Anne Of Green Gables, Prince Edward Island
Famous throughout the world for its illuminating portrayal of
turn-of-the century life on Prince Edward Island,
the beloved novel
"Anne of Green Gables" has long been regarded as a testament to the
simpler times of days gone by and is revered as a Canadian literary
classic. Written by Lucy Maud Montgomery, who was born and raised on
P.E.I., the novel about an orphan girl's coming of age captures the true
romantic essence of rural life on our fair Island. Drawing on the
stunningly pastoral beauty of P.E.I's natural splendor, Montgomery's
fictional tale has captured the hearts of millions world-wide and in
turn has heightened the sense of rural majesty and timelessness so
intrinsically linked with life in this tiny province.
Born on November 30, 1874 in New London, P.E.I., Montgomery was raised
in Cavendish by her grandparents Alexander and Lucy MacNeill. While her
strict upbringing didn't allow much social interaction with her peers
Montgomery spent much of her time reading and writing, all the while
developing a deep love of nature which is evident in many of her books
and poems. Her ability to bring to life the landscape of the Island
setting in "Anne of Green Gables" displays the affinity Montgomery felt
with regards to her home province and serves to elevate the magic and
drama of the novel. Like Anne herself, Montgomery was able to find peace
and solitude amidst her surroundings which in turn provided a source of
inspiration for many of her literary works.
After spending a year with her natural father in Prince Albert,
Saskatchewan, Montgomery returned home to P.E.I. in 1890 and shortly
after began attending Prince of Wales College in Charlottetown. Upon
completion of her education Montgomery began teaching at a number of
schools across the Island. She continued until her grandfather's death
in 1898.
Montgomery's decision to write "Anne of Green Gables" occurred as she
was looking through an old notebook of hers in 1904. In the notebook was
a passage describing an elderly couple's application to an orphan asylum
for a boy. By mistake a girl was sent to the couple, and from there a
literary heroine was born. First published in 1908, "Anne of Green
Gables" was an instant success. Combining the fairytale story of young
Anne's life with the dazzling beauty and charming P.E.I. lifestyle
characteristic of the era, Montgomery's novel was ordered into a second,
third and fourth printing run only three months after its release. In
the coming years the novel would be translated into dozens of languages
and became not only a national but international best-seller. That
Montgomery herself "shared" with Anne such a deep understanding and love
of P.E.I's natural landscape exemplifies the personal feelings she
utilized while writing the novel. This closeness enhances the overall
atmosphere of the story, making it an appealing read for book-lovers of
all ages.
"Anne of Green Gables" has enjoyed overwhelming success not only as a
novel but as a theatrical production as well. Since 1965 a musical
version of Montgomery's masterpiece has served as the cornerstone of the
Charlottetown Festival's summertime extravaganza. The large audience's
which flock to the Confederation Centre of the Arts each summer are a
testament to the timelessness of this wonderful story and aid in
preserving Montgomery's legacy. As well, the success of the CBC movie
version of "Anne of Green Gables", which made its television debut in
1985 and received nine Gemini Awards, attests to the immense popularity
of Montgomery's novel.
Over the course of her life Montgomery
published 20 books as well as
hundreds of short stories and poems. Her love for her Island home and
its people is a fairytale in itself, one which ended when Montgomery
passed away in 1942. She was buried in Cavendish Cemetery in a plot she
chose herself because "it overlooked the spots I've always loved, the
pond, the shore, the sand dunes and the harbour". Forever an Islander,
Montgomery's legacy is one of eternal magic and beauty.
Be sure to visit
Avonlea: The village of Anne of Green Gables.
