Before Green Gables
 Cover of Viking Canada 2008 Hardcover | |
| Author | Budge Wilson |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's novel |
Publication date | 2008 |
| Publication place | Canada |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover) |
| Pages | 400 |
| ISBN | 0-425-22576-3 |
| OCLC | 312933557 |
| Followed by | Anne of Green Gables |
Before Green Gables is the title of a prequel to the Anne Shirley series.[1] The book was published in 2008 by Puffin, a division of Penguin Books, as part of Puffin's celebration of Anne Shirley's centennial anniversary, which sees the Anne Shirley series re-released to commemorate the event.[1] The first book in the Anne Shirley series was Anne of Green Gables, which was published in 1908.
The author of the prequel is Canadian children's author Budge Wilson.[1] In the official press release, Budge Wilson wrote: "I will, of course, try to be true to the astonishing character that Lucy Maud Montgomery created… But I would not – in fact, could not – presume to tell my part of Anne's history in Montgomery's voice. I will do this in my own voice, hoping that she would approve of the project if she were alive today."[1]
Synopsis
This book describes Anne's difficult pre-Green-Gables childhood. That time includes the deaths of her parents, her subsequent life with the Thomas and later the Hammond families, and her time in an orphanage.[1]
Along the way, she meets some kind people who give her hope. Anne's imagination helps her get through these hard times, preparing her for her future at Green Gables.[2]
Publisher
Three editions are available from different publishers:
- Canada: Viking Canada (AHC), ISBN 978-0-670-06721-3
- US: Putnam Pub Group, ISBN 978-0-399-15468-3
- UK: Penguin Books, ISBN 978-0-14-138412-2
Translation
Before Green Gables was translated into Japanese as a title of Kon'nichiwa Anne (meaning "Hello, Anne") and sold by Shinchosha[3] and Polish as Droga do Zielonego Wzgórza (meaning "Road/Way to Green Gables"), published by Wydawnictwo Literackie.[4] The book was also translated in French with the title Anne... : Avant la maison aux pignons verts (meaning "Anne : Before Green Gables..."), published by Trécarré.[5]
Reception
Benjamin Lefebvre, co-chairman of the L.M. Montgomery Research Group wrote, "while the links to Montgomery’s series are not always seamless, Before Green Gables is nevertheless a captivating story in its own right."[6]
Adaptations
The series was adapted into an anime, Kon'nichiwa Anne: Before Green Gables, the latest entry in Nippon Animation's World Masterpiece Theater series. It aired in Japan from April 5, 2009 to December 27, 2009.
External links
- L.M. Montgomery Online This scholarly site includes a blog, an extensive bibliography of reference materials, and a complete filmography of all adaptations of Montgomery texts. See, in particular, the page devoted to Before Green Gables.
See also
- Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning, a prequel television film released in 2008.
References
- ^ a b c d e Penguin Books ltd., Press Release: December 14, 2007.
- ^ "Before Green Gables by Budge Wilson". The Guardian.
- ^ こんにちは アン Archived 2008-07-09 at the Wayback Machine ISBN 978-4-10-211339-4 and ISBN 978-4-10-211340-0
- ^ Droga do Zielonego Wzgórza ISBN 978-83-08-04308-0 and ISBN 978-83-08-04311-0
- ^ Wilson, Budge; Fortier, Dominique (2009). Anne...: Avant la maison aux pignons verts. ISBN 978-2895684398.
- ^ "Eternally Anne". Benjamin Lefebvre. Retrieved 2023-10-19.