Lucy Maud Montgomery: Scholars and fans gather to celebrate Anne of Green Gables' creator
Anne of Green Gables is never truly out of the spotlight on Prince Edward Island, however it’s been four years since scholars and fans gathered to study her creator.
More than 100 people, representing 18 counties, are attending the 15th Biennial Lucy Maud Montgomery Conference.
The attendees are united by their love of Anne Shirley, the Anne of Green Gables series, and author Lucy Maud Montgomery.
Some, like Irina Levchenko, have come from as far away as Vienna, Austria, a testament to the broad appeal of Anne.
“It was really like reading the book about me,” said Levchenko, who first read Anne of Green Gables when she was 20. “I think it’s like this for a lot of girls. They realize there’s something in them and that this book really explains the value of female experience, and gives girls a voice.”
It’s the first time the conference has been held since 2018. “Vision” was to be the theme for the 2020 conference, which was cancelled. So, this year’s theme became “re-vision.”
“It’s both the revision of writing the novels and the manuscripts and the letters,” said Emily Woster, a Lucy Maud Montgomery Scholar from Minnesota. “But it’s really, truly revision. Re-seeing her photography, her visual eye, her descriptions. Re-looking at how we see Montgomery.”
The tale of Anne Shirley has often been adapted, both an effect of and a reason for Montgomery’s broad appeal.
Anne of Green Gables has enjoyed an incredible popularity in Japan since the end of the Second World War. The Canadian classic has even been transformed into Japanese graphic novels.
“Adaptation is sort of a starting point to become a big fan of Anne of Green Gables,” said Yukari Yoshihara, and expert in adaptation. ”We are continuing this sort of tradition of adapting, in manga format.”
Translated into dozens of languages, Anne of Green Gables has been reimagined for stage and screen just as often.
“Montgomery keeps being reinvented over and over,” said Alan MacEachern, event co-chair. “Every time you think that it’s dying down a little bit, the Montgomery fascination blows up in a different way.”
Even after more than 100 years, Lucy Maud Montgomery remains the most influential Islander to ever put pen to paper.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
'Tactical evacuations' underway near Fort Nelson, B.C., as wildfires encroach
The BC Wildfire Service says 'tactical evacuations' began Friday near Fort Nelson, B.C., due to an out-of-control wildfire that has grown rapidly since it was discovered earlier in the afternoon.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.