L.M. Montgomery Research Group

The Modern Literature and Culture Research Centre at Ryerson University has launched a new section devoted to the Anne of Green Gables centenary. It includes information about a number of projects: Irene Gammel’s new book, Looking for Anne (due out in April from Key Porter Books and in July from St. Martin’s Press); a proposed collection of essays on Anne of Green Gables: New Directions, for University of Toronto Press; and a one-day symposium and exhibit held at Ryerson University on April 7, 2008 (Jason, Yuka and I are among the featured presenters). An article about the symposium/exhibit can be found here.

Elizabeth Mawson, who played Marilla Cuthbert in Anne of Green Gables: The Musical at the Confederation Centre for the Arts in Charlottetown between 1971 and 2003, died on Saturday in Toronto at the age of 81. Obituaries can be found at CBC.ca and at the websites for the Globe and Mail and the Charlottetown Guardian.

An article titled “Wilson tackles ‘daunting’ prequel to Anne of Green Gables” can be found at CBC.ca, along with an interview with the author of the recently released Beyond Green Gables.

Before Green Gables and 100 Years of Anne Shirley

This episode comes to you from the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Canada, where a large group of people braved a moderate snowstorm to attend the launch of Before Green Gables, the prequel of Anne of Green Gables.

The book launch coincides with the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the introduction of Anne Shirley to the world. To mark the occasion, Canada Post has unveiled two new stamps one for Anne Shirley and one for Prince Edward Island, the Royal Canadian Mint unveiled their new Anne Shirley quarter and Girl Guides of Canada have unveiled a new patch.

This episode of Just One More Book includes interviews with author Budge Wilson, editor Helen Reeves, LM granddaughter Kate Macdonald Butler, the Right and Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, LM Montgomery expert Betsy Epperly, publicist Alina Goldstein and the many voices of Anne Shirley enthusiasts.

Visit the site and click on the interview link for the audio.

James Adams’s article on the Anne centenary appears in today’s Globe and Mail. Also, CBC Radio 1 will air a short piece on Anne of Green Gables at 6:00 PM Eastern, featuring interviews with Yuka Kajihara, Budge Wilson, and Irene Gammel.

From The Journal Pioneer: Cavendish to get new Anne anniversary theatre—Darlene Shea.

CAVENDISH — To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the publication of “Anne of Green Gables”, a new theatre will be opening this summer in Cavendish. The Montgomery Theatre will provide a venue to present plays from the life and times of the book’s author, Lucy M. Montgomery. The idea of the theatre was hatched in the summer of 2007 when a group of tourism operators from the Cavendish area met to plan a community commemoration project to mark the centennial.The group also met with internationally acclaimed artistic director Duncan McIntosh, to come up with plans for the theatre.

This new cultural initiative will be launched on Thursday at 10 a.m. at Avonlea Church in Avonlea Village, Cavendish.

Pre-order listings have appeared on Amazon.ca and Chapters.Indigo.ca for Mary Henley Rubio’s forthcoming biography, The Gift of Wings: The Life of Lucy Maud Montgomery, to be published in October by Doubleday Canada (whose own listing for the book can be found here). More information about this book will be posted here once it becomes available.

The Guardian has a nice article on LMM and Anne: “Anne’s Evergreen Gables: Lucy Maud Montgomery’s irrepressible creation remains her fascination a century on” that references Yuka’s Anne of Green Gables in Japan FAQ.