Anne of Green Gables: Easy Reading Revision

Lucy Maud Montgomery published Anne of Green Gables in 1908, early in the twentieth century. Her writing style was similar to most popular writing then, and her story of the talkative, red-headed orphan who grows up to be a beautiful, talented woman is one of the most beloved tales of all time.
The CBS miniseries broadcast in 1985 brought this story to new generations of children and adults. I was a young mother at the time and, charmed by the story, I bought Montgomery’s six books covering Anne’s life. However, I was quickly disappointed that her long paragraphs, excessive description, and rambling dialogue did not appeal to young readers of the end of the twentieth century.
As an editor, writing teacher, and publisher of my own books, I believed that a twenty-first century revising and editing of Montgomery’s writing would make the book more accessible to today’s children. I have kept all-important aspects of the author’s style and storyline and have concentrated on tightening her prose, as I am sure an editor would do if she were submitting her book for publishing today. I have omitted words and comments that might be considered offensive or misunderstood today as well as substituting for archaic or obscure words.
I hope these changes make Montgomery’s book an easier read for today’s children.