Book Club: Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery

About

Meeting at the usual place, The Shakespeare Hotel, 200 Devonshire St, Surry Hills, at 7pm on Thursday 3 September 2026, we will be discussing Anne of Green Gables (1908).

We are very lucky to welcome back Susannah Fullerton, the president of the Jane Austen Society of Australia, who spoke at our August meeting. Anne of Green Gables is one of her favourite books, and she has conducted ‘Anne’ tours of where the book was set, in Avonlea, Prince Edward Island, Canada. More info about Susannah can be found at https://susannahfullerton.com.au/

Anne of Green Gables was the first in a series of Anne stories by Lucy Maud Montgomery about the young orphan. Adapted many times for TV and movies, it is the story of a middle-aged brother and sister who live on a small farm in the 1870s. They want to adopt a strapping young boy to help with the labouring on the farm. Due to a confusion in communication and much to their disappointment, they get a skinny 11 year-old girl. Their disappointment at getting a girl is replaced with a growing affection and they allow her to stay at their home.

Often seen at first glance as little more than a ‘girl’s novel’, it is a very moving story with very grown-up themes: life and death, duty and sacrifice, loyalty and loss, and the celebration of beauty in the commonplace.

There will be 5 minutes of introductory remarks followed by Susannah’s presentation, where she will be happy to answer questions. The meeting then formally ends, with almost everyone staying…