Before Green Gables
 Cover of Viking Canada 2008 Hardcover | |
| Author | Budge Wilson |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Series | Anne of Green Gables |
| Genre | Children's novel |
| Publisher | Viking Press |
| Publication date | February 5, 2008 |
| Publication place | Canada |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover) |
| Pages | 400 |
| ISBN | 0-425-22576-3 |
| OCLC | 312933557 |
| Preceded by | Anne of Ingleside |
Before Green Gables is the title of a prequel to Anne of Green Gables.[1] The book was published in 2008 by Puffin, a division of Penguin Books, as part of Puffin's celebration of Anne of Green Gables centennial anniversary.[1]
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
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This book describes Anne's difficult childhood, including the death of her parents, her subsequent life with the Thomas and Hammond families, and her time in an orphanage.
Publisher
[edit]Three editions are available from different publishers:
- Canada: Viking Canada (AHC), February 5, 2008,[2] ISBN 978-0-670-06721-3
- US: Putnam Pub Group, February 21, 2008,[3] ISBN 978-0-399-15468-3
- UK: Penguin Books, March 6, 2008,[4] ISBN 978-0-14-138412-2
Translation
[edit]Before Green Gables was translated into Japanese as Kon'nichiwa Anne (meaning "Hello, Anne") and sold by Shinchosha[5] and Polish as Droga do Zielonego Wzgórza (meaning "Road/Way to Green Gables"), published by Wydawnictwo Literackie.[6] 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.[7] An Italian translation was published by Kappa Edizioni with the title Sorridi, piccola Anna dai capelli rossi (meaning "Smile, Little Red-Haired Anna").[8]
Reception
[edit]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."[9]
The book garnered positive reviews from both The Guardian and Publishers Weekly, which praised its emotional storytelling and compelling characters.[10][11]
Kirkus Reviews delivered an opposing review predicting "[t]his drab, unappealing story probably won’t please Anne’s many admirers, nor will it inspire a new audience for Anne of Green Gables."[12]
Adaptation
[edit]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
[edit]- 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
[edit]- Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning, a prequel television film released in 2008.
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 Penguin Books ltd., Press Release: December 14, 2007.
- ↑ "Before Green Gables". blackwells.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
- ↑ BEFORE GREEN GABLES | Kirkus Reviews.
- ↑ Wilson, Budge (2008-03-06). Before Green Gables. Penguin Adult. ISBN 978-0-14-132359-6.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Rosati, Luca (2010-11-03). "Kappa Edizioni, uscite di novembre 2010". Everyeye Anime (in Italian). Retrieved 2025-10-14.
- ↑ "Eternally Anne". Benjamin Lefebvre. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
- ↑ "Before Green Gables by Budge Wilson". www.publishersweekly.com. Retrieved 2025-04-06.
- ↑ "Before Green Gables by Budge Wilson". The Guardian.
- ↑ "Before Green Gables: The Prequel to Anne of Green Gables by Budge Wilson". www.kirkusreviews.com. Retrieved 2026-04-13.
