The Complete Anne of Green Gables Boxed Set (Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, Anne of Windy Poplars, Anne's House of Dreams, ... Rainbow Valley, Rilla of Ingleside) [Box set] [Mass Market Paperback]

L.M. Montgomery (Author)

Book Description

Release date: October 6, 1998 | Age Range: 9 and up

Favorites for nearly 100 years, these classic novels follow the adventures of the spirited redhead Anne Shirley, who comes to stay at Green Gables and wins the hearts of everyone she meets.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

When Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert of Green Gables, Prince Edward Island, send for a boy orphan to help them out at the farm, they are in no way prepared for the error that will change their lives. The mistake takes the shape of Anne Shirley, a redheaded 11-year-old girl who can talk anyone under the table. Fortunately, her sunny nature and quirky imagination quickly win over her reluctant foster parents. Anne's feisty spirit soon draws many friends--and much trouble--her way. Not a day goes by without some melodramatic new episode in the tragicomedy of her life. Early on, Anne declares her eternal antipathy for Gilbert Blythe, a classmate who commits the ultimate sin of mocking her hair color. Later, she accidentally dyes that same cursed hair green. Another time, in her haste to impress a new neighbor, she bakes a cake with liniment instead of vanilla. Lucy Maud Montgomery's series of books about Anne have remained classics since the early 20th century. Her portrayal of this feminine yet independent spirit has given generations of girls a strong female role model, while offering a taste of another, milder time in history. This lovely boxed gift collection comprises Anne of Green Gables, Anne of the Island, Anne of Avonlea, Anne of Windy Poplars, Anne's House of Dreams, Anne of Ingleside, Rainbow Valley, and Rilla of Ingleside. (Ages 9 to 12) --Emilie Coulter

Product Details

• Age Range: 9 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 497 pages
• Publisher: Starfire; Reprint edition (October 6, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553609416
• ISBN-13: 978-0553609417
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 4.3 x 7.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (287 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,105 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #67 in Books > Children's Books > Classics

More About the Author

Lucy Maude Montgomery (1874-1942) was born on Prince Edward Island, Canada, the setting for Anne of Green Gables. She left to attend college, but returned to Prince Edward Island to teach. In 1911, she married the Reverend Ewan MacDonald. Anne of Green Gables, the first in a series of "Anne" books by Montgomery, was published in 1908 to immediate success and continues to be a perennial favorite.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

500 of 504 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Enduring, original, and always entertaining Anne Shirley! August 27, 2002

By V. Garlock

Format:Mass Market Paperback

The ANNE OF GREEN GABLES series is one of the most unforgettable, and one of the most enjoyable, series of all children's literature. This series chronicles the life and times of Anne Shirley.

Anne Shirley is the plucky, imaginative, red-haired orphan. Her parents die when she is baby, and so she spends the first 11 years of her life going between homes and orphanages, with no one really wanting to keep or to love her. By a mistake, she is brought to Avonlea--instead of a boy--to be adopted by Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, a pair of farmers who never thought they would be raising a girl in their old age.

You may want to skip this next part of my review, because I am going to sum up each book briefly. No plot spoilers will be revealed, but some of the contents will, and if you haven't read all the books, then maybe you don't want the content revealed ahead of time.

ANNE OF GREEN GABLES covers a span of Anne's first 5 years in Avonlea. She will age from 11 to 16. Her immortal antics that have made this book so beloved include her rivalry with Gilbert Blythe, dyeing her hair, and falling off of Mrs. Barry's roof...

ANNE OF AVONLEA spans two years. Anne is 18 at the novel's finish. She has become a teacher. Marilla adopts twins. Also, Anne has some more humorous and immortal moments.

ANNE OF THE ISLAND spans 4 years--Anne college years at Redmond. She will be 22 at the end of the novel. Anne discovers the real meaning of romance and love and courtship in this novel.

ANNE OF WINDY POPLARS also known as ANNE OF WINDY WILLOWS covers the 3 years of Anne's engagement to Gilbert. She is a Principle at Summerside High School where she has to deal with the Pringle clan, Katherine Brooke, and plenty of other interesting folks....

ANNE'S HOUSE OF DREAMS covers the first two years of Anne's married life. She and Gilbert now live in Four Winds Point, 60 miles east of Avonlea. Gilbert is making a living as a doctor, and the Blythes have new and interesting neighbors. **My favorite book of the series.**

Note: there is about a 6 year break between AHoD and AoI.

ANNE OF INGLESIDE covers about 6 years. Anne and Gilbert have moved to Glen St. Mary, near Four Winds Point, and now have children. This novel covers the birth of Rilla to the 15th wedding anniversary of Anne and Gilbert. More about Anne's children's adventures than Anne herself.

RAINBOW VALLEY takes place in 1 year. It is about Anne's children, and more specifically their neighbors, the Merediths--Faith, Una, Jerry, and Carl--and Mary Vance, but Anne does come in at important points within the novel. Faith is reminiscent in many ways of the young Anne.

Note: there is about a 9 year break between RV and RoI.

RILLA OF INGLESIDE is a heroine in her right. She ages from 15 to 19 during World War 1, the setting of this novel's time period. Anne is by now in her 50s and is a background character, but Rilla is a delightful and outgoing heroine with or without her mother.

This series was meant to be loved and reread and reread. Read the books in chronological order, or read them out-of-order but you'll still find them as fresh and enjoyable and as humorous as the first time you read them.

***Montgomery wrote some books about Anne's neighbors in Avonlea (CHRONICLES OF AVONLEA, FURTHER CHRONICLES OF AVONELEA) and in Glen St. Mary (THE ROAD TO YESTERDAY). And so if you enjoy the Anne books you might enjoy those books as well---although any Montgomery book is a reccommended read.*** Read more ›

97 of 97 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The most wonderful books in the world October 22, 1999

By Heather

Format:Mass Market Paperback

When I was in high school I was a mean, black leather wearing, heavy metal girl. A long time friend forced me against my will to read the first "Anne" book and my life has been so much more beautiful ever since. These books made me see the magical beauty in nature, bosom friends, family, imagination, and even crabby old ladies (this last has come in handy on many occasions). I now have made a point of buying the set for every girl I consider a friend. I am now 23, and when I have children of my own, girls or boys, I will read them "Anne" as soon as they can understand what I am saying. If you liked the "Anne" books I would also recommend books by Louisa May Alcott (Little Women)and Frances Hodgson Burnett (A Little Princess)

112 of 114 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Charming November 23, 1999

By Caroline

Format:Mass Market Paperback

I first loved the "Anne-girl" books at 12 or 13. Since then, whenever I am feeling glum, I re-read the detail-filled tales of an orphan girl from PEI with a vivid imagination and an enviable, wholly positive outlook on life. I recently realized that I skipped volumes #5 and 6 so it was a real treat to go back to read them (I could relate better at 25 and a newlywed to "Anne's House of Dreams.") It's hard not to see the beauty and romance in these books. Lucy Maud Montgomery wrote charming tales--I imagine it's the sort of thing that Anne wrote during her B.A. days at Redmond.

I'm back online to buy the boxed set for my sister, age 10. I hope she learns to love Anne, Diana, Gilbert and the host of other kindred spirits Lucy Maud Montgomery created as much as I do.

39 of 41 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Practically one of the best! August 4, 2000

By Vanster

Format:Mass Market Paperback

I started the Anne of Greene Gables series when I was 10 or so and could not stop reading it. This book is one of the best classics and one of my all time childhood favorites (Ramona Quimby being the other)! I read all the series that followed as well and they were equally excellent. Lucy Montgomery has created characters that are so endearing and heartwarming that you feel as if they are real and that you can identify with them. The story is a beautiful story with so much imagination, depth, and heart, and even subtle sweet romance...stories that are very rare to come by these days. It truly touched my heart and has continued to warm my heart even to this day at the age of 24 when I am down or just need some inspiration and good fun reading! Girls and women alike should all read this as this series should never fail to inspire you and make you see the world in a more beautiful and different light. Truly touching, inspiring, romantic, and humorous all at once!

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite book of all time July 15, 2002

By "lia47"

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Anne Shirley rocks. I don't know what else to say. I received the series as a gift when I was 11, and after I read one chapter I devoured all 8 books. I've now read Anne of Green Gables so often that I can practically quote the whole thing - I still read it whenever I need an escape from the real world.

The novel is essentially a portrait of a sweet, lovable, imaginative child growing up in Prince Edward Island in the late 19th century. An orphan since infancy, Anne is tossed around by people who don't want her until she is accidentally adopted by the Cuthberts, who wanted a boy. With the Cuthberts, Anne at last finds the home she has so long desired - and her adopted family (aging siblings Matthew and Marilla) rediscover the beauty of the world through the bright little girl.

Montgomery fills this book with glorious descriptions of the PEI landscape she knew so well, and with simple, touching stories of growing up. It is so easy to relate to Anne as she deals with her innumerable "scrapes," from accidentally setting her best friend drunk to dyeing her hair green to being made to sit with a boy in school. You will love Anne the minute you meet her, and you will laugh and cry with her through the entire series.