Warning: If you have a visual impairment, use the manuscript transcript version including the Lucy Maud Montgomery’s foot notes and contextual annotation references.

Chapter 1

1

Anne of Green Gables.

Chapter 1.

Mrs. Rachel Lynde is Surprised.

Mrs. Rachel Lynde lived just where the Avonlea (begin subscript)^(end subscript)(begin superscript)main (end superscript)road dipped down into a little hollow (begin subscript)^(end subscript)(begin superscript)Note A.(end superscript) traversed by a brook that had its source away back in the woods of the old Cuthbert place: it was reported to be an intricate headlong brook in its earlier course through those woods, with dark secrets of pool and cascade. But by the time it reached Lynde’s Hollow it was a (begin subscript)^(end subscript)(begin superscript)quiet(end superscript) well-conducted little stream, for not even a brook could run past Mrs. Rachel Lynde’s door without due regard for decency and decorum; it probably was conscious that Mrs. Rachel was sitting at her window, keeping a sharp eye on everything that pa[ssed] (begin superscript)Note B.(end superscript) and that if she noticed anyth[ing] odd (begin subscript)^(end subscript)(begin superscript)or out of place(end superscript) she would never rest un[til]

 

LMM Notes

LMM Note A:
, fringed with alders and (begin strikethrough) jewel weed(end strikethrough) ladies eardrops and

[Chapter 1 includes Notes A-X; Note pages 1-4.]

LMM Note B:
from brooks and children up,


TEXT ANNOTATION

"Avonlea" was modeled on Montgomery’s home community of Cavendish, Prince Edward Island. In a long journal entry (Complete Journals, January 27, 1911, pp. 347-357), Montgomery identified many of the places and some of the stories that inspired Anne. Learn more about Montgomery's Cavendish.

PHOTO ANNOTATION

black and white image of a small, still brook running between trees

"Lynde's Hollow": A stream runs below Green Gables even today. Montgomery's photograph labelled "Brook on Alexander Macneill's farm" in Cavendish.
Archival and Special Collections, University of Guelph. L.M. Montgomery Collection

AUDIO ANNOTATION

REFERENCE
 Hear the opening passage of the published novel read aloud by Montgomery's granddaughter, Kate Macdonald Butler.

Chapter 1.

Mrs. Rachel Lynde is Surprised.

Mrs. Rachel Lynde lived just where the Avonlea main road dipped down into a little hollow, fringed with alders and ladies' eardrops and traversed by a brook that had its source away back in the woods of the old Cuthbert place; it was reputed to be an intricate headlong brook in its earlier course through those woods, with dark secrets of pool and cascade; but by the time it reached Lynde’s Hollow it was a quiet well-conducted little stream, for not even a brook could run past Mrs. Rachel Lynde’s door without due regard for decency and decorum; it probably was conscious that Mrs. Rachel was sitting at her window, keeping a sharp eye on everything that passed, from brooks and children up, and that if she noticed anything odd or out of place she would never rest until she had ferreted out the whys and wherefores thereof.

PHOTO ANNOTATION

stack of yellowed pages with a wooden ruler for scale

The original manuscript page is torn in two places and was repaired with translucent archival paper. This photograph shows the size of the full manuscript. You can see through the tear in the lower right-hand corner of this first page. Learn more about the manuscript or about our transcription.
Jean-Sébastion Duchesne, Confederation Centre Art Gallery