be authors, Montgomery's manuscript for "Anne of Green Gables" was rejected repeated by publishers before it was finally accepted. The book was a bestseller from the moment it was published in June 1908 (I have a 19th impression printed in September 1910), although a critic in "The New York Times" complained that, "there is no real difference between the girl at the end of the story and the one at the beginning of it." Readers of the book would quite happy with that fact, because the reason we love this story is not that the talkative, red-haired orphan girl with her big green-grey eyes changes during the story, but that Marilla and Mathew Cuthbert, the elderly sister and brother who wanted to adopt a boy and got a girl instead, have changed profoundly. Mark Twain described Anne Shirley as "The dearest and most moving and delightful child since the immortal Alice," and nobody has been able to top that statement. Supposedly Montgomery's description of her famous literary creation was based on a photography of Evelyn Nesbit, the notorious American beauty who was the mistress whose husband, Harry K. Thaw, shot and killed her love, Stanford White, in the first scandalous murder trial of the 20th century. I suppose there is something archetypal about stories about orphans, that allows young readers to identify with such characters and explains why generations of children have responded to such stories. But what sets Montgomery's creation apart is her ability to provide of laughter and tears, what with her vivid imagination and her great desire to be loved. You laugh over Anne's over wrought apology to Mrs. Rachel Lynde and how her introduction to Gilbert Blythe ends with her breaking a slate over his head. But then there are the wonderfully touching scenes when Marilla apologizes for refusing to believe Anne about her broach, when Mathew goes to town to get Anne a dress with puffed sleeves, and when the Reaper whose name is Death comes to visit Green Gables. There are just so many wonderful moments in this novel, which is the best in the series. When you read the rest of the books in the series, this is the one you will keep coming back to again and again to read once more your favorite parts (I just did). I have two daughters and despite my best intentions I have never been able to persuade them to read "Anne of Green Gables." But given how long it took me to get around to them they still have at least a decade to beat me to the punch in relative terms, and I have the Sullivan productions on DVD so that I can use the same hook that worked so well one me. Once they do I am sure they will be just as captivated by all of the others who love the Anne-Girl and who have traveled to Prince Edward Island to see all of the sites that Montgomery translated into the world of Anne Shirley. My favorite memory is when we went to "Green Gables." You go in through the front door and follow the way around the first floor and then up the stairs to the second floor. As I was at the bottom of those stairs the young woman watching the door had momentarily stopped the line entering the site. In this case that person who had to wait was a young Japanese girl, who looked to be about eight years old, and who was shivering in delight at the fact that she was standing on the threshold of Anne Shirley's Green Gables. That is how beloved Lucy Maud Montgomery's creation is almost a century after she was first set down on paper.

Anne of Green Gables is one of my all-time favorite books! I'm re-visiting some old classics from my youth this summer, and L.M. Montgomery's beautiful series about the "Anne girl" is at the top of my list. The story is well-known and loved - purely by mistake, plucky orphan Anne Shirley comes to live with Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert. They wanted a boy to help with the farm work, but what they got was a charmingly verbose little girl who quickly makes a place for herself in their lives. Anne gets into so much trouble that it would be nearly impossible to chronicle in a review without retelling the whole story, so suffice it to say that she is definitely the queen of the caper! Anne Shirley is wonderfully relatable - she is a smart and creative girl, full of spirit and amazingly introspective for someone her age. Anne is a unique and entertaining character in a novel full of interesting characters - I want to be Anne Shirley when I grow up! From Marilla and Matthew to their curmudgeonly neighbor Rachel Lynde, Montgomery created a fascinating cast of characters that are impossible to forget. L.M. Montgomery crafted a true masterpiece with Anne of Green Gables. The story is timeless and the setting is meticulously illustrated with a graceful use of words and phrases. The writing is simply delightful - there is true magic between the covers of this book! "Mrs Rachel Lynde lived just where the Avonlea main road dipped into a little hollow, fringed with alders and ladies' eardrops, and traversed by a brook that had its source away back in the woods of the old Cuthbert place; it was reputed to be an intricate, headlong brook in its earlier course through those woods, with dark secrets of pool and cascade; but by the time it reached Lynde's Hollow it was a quiet, well-constructed little stream, for not even a brook could run past Rachel Lynde's door without due regard for decency and decorum; it probably was conscious that Mrs Rachel was sitting at her window, keeping a sharp eye on everything that passed, from brooks and children up, and that if she noticed anything odd or out of place she would never rest until she had ferreted out the whys and wherefores thereof." Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I rest my case - Montgomery's own words are the only ones that do the story justice. Pick-up Anne of Green Gables immediately if not sooner for a real adventure!

Livre arrivé en parfait état, bien emballé et conforme à la description. Très satisfait(e) de l’achat !

The Netflix series shows Gilbert Blythe as a prospect doctor, but by the book, the story do not share this trace of social idealism. Yes, a man can and must be a teacher if he wants to. And I am very happy to see how the story develops.

La editorial lanzó esta colección de libros de tamaño bolsillo (o hasta un poco más pequeños), de pasta dura con cubrepolvo, separador de tela y hojas delgadas pero resistentes. Tiene un aire a libro "oldie" pero bien cuidado. La letra es bastante pequeña pero no tuve problema con eso. El inglés es un nivel intermedio por las diversas descripciones de los paisajes. Respecto al la historia: Directo a favoritos. Me hizo reír, llorar y añorar Tejas Verdes. La autora crea un personaje tan sincero, original y risueño que es muy difícil que no te agrade; Ana tiene un pasado bastante triste y a pesar de ello siempre trata de ver el lado bueno de las cosas, sin negar que hay tiempo para estar feliz o para estar triste. Al llegar con los hermanos Cuthbert su vida cambia totalmente ya que no es precisamente una "niña deseada", pero conforme pasa el tiempo se va ganando el corazón de estos hermanos y de todos nosotros.El final fue la cereza del pastel, hermoso, desgarrador, en donde se establece una conexión especial entre la historia de Ana y el lector. Me dejó encantada.

The book is great but too small and i feel like it’ll tear when I open the pages

love the quality of the everyman’s classics. illustrations are gorgeous and i know the book will last because its made with acid free paper. the binding is sturdy and the book is comfortable to spread and hold - which can’t be said for most hardbacks. can’t wait to read this to my daughter ❤️