Anne of Avonlea

In 1908, Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery wrote the classic children's book Anne of Green Gables featuring the imaginative and irrepressible orphan, Anne Shirley, and her adventures in the small Prince Edward Island village of Avonlea. Written in 1909, Anne of Avonlea is the second book about Anne's life and adventures. Mark Twain called Anne Shirley "the dearest, most moving and delightful child since the immortal Alice." The Canadian Encyclopedia declares that Anne is an "icon of Canadian culture." Montgomery's richly-realized characters capture the humor and pathos of everyday life. Her "Anne" books have remained popular with readers of all ages for over a century.At the start of Anne of Avonlea, Anne is "half-past sixteen." The novel, told from a third-person omniscient point of view, covers two years in Anne's life, from her exploits as the new village schoolteacher up to the time she prepares to leave for college.Anne Shirley has gray eyes and red hair (to her great chagrin: she prefers the term "auburn"). Anne was adopted from an orphan asylum by brother and sister Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert at age eleven and lives with Marilla at their farm, Green Gables. The title of this second volume, Anne of Avonlea, reflects Anne's growing maturation and her widening social influence: no longer is she just Anne of Green Gables, now she plays a greater role in the larger society of Avonlea. Avonlea is filled with characters big and small whose lives intertwine with Anne's. Anne is sensitive, idealistic, romantic, and imaginative. Although she has put aside many of her fanciful childhood thoughts, she is still deeply affected by the beauty of nature and has an optimistic, joyful outlook on life. She is always in search of "kindred spirits" who also appreciate beauty and creativity. Diana Wright is Anne's best friend. Although Diana has a more practical outlook on life than Anne's "starry-eyed" approach, they have been dear friends since childhood.Gilbert Blythe, once Anne's childhood enemy, is now one of her great friends. Gilbert teaches at the nearby village of White Sands. Anne does not see Gilbert as anything but a good chum: he is nothing like the romantic ideal man (with melancholy eyes) that she and Diana outlined together years ago. Gilbert, however, believes that Anne is his ideal woman, though he is careful to keep his feelings to himself.Two other characters feature prominently in Anne of Avonlea. One is Anne's new neighbor, Mr. J.A. Harrison, an irascible man living alone with his foul-mouthed parrot Ginger. After a shaky start--thanks to Anne inadvertently selling Mr. Harrison's cow--Anne and Mr. Harrison become fast friends. All of Avonlea is later shocked when Mr. Harrison's wife comes to town. Mrs. Rachel Lynde, the good-hearted village gossip and busybody, is another important figure in Avonlea.As Anne starts her teaching job, she has "rose-tinted ideas of what a schoolteacher might accomplish." Anne believes it is morally wrong to whip a child when they have misbehaved. She plans to win all her students over with her theory of kindness, by talking to them and reasoning with them. Most of Anne's friends do not believe her approach will be effective.Anne shares many anecdotes from her days teaching at the Avonlea school. She knows most of the students, but there are some new faces. Paul Irving is the son of an American, Stephen Miller. Paul lives with his grandmother since Miller is often away on business. Anne senses that Paul is a kindred spirit when he writes a whimsical composition about his imaginary friends Nora and the Twin Sailors, his "Rock People." Anne learns that Paul's mother is dead and that there is a romantic village story about Miller, who was once engaged to Miss Lavender Lewis, a solitary old maid who lives alone in the remote Echo Lodge...