Anne of Green Gables

Anne of Green Gables was written by the Canadian author Lucy Maude Montgomery. Though it was written for all ages, it is considered a children's novel. The novel recounts the adventures of an 11-year-old orphan girl who is sent by mistake to a brother and sister, Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert. It is a mistake because the brother and sister wish to adopt a boy to help them with their farm.

Anne of Green Gables has been translated into many languages and has sold millions of copies. It is one of the best-selling books worldwide. Perhaps because of the popularity of the original novel, Lucy Maude Montgomery wrote many sequels.

In the novel, Anne is sent to live with Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, a brother and sister who have never married. At first, Marilla says that Anne must return to the orphanage, but after the encouragement of her quiet brother, she decides to let her stay.

The village of Green Gables, Prince Edward Island, is the first home Anne has ever known. She excels in her studies and becomes a good friend of Diana Barry, the girl who lives next door. Her classmate Gilbert Blythe becomes her rival. After he teases her about her red hair, she becomes very upset with him, even though he apologizes many times.

At sixteen, Anne goes to Queen's Academy to earn her teaching licence. She goes with many students, but to her disappointment, not with Diana Barry. She obtains her licence in only one year rather than two and wins a scholarship awarded to the top student in English. It allows her to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree at a college in Nova Scotia.

Later in the novel there is tragedy. Matthew dies of a heart attack when he learns that all of his and his sister's money has been lost in a bank failure. Out of devotion to both Marilla and Green Gables, Anne decides to abandon her scholarship and look after Marilla, whose eyesight is failing. She plans to teach at the nearest school and visit Green Gables on weekends. 

In an act of friendship, Gilbert gives up his teaching position at Avonlea School, the school nearest to Green Gables. He does so because he knows Anne wants to stay close to Marilla after the death of Matthew. After his act of kindness, Anne and Gilbert's friendship strengthens, and she looks forward to the future.

Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert give Anne the only home she has ever known. Marilla's life has little joy until the arrival of Anne. Her brother Matthew is a shy and kind man, who is the first person to show Anne unconditional love. Their lives all change when they meet one another.