Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables: a celebration in aid of The Malala Fund

We hope that this study, designed to raise money to support education for girls, will be enjoyed by new readers as well as those who already love the book. W.H. Auden wrote “there are good books which are only for adults, because their comprehension presupposes adult experiences, but there are no good books which are only for children.” If anyone is pondering why they might spend time reading a children’s book, this Guardian article on the subject is also well worth reading.

Written in 1908, Anne of Green Gables tells the story of Anne Shirley, an orphan sent by mistake to Mathew and Marilla Cuthbert, middle aged siblings who had planned to adopt a boy to help on their farm, Green Gables, in the fictional small town of Avonlea, on Prince Edward Island, in Canada.   After meeting Anne, they decide to continue with the adoption rather than send her back to the orphanage. The novel tells the story of Anne’s new life with the Cuthberts, her friendships and schooldays. 

Anne of Green Gables has been translated into 36 languages and sold more than 50 million copies, it has been adapted for cinema, television series and as a musical which still plays every summer in Charlottetown, the capital of Prince Edward Island.

As facilitators, Jane and Caroline are looking forward to sharing their love of all things Anne with both new readers and old fans. For many readers, Anne’s story is not one that stays in childhood but is a book that we reach for time and again, being inspired by the beauty of her inner world, her imagination and her childhood resilience. Join us for four weeks of reading, discussion and sharing memories of this beloved book.

In lieu of payment, we are asking readers to donate to the Malala Fund, which invests in education activists and advocates who are driving solutions to barriers to girls’ education in their communities. For further information about their work please see their website.

Payment:  While we want to raise as much money as possible for the Malala Fund we’d also like to make this study available to as wide an audience as possible, regardless of financial means.  We are also aware that readers may already be committed to supporting other charities.  For this reason we are leaving the amount unspecified, asking people to set their own donation with a minimum of £10.00. 

SALON DETAILS

• Four meeting virtual study (via Zoom) facilitated by Jane Wymark and Caroline Hammond
• Wednesday evenings 6–8.00 pm (UK time), 7-28 September
• Payment will be a donation to Malala Fund (via London Literary Salon)