Anne of Windy Poplars

This article is about the novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery. For 1940 American film, see Anne of Windy Poplars (film).
Anne of Windy Poplars

First edition
Author Lucy Maud Montgomery
Country Canada
Language English
Series Anne of Green Gables
Genre Children's novel
Publisher McClelland and Stewart
Publication date
 1936
Media type Print (Hardcover)
Preceded by Anne of the Island
Followed by Anne's House of Dreams

Anne of Windy Poplars, also published as Anne of Windy Willows in the UK, Australia and Japan, is an epistolary novel by L. M. Montgomery. First published in 1936 by McClelland and Stewart, it details Anne Shirley's experiences over three years teaching at a high school in Summerside, Prince Edward Island. The novel features a series of letters Anne sends to her intended, Gilbert Blythe, who is completing medical school. Chronologically, this book is fourth in the series, but it was the seventh book written.

Summary

Anne of Windy Poplars takes place over the three years between Anne's graduation from Redmond College and her marriage to Gilbert Blythe. While Gilbert is in medical school, Anne takes a job as the principal of Summerside High School, where she also teaches. She lives in a large house called Windy Poplars with two elderly widows, Aunt Kate and Aunt Chatty, along with their housekeeper, Rebecca Dew, and their cat, Dusty Miller.

During her time in Summerside, Anne must learn to manage many of Summerside's inhabitants, including the clannish and resentful Pringle family, her bitter colleague Katherine Brooke, and others of Summerside's more eccentric residents. Additionally, Anne befriends the young and lonely Elizabeth Grayson, a motherless member of the Pringle family who lives next door to Windy Poplars. She frequently visits Marilla at Green Gables.

At the end of the novel, Anne departs Summerside, returning to Green Gables and Avonlea for her wedding to Gilbert. Upon her departure many of the town's residents express that they will greatly miss her as they have grown very fond of her or have been helped by her, including Katherine Brooke and Elizabeth Grayson.

Characters

Anne Shirley The book's main protagonist. After becoming engaged to Gilbert Blythe, Anne accepts the job of Summerside High principal until Gilbert finishes medical school.

Rebecca Dew - Aunt Chatty and Aunt Kate's housekeeper. Summerside believes that she rules the "widows" with her outspoken ways and her demands. However, her employers have long learned to manage her through reverse psychology. She is genuinely fond of Anne and very kind.

Elizabeth Grayson - A lonely and unhappy child that lives next door to Anne. She is being raised by her Great-Grandmother and her Great Grandmother's elderly housekeeper, whom Elizabeth calls "The Woman". Her father left her to work overseas when Elizabeth's mother died. Elizabeth changes her name, calling herself Lizzie or Bess, based on her mood. She worships Anne and Anne, in turn, loves and cares for Elizabeth. Anne tries to find ways to bring joy to Elizabeth's life.

Aunt Chatty/Charlotte MacLean

Aunt Kate/Kate McComber

Katherine Brooke - The Vice Principal of Summerside High. She resents Anne because she believes that she should have been offered the job as Principal. Katherine is sarcastic and bitter, but a good teacher. As a child, she was orphaned and raised by her uncle. She feels the need to repay her uncle every cent he spent in raising her, so she lives a joyless and miserly life. In the end, she becomes good friends with Anne and finds her path to happiness.

Miss Valentine Courtaloe

Sally Nelson

Nora Edith Nelson

Hazel Marr

Series

Montgomery continued the story of Anne Shirley in a series of sequels. They are listed in the order of Anne's age in each novel.

Lucy Maud Montgomery's books featuring Anne Shirley
#BookDate publishedAnne Shirley's age
1Anne of Green Gables 190811 — 16
2Anne of Avonlea 190916 — 18
3Anne of the Island 191518 — 22
4Anne of Windy Poplars193622 — 25
5Anne's House of Dreams191725 — 27
6Anne of Ingleside193934 — 40
7Rainbow Valley191941
8Rilla of Ingleside192149 — 53
Related books in which Anne Shirley plays a lesser part
#BookDate publishedAnne Shirley's age
—Chronicles of Avonlea1912—
—Further Chronicles of Avonlea1920—
—The Blythes Are Quoted2009—

Windy Poplars vs Windy Willows

Montgomery's original title for the book was Anne of Windy Willows, but her US publisher requested that she change the title because of the title's similarities to The Wind in the Willows. Additionally, her publisher requested some cuts to the book, mainly for perceived gory or terrifying content. Montgomery complied, and the edited novel was published in the United States and Canada as Anne of Windy Poplars. Her UK publisher, however, did not see the need for the edits and published the unabridged version under the original title, Anne of Windy Willows.[1][2]

Adaptations

A 1940 film version of the novel was made with the actress Anne Shirley. This recorded a loss of $176,000.[3]

The novel also serves as the primary source for the 1987 television mini-series Anne of Avonlea.

References

  1. ↑ My dear Mr. M: Letters to GB MacMillan from LM Montgomery, Mcgraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd, 1980, pp. 180-181
  2. ↑ The Differences Between Anne of Windy Poplars and Anne of Windy Willows
  3. ↑ Richard Jewell & Vernon Harbin, The RKO Story. New Rochelle, New York: Arlington House, 1982. p149

External links

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