'Anne of Green Gables' Celebrates 100 years of Publication in Cavendish, PEI

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There are many parallels between the summers of 1908 and this year for the eastern third of Canada—quaintly known as the 'Maritimes'. Both years heralded summers in which Olympic Games were to happen; London's games proved to be as dramatic as this year's looks to be shaping up. 1908's summer solstice fell on the June 22nd, while this year it falls on tomorrow (21st). More importantly–for a new author in Maritime Canada–100 years ago today, Lucy Maud (LM) Montgomery received her first copies of 'Anne of Green Gables'.

In the intervening century, the story of a young red-haired girl living in a fictitious rural area of Prince Edward Island, Canada, has proven the critics of 1908 very wrong in their initial judgement. The New York Times Book Review initially panned Montgomery's novel due to it's rural setting and frivolous use of language; being a woman likely didn't help the author either. The past 100 years has seen this novel surpass many milestones: 4th most sold book (at an estimated 50 million copies world-wide), numerous re-printings, stage-plays, musicals, movies, and TV series, translated into many languages (the Japanese translation had spectacular results), and little Anne Shirley has become an internationally recognized icon of youthful wholesomeness.

In celebration of this event, Cavendish and the rest of PEI have added a number of events to what has been a summer-long celebration for many years now. Local organizers report that tourist volume overall has already surpassed levels for the month of June last year, marriage ceremonies at the Cavendish homestead have been booked for months, and the number of Japanese tourists has doubled from last year's levels.

Japan's interest in Montgomery's classic work is a story in itself. Anne was introduced to the Japanese by a Christian missionary from New Brunswick (Canada), Miss Shaw, who gave her copy as a gift to a dear friend when she returned to Canada. Thirteen years later, in post-war Japan, the secretly translated work was made part of school curriculum in an effort to introduce suitable role-models for young Japanese girls. Little Anne's popularity has not waned since then, as her adventures continue to be showcased on favorite book lists, while her signature look of bright red braids, sundresses and happy disposition have made their way into the pop-culture harajuku fashion scene. In 1990, a theme park devoted to Anne was opened in Hokkaido, Japan (it closed in 1998 due to unprofitability); 1992 saw the opening of 'The School of Green Gables' on the main island of Honshu as a school of social work and nursing.

This year has been further celebrated with a release of two new stamps from Canada Post, and a collection of ten postal stamps in Japan. Somewhere in a land of mythic heroes and fictional childhood friends Anne Shirley must be smiling with innocent glee at the effect that she has had on fans the world over.