| Before Green Gables | |
| Author: | Budge Wilson |
| Country: | Canada |
| Language: | English |
| Genre: | Children's novel |
| Pub Date: | 2008 |
| Media Type: | Print (Hardcover) |
| Pages: | 400 |
| Isbn: | 0-425-22576-3 |
| Oclc: | 312933557 |
| Followed By: | Anne of Green Gables |
Before Green Gables is the title of a prequel to the Anne Shirley series.[1] The book was published in 2008 by Puffin, a division of Penguin Books, as part of Puffin's celebration of Anne Shirley's centennial anniversary, which sees the Anne Shirley series re-released to commemorate the event.[1] The first book in the Anne Shirley series was Anne of Green Gables, which was published in 1908.
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]
This book describes Anne's difficult pre-Green-Gables childhood. That time includes the deaths of her parents, her subsequent life with the Thomas and later the Hammond families, and her time in an orphanage.[1]
Along the way, she meets some kind people who give her hope. Anne's imagination helps her get through these hard times, preparing her for her future at Green Gables.[2]
Three editions are available from different publishers:
Before Green Gables was translated into Japanese as a title of Kon'nichiwa Anne (meaning "Hello, Anne") and sold by Shinchosha[3] and Polish as Droga do Zielonego Wzgórza (meaning "Road/Way to Green Gables"), published by Wydawnictwo Literackie.[4] 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.[5]
Benjamin Lefebvre, co-chairman of the L.M. Montgomery Research Group wrote an article about this book.[6]
The series was adapted into an anime, , the latest entry in Nippon Animation's World Masterpiece Theater series. It aired in Japan from April 5, 2009 to December 27, 2009.