Jill Tew on Anne of Green Gables

Last week, I read an interview with author Jill Tew in which she talked about being a fan of Anne of Green Gables. Jill Tew's debut novel, The Dividing Sky was published this past fall by Joy Revolution, Penguin Random House. The Dividing Sky is a dystopian romance set in the year 2364, and it's about a teenager who sells memories and takes on a mysterious assignment.

In an interview with Jesse Davis of Memphis Magazine, Jill Tew talks about her "first-ever favorite book," which was Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery. In describing Anne Shirley, Tew says, “People around [Anne], as much as they loved her, often encouraged her to get her head out of the clouds, but she was able to hold onto that and infuse her own world with a little bit of magic.” Tew continues to reflect on Anne of Green Gables saying, “I was a little girl at the time and felt similarly. I saw magic and fairy tales in everyday life, and it was nice to see a character live that on the page unapologetically, and I think in doing so, bring magic to the people around her.”

I love Jill Tew's description of Anne's ability to infuse her world with magic and bring magic to others. As an author, Jill Tew brings her own creative magic to her readers. The Dividing Sky sounded so inventive and compelling that I checked the novel out from my library. I'm looking forward to reading it.

Image credits:
Left: Photograph of Jill Tew from her website.
Right: Painting of Anne of Green Gables by Ben Stahl.

Reference:
Davis, Jesse. (December 19, 2024). Future Fiction: Bold New Worlds: Jill Tew’s debut YA novel is a surprisingly inspiring dystopian story. Memphis Magazine. Retrieved from: https://memphismagazine.com/culture/future-fiction-bold-new-worlds/.

Created December 26, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Green Gables Gets a New Roof

Green Gables, the home that inspired L.M. Montgomery to write Anne of Green Gables, is in the process of getting a new roof this month. The $50,000 renovations will replace the roof and repair the eaves and gutters on the historic building. The work will be done by the end of this year, so Green Gables will be ready for next season's visitors.

Learn more by watching this video by CBC News.

Image credits:
Screencapture of the story from CBC News.

Reference:
A new roof for Green Gables. (December 20, 2024). CBC News. Retrieved from: https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6564840.

Created December 23, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Apply to be the Anne of Green Gables Imitator for Parks Canada

There are several student and youth jobs available at Parks Canada for summer 2025, including the Anne-Imitator position. The Anne-Imitator plays the role of Anne of Green Gables and engages with visitors at the Green Gables Heritage Place in Cavendish, P.E.I.

Here's the job description from the Prince Edward Island Employment Journey website:

The Anne-Imitator portrays the character “Anne of Green Gables” at Green Gables Heritage place in full costume. “Anne” will engage visitors, pose for photo opportunities, and participate in interpretive activities such as old-fashioned games and races, ice-cream making and other potential demonstrations.

Skills required: the ability to deliver presentations as the character “Anne Shirley” using effective dramatic techniques, to work with the public, and to work as a team. This is a bilingual (English and French) position.

There are also student positions open for Park Communicators, Janitorial Students, and Heritage Communicators. To learn more about these opportunities, Parks Canada is holding a recruitment visit at UPEI that is taking place on January 28, 2025.

Image credits:
Image highlighting job opportunities from Parks Canada.

Reference:
Riley, Heidi. (December 12, 2024). Student and youth positions available at Parks Canada. Prince Edward Island Employment Journey. Retrieved from: https://employmentjourney.com/student-and-youth-positions-available-at-parks-canada/.

Created December 23, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

The 2024 World of Anne Shirley Gift Guide

Here's a list of gift ideas for the Anne Shirley fans in your life.

1) For a future kindred spirit - The Anne of Green Gables Complete 8-Book Box Set (pictured above) is the perfect way to introduce a friend to Anne Shirley.



2) For fans of the adaptations - These days, we rely on streaming subscriptions, and we rarely own copies of our favorite films and TV series. I think that when you love an adaptation, it's really nice to own it and to be able to watch it anytime instead of renting the right to watch it. You can purchase Sullivan Entertainment's Anne of Green Gables miniseries collection set on DVD and buy the Anne with an E television series in HD as a gift for a loved one, and they'll be able to enjoy watching Anne Shirley for years to come.



3) For a puzzle lover - This 1014-piece Anne of Green Gables puzzle is sure to please and provide hours of enjoyment. It features artwork inspired by the 1979 anime Anne of Green Gables series. I received this special gift for Christmas and posted about it previously. There are several other Anne puzzles available, including one with Anne Shirley reading a book in front of Green Gables, one with Anne and Diana running through the birch woods, and one with Matthew and Anne's carriage ride through the White Way of Delight.



4) For an art lover - These silhouette prints of Gilbert Blythe and Anne Shirley by Sealhouette on etsy are so charming and romantic. They're perfect for a library or reading nook containing a collection of L.M. Montgomery's books.



5) For an L.M. Montgomery fan - The Lucy Maud Montgomery Album by Kevin McCabe is a gorgeous coffee table book filled with photos and articles to explore Montgomery's life.



6) An Anne-inspired stocking stuffer - This Anne of Green Gables Christmas ornament is an decoration I love to hang on my Christmas tree each year. I bought one when I visited PEI years ago.


Image credits:
Images of the Anne of Green Gables Complete 8-Book Box Set, Sullivan Entertainment's Anne of Green Gables Miniseries DVD Set, Anne With an E DVD set, Anne of Green Gables puzzle, The Lucy Maud Montgomery Album, and Anne Shirley Christmas ornament from amazon. Image of silhouette prints of Gilbert Blythe and Anne Shirley by Sealhouette from etsy.

Created December 12, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Riley Keough on Anne of Green Gables

Today, I ran across another fan of Anne of Green Gables. It's Riley Keough, the American actress and producer known for her roles in Daisy Jones & The Six, Mad Max: Fury Road, and The Good Doctor. She is the daughter of Lisa Marie Presley and the granddaughter of Elvis Presley.

Riley Keough took part in a Lit Check, a new collaboration between Reese Witherspoon's book club and Apple Books to share some of the books she loves. She shared seven of her favorite books in this video, and among them was Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery.

Here are Riley Keough's book recommendations:

1) Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid - Riley Keough plays Daisy Jones in the Amazon Prime television miniseries based on this book.
2) Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery - a book she loved as a little girl.
3) Little Women by Louisa May Alcott - She loved this book when she was younger and enjoyed figuring out which character she related to.
4) Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown - Keough reads this classic children's story with her daughter.
5) Looking for Smoke by K.A. Cobell - a YA book written by an indigenous woman.
6) Know my Name by Chanel Miller - a powerful memoir.
7) From Here to the Great Unknown by Lisa Marie Presley and Riley Keough - Lisa Marie Presley's memoir, which Riley Keough wrote with her mother.

In discussing why she selected Anne of Green Gables as one of her book picks, Riley Keough says, "My second pick, Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. I just loved this when I was a little girl. I just was like obsessed with her and just like wanted to live her life."

So many Anne of Green Gables fans agree.

Image credits:
Left: Screencapture of Riley Keough from Lit Check with Riley Keough & Apple Books | Reese's Book Club.
Right: Photograph of Megan Follows as Anne Shirley in Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel © Sullivan Entertainment.

Created December 12, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

December had remembered that it was time for winter...

"But on this particular day it seemed as if December had remembered that it was time for winter and had turned suddenly dull and brooding, with a windless hush predictive of coming snow."
-L.M. Montgomery
Anne of Avonlea

Read more quotes by L.M. Montgomery.

Image credit:
Photograph by World of Anne Shirley.

Purchase and read Anne of Avonlea and the Anne of Green Gables series:



Created December 11, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Maud of Green Gables

Maud of Green Gables: How L.M. Montgomery's Anne Enchanted the World is a book by Janet Wilson. Featuring Wilson's impressionist oil paintings, the limited edition picture book was released in September 2024 by Coach House Printing. The book celebrates the 150th anniversary of L.M. Montgomery's birth. It tells the story of L.M. Montgomery's life, how she was inspired to write Anne of Green Gables, and how the novel became a beloved classic worldwide. Throughout the book, there are quotes from Anne of Green Gables and from L.M. Montgomery's autobiography and journals.

In an article in The Wellington Advertiser, Wilson spoke about her book and L.M. Montgomery saying, "It’s kind of everything you’d ever want to know about Green Gables, but maybe you didn’t...A lot of it is about her process, how she came up with an idea, how she fit it into her schedule and why it is so popular internationally."

You can purchase Maud of Green Gables through Janet Wilson's webpage and the Shop at Sullivan website. The softcover book is 36 pages long and measures 8.5” x 11.”

Here is the description of the book from Shop at Sullivan:

Maud of Green Gables: How L. M. Montgomery's Anne Enchanted the World celebrates the 150th anniversary of the birth of L. M. Montgomery! Featuring the captivating art of Janet Wilson.

This lovely non-fiction book explores the intertwined legacies of Anne Shirley's world and Montgomery’s life, tracing the story of Anne of Green Gables from conception to the 1908 publication, and through its meteoric rise to becoming a beloved classic in Canada and around the world.

Maud of Green Gables considers why L. M. Montgomery’s book has never been out of print and has been translated into over 40 languages, as well as why Anne Shirley is one of the most recognizable characters in all of literature. Much of this fascinating story is told in Montgomery's own words quoted from her autobiography, personal journals, and her debut novel, Anne of Green Gables.

ISBN-13: 978-1-0688776-0-5

Official Website:
Janet Wilson's webpage

Image credit:
Book cover of Maud of Green Gables.

Review:
Maud of Green Gables: How L. M. Montgomery's Anne Enchanted the World - a terrific review of the book by Helen K at CanLit for LittleCanadians.

Reference:
Thompson, Ellouise. (September 6, 2024). Eden Mills author offers colourful glimpse into life, work of renowned author L.M. Montgomery. The Wellington Advertiser. Retrieved from: https://www.wellingtonadvertiser.com/eden-mills-author-offers-colourful-glimpse-into-life-work-of-renowned-author-l-m-montgomery/.

Created December 3, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

The Golden Road and the Brattle Book Shop, Part II

Sometimes I feel like L.M. Montgomery is following me around. Last summer, I spotted a postcard with an image of L.M. Montgomery's The Golden Road in the Brattle Book Shop in Boston, Massachusetts. Then, early this year, I saw an old edition of the book when my husband and I were out to dinner. I began feeling that these encounters weren't so random, so I decided to look for the book myself.

This summer, I was on a trip back to Boston, and I returned to the Brattle Book Shop.


I browsed through the books in the children's section, but I didn't see anything by L.M. Montgomery. Then I headed upstairs to the room filled with collectible books. After looking around for a while, I spotted a treasure—an old edition of The Golden Road sitting on a shelf labeled "Illustrated & Children's." After staring at it in astonishment, I took the book off the shelf and gently opened it up. Following a few moments of wonder, I headed downstairs to the cashier with the book in hand thinking I was meant to find it.


The woman at the register looked at the book, and then looked up at me and smiled.

"She's one of my favorites," she said.

"Mine too," I replied.


Happy 150th birthday, L.M. Montgomery. Your writings have touched so many. And I seem to run into your stories and the people who love them all the time.

Image credits:
Photographs by World of Anne Shirley.

Created November 30, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables Manuscript Added to Canada Memory of the World Register

L.M. Montgomery's handwritten manuscript for Anne of Green Gables was added to the Canada Memory of the World Register in honor of the 150th anniversary of the author's birth. The registry is administered by the Canadian Commission for UNESCO and spotlights the most significant pieces of Canada’s collective history and heritage.

The Canada Memory of the World Register describes the manuscript as follows:

The manuscript includes 475 pages on which the story is handwritten, and an additional 96 pages of L.M. Montgomery’s notes where she recorded additions and insertions to the text. These provide unique insights into the reflections and creative process of this influential voice in Canadian literature. Confederation Centre of the Arts, in partnership with the L.M. Montgomery Institute and the Robertson Library at the University of Prince Edward Island, launched a bilingual online exhibit in 2023 that allows readers around the world to access the fully digitized manuscript.

This special honor reflects L.M. Montgomery's contributions to Canadian culture.

Image Credit:
Scanned image of the first page of Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery from The Anne of Green Gables Manuscript website.

References:
Anne of Green Gables manuscript added to the Canada Memory of the World Register. Canadian Commission for UNESCO. Retrieved from: https://en.ccunesco.ca/about-ccunesco/press/2024/11/anne-of-green-gables-manuscript-memory-of-the-world.

McMackon, Cassidy. (November 29, 2024). 'Anne of Green Gables' recognized as heritage document in UN agency's registry. The Canadian Press. Retrieved from: https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/entertainment/anne-of-green-gables-recognized-as-heritage-document-in-un-agencys-registry/article_fd3d79d5-1667-5f6e-8fb1-66d8d649d12d.html.

Created November 29, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Maud's World: Celebrating 150 Years of Lucy Maud Montgomery at the Toronto Public Library

To celebrate the 150th anniversary of L.M. Montgomery's birth, the Toronto Public Library is presenting a special exhibit called "Maud's World: Celebrating 150 Years of Lucy Maud Montgomery." Located in the Osborne Collection of Early Children's Books, the exhibit includes first editions of L.M. Montgomery's novels and Montgomery's original letters.

Here is the description of the exhibit from the Toronto Public Library:

Celebrate Lucy Maud Montgomery's 150th birthday with the Osborne Collection of Early Children's Books. From first editions of her classic novels to original letters penned by Montgomery herself, this exhibition explores the author's fascinating life and timeless stories. Best known for Anne of Green Gables, Montgomery was a Canadian icon in her own right, publishing 20 novels and countless short stories during her long career.

Free. All are welcome.

Located in the Osborne Collection of Early Children's Books, on the 4th floor of the Lillian H. Smith Branch.

"Maud's World" opened on September 9, 2024, and the exhibit is ongoing until December 1, 2024. It is located at the Lillian H. Smith Branch of the Toronto Public Library at 239 College Street, Toronto, ON M5T 1R5. The exhibit is located on the 4th floor and is free to the public.


Official Website:
Maud's World: Celebrating 150 Years of Lucy Maud Montgomery

Image Credit:
Photograph of Lucy Maud Montgomery at her desk (1932) from Wikimedia Commons.

Reference:
Maud's World: Celebrating 150 Years of Lucy Maud Montgomery. (2024). Toronto Public Library. Retrieved from: https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDMEVT511151&R=EVT511151.

Created November 29, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Thursday Morning...

"Thursday morning was an ideal Thanksgiving morning—bright, crisp, and sparkling."
-L.M. Montgomery
"Aunt Susanna’s Thanksgiving Dinner"

Read more quotes by L.M. Montgomery.

Image credit:
Photograph by World of Anne Shirley.

Created November 28, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

A Green Gables Christmas

This weekend, the Green Gables Heritage Place is holding a festive event called "A Green Gables Christmas." It is their third annual Christmas event, and this year they are also celebrating L.M. Montgomery’s 150th birthday.

Visitors will have the chance to meet with Anne Shirley and view the beautifully decorated Green Gables House. The event will also feature cookie decorating, carolers, a snow globe light display, food and drinks, and a group dance.

A Green Gables Christmas takes place on November 30 to December 1, 2024 at the Green Gables Heritage Place on 8619 Route 6 in Cavendish, PEI. Adult tickets cost $18.75 CAD, and admission is free for children under 17 (accompanied by an adult). Visitors can also purchase a Green Gables Christmas mini photo session and have special holiday photos taken in the Green Gables house for $120 CAD.

Event details:

Families and friends are invited to the third annual Christmas event at Green Gables! It’s a wonderful opportunity to explore Anne’s house, beautifully decorated for the holidays, while enjoying a variety of fun activities together.

Throughout the day, guests will have the chance to meet Anne, who will be greeting visitors and adding a special touch to the festivities!

Children can get creative by decorating Christmas cookies, listening to cheerful carolers, and capturing memories at the enchanting snow globe light display. There’s plenty of entertainment for everyone—kids will love the Tunes and Tall Tales read-and-sing holiday story, along with a special performance by The Nest, a multilingual children's music studio, happening on both Saturday and Sunday!

All attendees can indulge in yummy sweets and warm drinks provided throughout the event. And they won’t want to miss the chance to celebrate L.M. Montgomery’s 150th birthday with a festive birthday celebration and a fun guided group dance to cap off the day!

10:30 am - 11:00 am: Tunes & Tall Tales
11:00 am - 11:45 am: Live Music
12:00 pm - 12:45 pm: TBD
12:30 pm - 1:00 pm: UPEI Carolers
1:00 pm - 1:30 pm: Tunes & Tall Tales
1:30 pm - 2:00 pm: Montgomery's Birthday Celebration
2:00 pm - 2:30 pm: The Nest with Madame Abbey
2:30 pm - 3:30 pm: Group Dance with Historical Dance Society

It looks like such a fun way to start off the holiday season!

Official Websites:
A Green Gables Christmas - Celebrating Montgomery’s 150th Birthday - learn about the event at the Tourism PEI website
A Green Gables Christmas - Book tickets for the event at the Tourism Cavendish Beach website
A Green Gables Christmas – Celebrating Montgomery’s 150th Birthday at the Inspiring World of L.M. Montgomery: A Literary Tour website

Image Credit:
Photograph of Anne Shirley decorating the Christmas tree at Green Gables Heritage Place from A Green Gables Christmas – Celebrating Montgomery’s 150th Birthday.

Created November 25, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Famous People Who Share a Birthday with L.M. Montgomery

What do Billy Idol, Dick Clark, Winston Churchill and Elisha Cuthbert have in common with L.M. Montgomery?

They all share a birthday.

On November 30th, it will be the 150th anniversary of L.M. Montgomery's birth. I was curious about who shared a birthday with Montgomery, and I compiled this list of famous people who were born on the same day. Several are pictured in the graphic I created above.

Famous People Born on November 30th:

Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) - Irish author and satirist, famous for writing Gulliver's Travels.

Mark Twain (1835-1910) - American author and humorist, famous for his novels Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Twain was a fan of L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables.

John McCrae (1872-1918) - Canadian physician, soldier and poet, famous for his war poem "In Flanders Fields," which likely inspired L.M. Montgomery's poem "The Piper."

Winston Churchill (1874-1965) - British Prime Minister (1940-45, 1951-55), military officer, and writer, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1953.

Edgar Adrian (1889-1977) - English scientist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology in 1932.

Henry Taube (1915-2005) - Canadian-born American scientist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1983.

Dick Clark (1929-2012) - American radio and television personality and producer.

Joan Ganz Cooney (b. 1929) - American educational television writer and producer; co-creator of Sesame Street.

Ridley Scott (b. 1937) - English film director, known for Alien and Blade Runner.

Mandy Patinkin (b. 1952) - American actor and singer, known for Homeland, The Princess Bride, and his performances on Broadway.

Billy Idol (b. 1955) - British-American punk rock singer and songwriter, known for "White Wedding" and "Dancing With Myself."

Kaley Cuoco (b. 1985) - American actress known for The Big Bang Theory.

Elisha Cuthbert (b. 1982) - Canadian actress known for 24 and The Girl Next Door. I wonder if she likes L.M. Montgomery. Considering that her last name is Cuthbert and she got married on Prince Edward Island, I really hope so.


Image Credits:

I created this image in Photoshop using photographs and portraits of the following people (from top to bottom, and left to right): Mark Twain (from Wikimedia Commons), Billy Idol (from Music Ruined My Life), Winston Churchill from Wikimedia Commons), L.M. Montgomery (from The University of Guelph, L.M. Montgomery Research Center), John McCrae (from Wikimedia Commons), Elisha Cuthbert (from The Girl Next Door movie poster), Jonathan Swift (from Wikimedia Commons), Joan Ganz Cooney (from the Sesame Workshop, Joan Ganz Cooney Center), and Dick Clark (from Wikimedia Commons).

Created November 21, 2024. Last updated November 25, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

New Anne of Green Gables Anime Series Will Air in April 2025

Anne Shirley, a new anime series based on the Anne of Green Gables novels will be released next year. The series will be broadcast on NHK Educational TV in Japan beginning in April 2025. Anne Shirley is being produced by Answer Studio, which previously produced Suzume, Golgo 13, and Your Name.

According to the press release, the anime will adapt the first three novels in the Anne of Green Gables series written by Lucy Maud Montgomery and translated to Japanese by Hanako Muraoka. It will adapt Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, and Anne of the Island.

The official website for the new adaptation launched this week with four stills from the new series. An image of Anne Shirley and her bosom friend Diana Barry is shown above. Below is an image of Anne waiting at the station.



Here's another image of Anne Shirley.



Lastly, here is a still of Gilbert Blythe and Anne Shirley. Isn't Gilbert's hair a bit too close to red?



I'm so excited about this new adaptation of Anne's story, and I hope it ends up covering the entire series. I also wonder how it will compare to the 1979 Anne of Green Gables anime series.

Official Website:
Anne Shirley

Image Credit:
Stills from the upcoming Anne Shirley anime.

References:

Anne of Green Gables is Getting an Anime, Animated Series Anne Shirley is Planned to Air on NHK E-Tele in April 2025. (November 20, 2024). Anime News Network. Retrieved from: https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2024-11-20/anne-of-green-gables-is-getting-an-anime-animated-series-anne-shirley-is-planned-to-air-on-nhk-e-/.218092.

Cayanan, Joanna. (November 20, 2024). Anne of Green Gables Novels Get New Anime by Answer Studio Next Spring. Anime News Network. Retrieved from: https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-11-20/anne-of-green-gables-novels-get-new-anime-by-answer-studio-next-spring/.218070.

Komatsu, Mikikazu. (November 19, 2024). Anne of Green Gables Novel Gets New TV Anime Adaptation in April 2025. Crunchyroll News. Retrieved from: https://www.crunchyroll.com/news/latest/2024/11/20/anne-of-green-gables-new-tv-anime-adaptation-april-2025.

Tan, Melvyn. (November 19, 2024). New Anne of Green Gables Anime To Begin in April 2025. Anime Trending. Retrieved from: https://anitrendz.net/news/2024/11/19/new-anne-of-green-gables-anime-to-begin-in-april-2025/.


Created November 21, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

In the Shadow of Green Gables: L.M. Montgomery’s Life and Legacy - Canadian Time Machine Podcast

Today, a podcast was released titled, "In the Shadow of Green Gables: L.M. Montgomery’s Life and Legacy" as part of Season 3 of Canadian Time Machine, a series produced by The Walrus Lab. The episode was created to honor the 150th anniversary of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s birth. In the 15-minute-long podcast, Angela Misri speaks with Kate Macdonald Butler, who is L.M. Montgomery's granddaughter.

They talk about L.M. Montgomery's legacy and how people see themselves in Anne of Green Gables. They mention how immigrants to Canada and ADHD and neurodivergent communities have found kinship with Anne Shirley. Kate Macdonald Butler talks about how she learned about her grandmother through conversations with her father. She feels that her grandmother is closer in terms of personality to Emily Starr from the Emily of New Moon series than she is to Anne Shirley. Kate Macdonald Butler also discusses how both L.M. Montgomery and her husband struggled with depression. Lastly, she talks about the new commemorative coin issued by the Royal Canadian Mint in celebration of Montgomery's birthday and legacy.

Give the podcast a listen through the links below.

Websites:
In the Shadow of Green Gables: L.M. Montgomery’s Life and Legacy - Canadian Time Machine podcast and English transcript at The Walrus
In the Shadow of Green Gables: L.M. Montgomery’s Life and Legacy - Canadian Time Machine podcast at Apple Podcasts

Image credit:
Image from The Walrus.

Created November 20, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Anne of Green Gables (Handwritten Classics)

Anne of Green Gables: The Complete Novel, Featuring the Characters' Letters and Mementos, Written and Folded by Hand by L.M. Montgomery and curated by Barbara Heller was published by Chronicle Books in September 2024. The collectible book provides readers with an interactive literary experience. There are parchment envelopes inserted between the pages that contain special treasures related to the novel. For example, you can read the letters between Diana Barry and her kindred spirit Anne Shirley and see Marilla Cuthbert's handwritten recipes.

The book sounds like great fun. It is the fourth book in Barbara Heller's "Handwritten Classics" series, which also includes Pride and Prejudice, Persuasion, and Little Women.

In a great interview with CTV News Atlantic Anchor Crystal Garrett, Barbara Heller discusses the book and the research that went into producing it.

Here is the description of the book from Chronicle Books:

The must-have volume for Anne of Green Gables fans: This special edition invites readers inside the beloved story with gorgeous replicas of the characters' letters and mementos.

Anne of Green Gables has been treasured by generations of dreamers and free spirits. For those who love to indulge in flights of fancy, Anne’s world offers escape and inspiration. Now, your imagination can take tangible form with this deluxe edition of L. M. Montgomery’s classic novel, the latest volume in the swoon-worthy Handwritten Classics series curated by Barbara Heller.

Throughout these pages, you will find pockets containing replicas of thirteen items from the story recreated with charming handwriting and loving attention to historical detail. Discover the notes passed between Anne and her bosom friend Diana in the Avonlea schoolhouse; the official program of the Debating Club, where Gilbert Blythe memorably recited “Bingen on the Rhine”; and of course, Marilla’s recipes for both raspberry cordial and currant wine. Each piece of ephemera transports you to idyllic Prince Edward Island.

For anyone who loves Anne of Green Gables and for anyone who still cherishes the joy of paper mementos, this collector's edition will illuminate a classic story in a whole new way.

ISBN: 9781797227689

Image credit:
Book cover of Anne of Green Gables: The Complete Novel, Featuring the Characters' Letters and Mementos, Written and Folded by Hand.

Reference:
Garrett, Crystal and Hull, Jeremy. (November 17, 2024). Prince Edward Island classic 'Anne of Green Gables' gets an interactive update. CTV News Atlantic. Retrieved from: https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/prince-edward-island-classic-anne-of-green-gables-gets-an-interactive-update-1.7113384.

Purchase and read Anne of Green Gables: The Complete Novel, Featuring the Characters' Letters and Mementos, Written and Folded by Hand:


Created November 18, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

It was November...

"It was November—the month of crimson sunsets, parting birds, deep, sad hymns of the sea, passionate wind-songs in the pines."
-L.M. Montgomery
Anne of the Island

Read more quotes by L.M. Montgomery.

Image credit:
Photograph by World of Anne Shirley.

Purchase and read Anne of the Island and the Anne of Green Gables series:



Created November 18, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Xenis Anne of Green Gables Doll

I came across these beautiful handcrafted Anne of Green Gables dolls by Xenis. Made in Canada, each doll is carved from wood and delicately hand painted. The dolls can be posed and feature movable joints. Each is unique and made to order for $1450.00 USD. These Anne Shirley dolls look like such treasures for doll collectors and fans of Anne Shirley.

Here is the description of the Anne of Green Gables doll from the Xenis website:

Anne of Green Gables remains a testament to the powers of hope, friendship and imagination.

Anne stands 12” in height with 13 moveable joints.

Anne is made under license from the Anne of Green Gables Licensing Authority. She has a hand painted face, mohair wig and is dressed in natural fiber fabrics. She comes with a straw hat, wooden schoolbooks and a carpetbag. She comes with a 36 note Swiss movement music box that plays the song “Anne of Green Gables” from the musical production.

$1450.00 USD

Official Website:
Anne of Green Gables at Xenis: Gallery of Wooden Wonders

Image credit:
Photograph of the Anne of Green Gables doll from Xenis: Gallery of Wooden Wonders


Created November 17, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Behind the Veil: A Lucy Maud Concert Experience

Behind the Veil: A Lucy Maud Concert Experience is a new show produced in celebration of L.M. Montgomery's 150th birthday. The show was created by Alicia Toner and Mike Ross as a "song cycle," a collection of songs performed in sequence. Behind the Veil is made up of songs that blend Lucy Maud Montgomery's journal entries, letters, and poetry with original songwriting. Produced by Harmony House, the concert aims to pull back the veil to reveal L.M. Montgomery's true spirit and to celebrate her life and love of Prince Edward Island.

The show premieres today on November 15, 2024 at 8:00 p.m. The ensemble cast features Julain Molnar, Brielle Ansems, Carlie Howell, Alicia Toner, Mike Ross, and Garrett Sherwood. Five additional performances will take place on November 16th at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., on November 22nd at 8:00 p.m., and on November 23rd at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Tickets for the 2-hour concert cost $40.00. Harmony House is located at 19814 Route 2, Hunter River, PE C0A 1N0.

You can listen to Alicia Toner and Mike Ross discuss the show in an interview by Matt Rainnie on CBC Mainstreet. It sounds like such a special event!

Official Website
Harmony House

Image Credit:
Image advertising Behind the Veil: A Lucy Maud Concert Experience from Harmony House.

Created November 15, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

#Maud150 Events at Acadia University

Later this month, two #Maud150 events will take place at Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada to commemorate L.M. Montgomery's 150th birthday.

The first is a speech by Dr. Brenton Dickieson of the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI). He will present a talk titled, "Friends, Lovers, and Revivalist Shudders: L.M. Montgomery and Baptists" in the Reading Room of the Vaughan Memorial Library on November 18, 2024 from 7:00-8:00 p.m. The speech is free and open to the public.

Here is the description of the talk from the Acadia University website:

Acadia celebrates L.M. Montgomery's 150th birthday with a free talk titled "Friends, Lovers, and Revivalist Shudders: L.M. Montgomery and Baptists" by Dr. Brenton Dickieson (UPEI) in the Reading Room of Vaughan Memorial Library from 7-8 p.m. Everyone is welcome.

One of L.M. Montgomery’s more vividly drawn characters had “a holy horror of Methodists.” The main characters in the Anne series are thoroughly Presbyterian, but Montgomery has some fun playing with the cultural differences between the various Protestant denominations. The Cavendish Baptist church was part of Montgomery’s everyday life growing up, and she found herself frequenting the Baptists during her latter years in Toronto. Despite these connections, there were times when Montgomery’s journals reveal something like “a holy horror of Baptists.” From broken engagements to a threat of police action, a peek at Montgomery’s imagination of “Baptists” invites us to think about particular cultural moments in Eastern Canadian history and to enjoy her peculiar sense of religious humour that shapes our religious social imagination.

As a theologian of literature, Dr. Dickieson (UPEI) writes the popular website, A Pilgrim in Narnia, which explores the intersections of faith, fantasy, and fiction. With more than 2,000,000 views and fostering significant networks within the scholarly and readerly worlds of C.S. Lewis and the Inklings, Brenton has created a powerful platform for considering the literary, spiritual, and theological interest of some of our most famous world-builders, including C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, L.M. Montgomery, and others. Brenton also is the host of Maudcast: the official podcast of the L.M. Montgomery Institute at University of Prince Edward Island.

The second #Maud150 event is a mini-conference that will be held at the university. On November 25th and 27th, the honours and master's students enrolled in the course on "Adapting L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables" will host a mini-conference and present their research on L.M. Montgomery and Anne of Green Gables to the community. The conference will take place from 4:00-5:20 p.m. on November 25th and 27th in BAC203. This event is open to the public according to Acadia University's calendar of events.

Image Credit:
Poster advertising Brenton Dickieson's speech from Acadia University.

Created November 15, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Anne of Green Gables Book-Shaped Ceramic Vase

If you're looking for a gift for a fan of Anne of Green Gables, then this ceramic vase by Steel Mill and Co. might be the perfect gift. The vase is shaped like a book, and you can place flowers in it. You can also use it in the kitchen to store utensils.

Last year, my mother gave me The Secret Garden book vase as a Christmas gift, and I love it. I have it displayed on my bookshelf as a bookend with some artificial flowers in it.

The Secret Garden vase is a smaller size than the Anne of Green Gables vase. Steel Mill and Co. offers several vases featuring different books, including Pride & Prejudice, The Nutcracker, The Wizard of Oz, Dracula, and The Great Gatsby.

Image credit:
Photograph of the Anne of Green Gables book-shaped ceramic vase by Steel Mill and Co.

Purchase an Anne of Green Gables book-shaped ceramic vase:


Created November 14, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

One must face things—even ghosts

"One must face things—even ghosts."
-L.M. Montgomery
Emily's Quest

Read more quotes by L.M. Montgomery.

Image credit:
Photograph by World of Anne Shirley.

Purchase and read the Emily of New Moon series:



Created October 31, 2022.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Marilla of Green Gables: Becoming a Family (2024)

Marilla of Green Gables: Becoming a Family (2024) is a play by Chris Henry that adapts L.M. Montgomery's novel Anne of Green Gables for the stage. The play presents Marilla Cuthbert's perspective and is the second part of a two-part adaptation of the story. The first part is titled Anne of Green Gables: Finding Home. The two productions can be watched independently as stand-alone plays or viewed together as a whole.

The plays premiered on October 17, 2024 and will run through November 4, 2024 at the Royal Family Performing Arts Space in Times Square located on 145 West 46th Street, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10036. Both plays were produced by Royal Family Productions, where Chris Henry serves as the artistic director, and they were adapted and co-directed by Henry, with choreography and co-direction by Lorna Ventura. The cast of Marilla of Green Gables includes Ephraim Birney, Francesca Fernandez, Desi Waters, Emily Anne Davis, and Madison McLean.

Chris Henry discussed her inspiration to bring the plays to the stage because of her personal connection to the story with BroadwayWorld saying, "As someone who was adopted, the story of a fiery, strong, imaginative orphan girl really resonated with me throughout my childhood and throughout my life. I was inspired to take this material and adapt Ms. Montgomery's text for the Royal Family stage with my collaborator, Lorna Ventura. We have stripped down the book to its essence and have broken it up into two parts. We hope that anyone who has ever tried to find their place in the world will find joy, inspiration, and home in the story of Anne of Green Gables."

The play is described as follows:

"Marilla of Green Gables: Becoming a Family shifts over to Marilla’s point of view as we see her navigate what becoming a mother really means as she continues to deal with Anne’s adventures growing up. Royal Family Productions presents this world premiere in repertory with Anne of Green Gables: Finding Home. These pieces are each stand-alone plays, but together they tell the story of three unlikely people meeting and eventually becoming a family."

Tickets are $35 for general admission, $100/$65 for tax-deductible reserved seats, and $250/$215 for tax-deductible VIP tickets. The show is 1 hour and 25 minutes long, with no intermission.


Official Website:
Royal Family Productions

Image Credit:
Poster for Marilla of Green Gables: Becoming a Family (2024) from Royal Family Productions.

References:
Rabinowitz, Chloe. (2024, October 3). Anne of Green Gables: Finding Home & Marilla of Green Gables: Becoming a Family to Run Off-Broadway. BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved from: https://www.broadwayworld.com/off-broadway/article/ANNE-OF-GREEN-GABLES-FINDING-HOME-MARILLA-OF-GREEN-GABLES-BECOMING-A-FAMILY-to-Run-Off-Broadway-20241003.

Created October 30, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Anne of Green Gables: Finding Home (2024)

Anne of Green Gables: Finding Home (2024) is a play by Chris Henry that brings L.M. Montgomery's novel Anne of Green Gables to life on the stage. The play is the first part of a two-part adaptation of the story; the second part is titled Marilla of Green Gables: Becoming a Family. The two productions can be watched independently as stand-alone plays or viewed together as a whole.

The plays premiered on October 17, 2024 and will run through November 4, 2024 at the Royal Family Performing Arts Space in Times Square located on 145 West 46th Street, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10036. Both plays were produced by Royal Family Productions, where Chris Henry serves as the artistic director, and they were adapted and co-directed by Henry, with choreography and co-direction by Lorna Ventura. The cast of Anne of Green Gables: Finding Home features Emmaline Goia and Maggie Langhorne.

Chris Henry discussed her inspiration to bring the plays to the stage because of her personal connection to the story with BroadwayWorld saying, "As someone who was adopted, the story of a fiery, strong, imaginative orphan girl really resonated with me throughout my childhood and throughout my life. I was inspired to take this material and adapt Ms. Montgomery's text for the Royal Family stage with my collaborator, Lorna Ventura. We have stripped down the book to its essence and have broken it up into two parts. We hope that anyone who has ever tried to find their place in the world will find joy, inspiration, and home in the story of Anne of Green Gables."

Anne of Green Gables: Finding Home was previously presented in 2019 in a substantially different form.

The new version of the play is described as follows:

"Royal Family artistic director Chris Henry’s Anne of Green Gables is a one-woman, movement-fueled, theatrical experience for all ages, featuring dynamic choreography by Lorna Ventura. Finding Home shares the journey of Anne Shirley, an imaginative, red-headed, hot-tempered, eleven-year-old orphan, and what happens when she is accidentally brought to the home of quiet siblings Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert in Prince Edward Island. Royal Family Productions presents this new version in repertory with the world premiere of Marilla of Green Gables: Becoming a Family."

Tickets are $35 for general admission, $100/$65 for tax-deductible reserved seats, and $250/$215 for tax-deductible VIP tickets. The show is 1 hour long, with no intermission.


Official Website:
Royal Family Productions

Image Credit:
Poster for Anne of Green Gables: Finding Home (2024) from Royal Family Productions.

References:
Rabinowitz, Chloe. (2024, October 3). Anne of Green Gables: Finding Home & Marilla of Green Gables: Becoming a Family to Run Off-Broadway. BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved from: https://www.broadwayworld.com/off-broadway/article/ANNE-OF-GREEN-GABLES-FINDING-HOME-MARILLA-OF-GREEN-GABLES-BECOMING-A-FAMILY-to-Run-Off-Broadway-20241003.

Created October 30, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Josie Pye: A Tale from Avonlea

Josie Pye: A Tale from Avonlea by Laura Kelly and Jane Kelly was independently published in June 2022. The book tells the story of Josie Pye, who dreams of a life bigger than Avonlea can offer. Have you ever wondered what made Josie tick? Maybe this story holds the answer.


Here is the description of the story from the book's back cover:

JOSIE PYE IS NOT A KINDRED SPIRIT...

In fact, she could not care less about the red-headed Anne Shirley, with her freckled nose always in a book. And while the whole village of Avonlea may have been infatuated with the dramatic goody-goody orphan, Josie has her heart set on a far more glamorous and exciting life than her small Canadian village can offer. Her opportunity finally comes with the arrival of a handsome stranger to Avonlea. Could this be the fulfillment of all her dreams and ambitions?

Here is the description of the book from Amazon:

Devoted readers of Anne of Green Gables will remember the coastal farming village of Avonlea as the home of kindred spirits -- a community of close-knit characters that opened their hearts to the bright, talkative, and imaginative red-headed orphan, Anne Shirley. Well... mostly kindred spirits. The cruel Pye sisters, led by Josie Pye, instantly disliked Anne for her intelligence, charm, and the attention she drew from others, especially Gilbert Blythe. Josie, described as spoiled, vain, and vindictive, knew she was better than Anne, better than Avonlea. She deserved a life more glamorous and exciting than even Anne Shirley could imagine.

This book continues the story of Josie Pye, as she sets her sights on a handsome stranger as her ticket out of her humdrum home. She soon discovers that the best laid plans can lead you astray. Josie faces new challenges that force her to reconsider her perception of Avonlea, its people, and her own desires. Josie Pye may yet become a kindred spirit after all, with many misadventures and a budding romance along the way. Beloved characters, including Diana Barry, Ruby Gillis, Marilla Cuthbert, and Rachel Lynde, are all part of this continuing story.

Image credit:
Book cover of Josie Pye: A Tale from Avonlea.

Purchase and read Josie Pye: A Tale from Avonlea:


Created October 27, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

A glorious October

"It was October again when Anne was ready to go back to school—a glorious October, all red and gold..."
-L.M. Montgomery
Anne of Green Gables

Read more quotes by L.M. Montgomery.

Image credit:
Photograph by World of Anne Shirley.

Purchase and read Anne of Green Gables:



Created October 26, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Cornelius Leard House for Sale in Lower Bedeque, Prince Edward Island

For a period of six months in 1897 and 1898, L.M. Montgomery boarded with Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius Leard while she taught school in in Lower Bedeque, Prince Edward Island. During the time, Montgomery was secretly engaged to Edwin Simpson, but she found herself attracted to the Leard family’s oldest son Herman, according to her journals.

The Cornelius Leard House was formally recognized as a historic place in 2010. At different points in time, the house was run as a museum, a bed and breakfast, and a restaurant. It is currently for sale for $99,000 CAD and in need of care and major repairs. You can learn more about the home in this video by CBC News.

Image credit:
Screen capture from the CBC News website.

References:
Cornelius Leard House. Canada's Historic Places. Parks Canada. Retrieved from: https://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=19168.

Home where 'Anne' author L.M. Montgomery had a forbidden romance is up for sale. (October 25, 2024). CBC News. Retrieved from: https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6546552.

Created October 25, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com