Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

Summary:

Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert are brother and sister who live on their family farm,

Green Gables, in the quiet town of Avonlea in Prince Edward Island, Canada. Matthew is

sixty, and since he is getting older decides he needs help on the farm, in which, the Cuthberts

decide to adopt an orphan boy to help him. Mrs. Rachel Lynde, the town gossiper does not

think Matthew and Marilla are fit to raise a child.

Matthew who is terrified of women arrives at the train station to find an orphan girl

instead of a boy; the orphanage sent the eleven year old Anne Shirley by mistake. Annes

high spirits and always talking persuade Matthew to tell Marilla that he wants to keep her.

Marilla hesitates at first, but after awhile agrees to let Anne stay.

Anne is a very talkative and happy girl despite living life as an orphan. Because of Annes

lack of an education and manners she is not very ladylike and acts on her instincts. Anne

tries her best to follow Marillas rules and tries to do things to help her out around the house

many times making mistakes.

Anne never had real friends before living at Green Gables, so she had to make up

imaginary playmates. In Avonlea, she meets Diana Barry, a neighbor who quickly becomes

her best friend. One day Anne has Diana over for tea and accidentally gives her red wine

instead of tea. Diana returns home drunk, and Dianas mother, thinking Anne did this on

purpose tells Diana she can no longer speak to Anne. This lasts until Anne saves Dianas

sister who is sick with the croup, by going to the doctor and bringing him to the house.

Dianas mother then forgives Anne and allows them to be friends again.

At school, Anne argues with a handsome, smart boy named Gilbert Blythe. When they

first meet, Gilbert picks on Anne by calling her carrots and pulling her red braid. Anne is

very sensitive about her red hair, and Gilberts teasing makes her very mad. She yells at him

and smashes a slate over his head. This marks the beginning of a rivalry between Anne and

Gilbert, the two smartest students, that last throughout the book.

As Anne grows up, she loses some of her childish ways and turns towards academics.