This year, 2008, “Anne of Green Gables” celebrates its 100th anniversary of its first edition. The novel has been especially popular among young female Japanese readers since the end of the war. Many events referring to Anne have been occurring also in Japan this year. I, a man in his 60’s, endeavored to read “Anne of Green Gables” again. I flew to Prince Edward Island, the setting of the novel in 2008.

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    During the 19^th century, in the State of Prince Edward, at the east northern coast of Canada, located in Avonlea village (Cavendish village), there was a farm house called “Green Gables”.

     It was mid June. Apple tree flowers were in full-bloom. It was also in June when Anne, an orphan, arrived at Green Gables for the first time. On that occasion, white flowers of apple trees also welcomed her.

     I met many visitors at the Green Gables House. They were from various regions in Canada, the United States of America, European countries (mostly Eastern Europe), and Asian countries including Japan, Korea and China. Most of the visitors from Japan were young girls and middle-aged ladies. They must have been fascinated by the stories of Anne of whom they had read in their youth, I imagined.

“I‘ve always heard that Prince Edward Island was the prettiest place on world, and I imagined I was living there, but I never really expected I would. It’s delightful when your imaginations come true, isn’t it?”(The 2^nd chapter, The Surprise of Matthew Cuthbert)

     Anne described and gave names to whatever she encountered, one by one: trees, woods, roads and lakes, utilizing her imagination.

Summer comes late in the northern country. The “Lover’s Lane” through which Anne would pass along with Diana, her “bosom friend”, was covered with fresh green leaves. The light of the sun passing through the leaves was moving to and fro over the road. In the “Haunted Wood”, fallen trees were making the surrounding areas look horrifying.

     The house of Green Gables is the original location of the “Anne tour”. The house is the one in which relatives of Montgomery had actually lived one hundred years ago. The house has been reconstructed exactly as it is mentioned in the novel.

In the novel, brother Matthew and his sister Marrila Cuthbert, both single in their 60s and 50s, lived in Green Gables. They had no child. So they were expecting an orphaned boy to come to help Matthew (who was getting old) in his farm work. But, instead, came a lean, red haired little girl with bunch of freckles.

     Her name was Anne Shirley. She was 11 years old.

     At first, Marrila wanted to send her back thinking that a girl would be of no use for the work in the field. But, Matthew was attracted to Anne’s vivid, brilliant personality and her lovely talkativeness. Marrila, also, had sympathy for how Anne had been brought up and was attracted to her charming character little by little. Both of them finally decided to raise Anne in the farm.

The typewriter used by Montgomery to write the novel

Prince Edward Island

     This smallest state of Canada is located in the northern part of the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. The name of the island comes from the Prince George Edward III, King of England. It is also a historic place where the conference to establish the Federal Government of Canada was held in 1864. What makes the island more famous is the novel “Anne of Green Gables”. This is the hometown of Montgomery, author of this book and there are many places here where she uses as the setting of the novel. The island has a pastoral landscape.

Passages from the book

Well now, no, I suppose not-not exactly.’ stammered Matthew, uncomfortably driven into a corner for his precise meaning. ‘I suppose- we could hardly be expected to keep her.’

‘I should say not. What good would be expected to keep her.’

‘We might be of some good to her.’ said Matthew suddenly and unexpectedly. (The chapter 3, The Surprise of Marrila Cuthbert)

Getting through with her ‘ohs’ Anne cast herself into Marrila’s arms and rapturously kissed her sallow cheek. It was the first time in her whole life that those childish lips had voluntarily touched Marrila’s face. Again that sudden sensation of startling sweetness thrilled her. (The 13^th chapter, The delight of Anticipation)

‘There’s one thing plain to be seen, Anne,’ said Marrila, ‘and that is that your fall off the Barry roof hasn’t injured your tongue at all.’ (The 23rd chapter, Anne comes to Grief in an Affair of Honor)

“I’m so glad it’s a sunshiny morning. But I like rainy mornings real well too. All sorts of mornings are interesting, don’t you think? You don’t know what’s going to happen through the day, and there’s so much more room for our imagination!”(The chapter 4, Morning at Green Gables)

“It’s been my experience that you can nearly always enjoy things if you firmly make up your mind that you will. Of course, you must be firm!”(The chapter 5, Anne’s History)

“…..Anne, bedrooms were made to sleep in.”

“Oh, and dream in, too, Marrila. And you know one can dream so much better in a room where there are pretty things.”(The chapter 16, Diana is invited to Tea, with Tragic Results)

The house where Montgomery was born and raised

“I’m so glad it’s a sunshiny morning. But I like rainy mornings real well too. All sorts of mornings are interesting, don’t you think? You don’t know what’s going to happen through the day, and there’s so much more room for our imagination!”(The chapter 4, Morning at Green Gables)

“It’s been my experience that you can nearly always enjoy things if you firmly make up your mind that you will. Of course, you must be firm!”(The chapter 5, Anne’s History)

“It gives you a lovely, comfortable feeling to apologize and be forgiven, doesn’t it? Aren’t the stars bright tonight?”(The chapter 10, Anne’s Apology)

“Marrila, isn’t it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?”(The chapter 21, Anne is invited out to Tea)

“I’m beginning to realize what is the worst about growing up. The things you wanted so much when you were a child don’t seem half as wonderful to you when you get them.”(The chapter 29, An Epoch in Anne’s Life)

“Oh, it’s delightful to have ambitions. I’m so glad I have such a lot. There never seems to be any end to them-that’s the best of it. Just as soon as you attain one ambition you see another one glittering higher up still. It does make life so interesting.”(The chapter 34, A Queen’s Girl)

“I shall give life here my best, and I believe it will give its best in return. When I left Queen’s my future seemed to stretch out before me like a straight road. I thought I could see along it for many a milestone. Now there is a bend in it. I don’t know what lies around the bend, but I’m going to believe that the best is still to come.”(The chapter 38, The Bend in the Road)

　　　　　
Montgomery’s grave in Cavendish, registered as National Park

There is “Anne corner” in the book store and many kind of books are being displayed.

　　　
The actress who plays the role of Anne
wrote a word to the book I offered.







Anne poses to camera with Diana, her “bosom friend”







A row of Maple tree. Maple is the symbol of national flag








In general, the color of the other tree leaves is soft green but Maple’s color is red wine.







Bus that runs along the street in Charlottetown

The city hall of Charlottetown、capital city of the State

The room for Anne on the second floor of Green Gables House