Anne of Windy Poplars

Summary

Anne of Windy Poplars takes place over the three years between Anne's graduation from Redmond College and her marriage to Gilbert Blythe. While Gilbert is in medical school, Anne takes a job as the principal of Summerside High School, where she also teaches. She lives in a large house called Windy Poplars with two elderly widows, Aunt Kate and Aunt Chatty, along with their housekeeper, Rebecca Dew, and their cat, Dusty Miller.

During her time in Summerside, Anne must learn to manage many of Summerside's inhabitants, including the clannish and resentful Pringle family, her bitter colleague Katherine Brooke, and others of Summerside's more eccentric residents. Additionally, Anne befriends the young and lonely Elizabeth Grayson, a motherless member of the Pringle family who lives next door to Windy Poplars. She frequently visits Marilla at Green Gables.

At the end of the novel, Anne departs Summerside, returning to Green Gables and Avonlea for her wedding to Gilbert. Upon her departure many of the town's residents express that they will greatly miss her as they have grown very fond of her or have been helped by her, including Katherine Brooke and Elizabeth Grayson.

Characters

Anne Shirley The book's main protagonist. After becoming engaged to Gilbert Blythe, Anne accepts the job of Summerside High principal until Gilbert finishes medical school.

Rebecca Dew - Aunt Chatty and Aunt Kate's housekeeper. Summerside believes that she rules the "widows" with her outspoken ways and her demands. However, her employers have long learned to manage her through reverse psychology. She is genuinely fond of Anne and very kind.

Elizabeth Grayson - A lonely and unhappy child that lives next door to Anne. She is being raised by her Great-Grandmother and her Great Grandmother's elderly housekeeper, whom Elizabeth calls "The Woman". Her father left her to work overseas when Elizabeth's mother died. Elizabeth changes her name, calling herself Lizzie or Bess, based on her mood. She worships Anne and Anne, in turn, loves and cares for Elizabeth. Anne tries to find ways to bring joy to Elizabeth's life.

Aunt Chatty/Charlotte MacLean

Aunt Kate/Kate McComber

Katherine Brooke - The Vice Principal of Summerside High. She resents Anne because she believes that she should have been offered the job as Principal. Katherine is sarcastic and bitter, but a good teacher. As a child, she was orphaned and raised by her uncle. She feels the need to repay her uncle every cent he spent in raising her, so she lives a joyless and miserly life. In the end, she becomes good friends with Anne and finds her path to happiness.

Miss Valentine Courtaloe

Sally Nelson

Nora Edith Nelson

Hazel Marr

Series

Montgomery continued the story of Anne Shirley in a series of sequels. They are listed in the order of Anne's age in each novel.

Windy Poplars vs Windy Willows

Montgomery's original title for the book was Anne of Windy Willows, but her US publisher requested that she change the title because of the title's similarities to The Wind in the Willows. Additionally, her publisher requested some cuts to the book, mainly for perceived gory or terrifying content. Montgomery complied, and the edited novel was published in the United States and Canada as Anne of Windy Poplars. Her UK publisher, however, did not see the need for the edits and published the unabridged version under the original title, Anne of Windy Willows.

Adaptations

A 1940 film version of the novel was made with the actress Anne Shirley. This recorded a loss of $176,000.

The novel also serves as the primary source for the 1987 television mini-series Anne of Avonlea.