The Blythes Are Quoted

Did she sometimes rue that day she invented her charming Frankenstein? Or does she now chuckle at her resilience, how Anne has legged it straight through the 20th century into the 21st? In search of further evidence on Anne, Montgomery's papers have been mined and sifted, microscopically examined and forensically dissected. And yes, there are discoveries to be made, perhaps thinly stretched as "new," but nevertheless interesting additions to the overall narrative of a character so familiar that we suspect she lives next door.

The Blythes are Quoted is such a discovery. It is the very last book L. Montgomery completed; Elizabeth Rollins Epperly's foreword indicates that the typescript was delivered to the publisher on the very day the author died, April 24, But although mentioned in her obituary in The Globe and Mail, the book did not appear until , when it was published in expurgated form as The Road to Yesterday.

In , critic Benjamin Lefebvre reopened those files and found that the poems and stories that had been excised from the earlier edition suggested an entirely different aspect to Montgomery's writing. He set out, using the three typescripts held in the archives, to restore the manuscript to the form intended by Montgomery. Lefebvre's patient and meticulous scholarship has resulted in this fascinating volume, a gift to insatiable followers of Anne Shirley's story.

The Blythes are Quoted collects 27 short stories about different characters from communities that we recognize as part of Montgomery's map of Prince Edward Island. They are interspersed with poems "authored" by Anne Blythe and her son, Walter Blythe, and accompanied by vignette-like commentaries on those poems from members of Anne's family. These dialogues reflect the Blythe family's memories and cognizance, thus recording an intimate conversation that resonates beyond their circle.

More important, they shape this book into an allegory channelled by the medium of sorrow. Of course, we know that Anne Shirley became Anne Blythe, having married the redoubtable Gilbert, and that together they had a robust family, although their first child died at birth, and their son Walter was killed in the Great War. It is Walter's poetic voice, alongside Anne's, that frames this collection, making it less a sunny-side-up Anne redux than a multifaceted ghost story, and a subtle condemnation of the destructiveness of war.

The first half of the book deals with life before the First World War, and the second half deals with life after that war, right up to the Second World War, with one of the characters in the last story falling in love just before he sails away with his battalion. The disparate stories themselves, while often resolved with predictably happy endings and mawkish proposals, demonstrate a darker subtext, surprising to those who assign to Montgomery a Victorian felicity. They take up the underside of social amiability: They are compelling because they recognize that humans are capable of perfidy, and that beneath the smooth surface of respectable piety lurks imperfection, even wickedness.

But most fascinating, for all its passive awkwardness of phrase, is the way that this book plays with its title: The Blythes are Quoted. Every story, while none uses the Blythes as principle characters, contrives to register commentary on the Blythes known to all! These repetitions of the assessments and attitudes of Anne, Gilbert and their children suggest not only the mirror of an ideal community standard, but possibly insinuate a tongue-in-cheek irony on the part of their author.

Montgomery was probably both heartily sick of her Anne-creature and aware that she would forever be lauded for having invented her. What did he think of success? And whether or no, Walter, I wish you would remember that while writing poetry is a very good amusement for a woman it is no real occupation for a man. This fine and respectful collection will sustain and enhance the Montgomery legacy, deservedly so. Sixty-seven years after her death, the life and work of this beloved Canadian author continue to enchant and intrigue on many levels.

The last few stories, set in the years just prior to World War II, provide glimpses into the lives of the adult Blythe children. We see marriages come to fruition, and a new generation of children born. Most importantly, we get one last glimpse into the life of an iconic character — Anne.

Celebrating Women Writers from around the World. An absolute must have for any fan of Montgomery, and highly recommended to those new to her work. Benjamin Lefebvre Paratexts edition: Viking Canada Toronto Date: From the Dust Jacket edition Adultery, illegitimacy, revenge, murder, and death—these are not the first terms we associate with L.

He always wanted to help people. An old love turns out to be a lunatic and the desired adventurous life not so desirable. Penelope Struts Her Theories 2. A slap to be remembered? The Cheated Child 4 A sweet happy ending. The Pot and the Kettle 4 Nice and cute and predictable except for that last sentence.

Here comes the Bride 4 The many perspectives of a wedding Brother Beware 3. The Road to Yesterday 4 You are not Dick! Identical looking cousins seem to be common. A Commonplace Woman 4 An old maid who is on her deathbed recollects her life. I don't know how to rate this! I really liked it, especially the poetry, which is funny, because Montgomery's poetry can be a bit cheesy. These poems seemed more real and had a depth of feeling to them. This collection is dark, sad, and morbid.

The short stories deal with a lot of heartache and despair and knowing now more about Maud's life and marriage, they are probably a bit more honest that a lot of her work. If you don't want to know the real Maud, and just want to remember her via Anne Shi I don't know how to rate this! If you don't want to know the real Maud, and just want to remember her via Anne Shirley, I'd suggest not reading these.

This book itself has a storied and unclear history and I found it fascinating that it may have been suppressed or heavily edited originally. I'm repeating myself here, but if you are a die hard Montgomery fan and know her true history, you will love this, but if you prefer to just stay in Green Gables, I wouldn't read this one. Not quite in the league of the Anne-of-Green-Gables books, but this is a rather enjoyable collection of shorter stories of Prince Edward Island people loosely connected with the Blythe family.

Who hardly appear themselves, sadly. Montgomery is one good storyteller. What a total waste of time this book was. A bit of background information: I'm a huge Anne of Green Gables fan. I was obsessed with the series when I was a kid. Anne of the Island was the first book I ever read on my own.

It is the reason I read as much as I do today. I re-read it almost once a year. So when I saw this book on the shelves back in , I bought it immediately and devoure What a total waste of time this book was. So when I saw this book on the shelves back in , I bought it immediately and devoured the first 40 pages. Because it was unbelievably boring. So seven years later, I re-read the Anne of Green Gables series and decided I really wanted to know what happened to my favourite characters after the series ended. How would they deal with World War 2 after all the hearbreak of Rilla of Ingleside?

It didn't matter if it was boring.

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I would push through it because I needed that information. I didn't even get it. Because this book isn't about the Blythes, or the Merediths, or anyone we care about in the slightest. It's a collection of kind of cute stories about random people in the Glen, who all seem to worship the Blythes and constantly compare themselves and everyone around them to the Blythes.

Honestly, I can't believe I'm saying this, but by the end of this book I was sick of hearing about the stupid Blythes. And for awhile, I pushed through these stories, because I figured that once I got into the second part, which was set after the end of the series, it might be a bit more Blythe-oriented and I might get a bit more information.

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Except that still didn't happen. What did I get instead? More small town drama and Glen gossip that I frankly could not care less about. But hey, it's a good thing I know how those random twins got to renovate that house and whats-his-name got to pick which relative he got to live with. And then there were the poetry sessions. Oh, those poetry sessions.

I looked forward to them, because, you know, they were the only scenes with Blythes in them. But the poetry just didn't stand out to me. I never felt like I was reading Anne or Walter's writing, it was always L. I heard her voice. I couldn't tell the difference between Anne and Walter's poems. It was always just L. Montgomery's works to me.

And then there would be awkward, forced dialogue between the characters as they commented on her poems, that frankly read like bad fanfiction. Do you really have to mention it in every scene? Maybe my expectations were just too high, and maybe some Anne of Green Gables fans will enjoy this. I'll admit that some of the short stories were amusing. But you can also rest assured that you're not missing anything in terms of information about the characters in the series if you skip this book.

I wish I could give this book more than five stars. The last poem and story sent chills all through me. What a melancholy book.

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There will be some spoilers here for the story of the Blythe family: A collection of stories in which the Blythes are more or less tangential — "quoted", bracketed by post-Great War snippets of Blythe conversation and poetry by Anne and Walter. Actually, in a fair number of them the Blythes are loathed, which feels strange — and, to LMM's credit, is not necessarily an indicator of whether we ought to like the character doing the loathing. Some are bad 'uns — What a melancholy book. Some are bad 'uns — but not all. There are some strange patterns in the stories collected in The Blythes Are Quoted.

Those who don't like Anne "Uncle Stephen did not like the Blythes Blythe cherishing bitterness for thirty years. She liked her but she thought her too shallow for that. Blythe can give snubs when he wants to, I can assure you. Then there is an alarming theme of animal abuse, looked at completely differently than we do now "Even if you'd taken the money and burned the binder house I'd have wanted you" — this to someone who killed a dog and a cat and chickens and a goat; "'what [they] did to the kitten' That memory was intolerable" — and, on a similar track, fox farms. In three separate stories foxes are mentioned as a commodity.

There was also a sort of a theme of unresolved questions. I don't think that mystery has ever been solved. There are still all the things I've always loved about L. But this is the dark side, keeping uppermost in my mind throughout the book that Lucy Maud took her own life. Grief and haunting and regret and pain … there are still happy endings. But the interspersed Blythe reminiscences and conversation are a reminder that "happily ever after" never takes into account wars and the deaths of children.

View all 9 comments. A must read for Montgomery fans. I really enjoyed this. Note that this version is unedited and unabridged, so as to better reflect Montogmery's final writings. But in my humble opinion it is in need of an editor. There are many inconsistencies in dates and details - including more than one reference to Rilla and Ken growing u A must read for Montgomery fans.

There are many inconsistencies in dates and details - including more than one reference to Rilla and Ken growing up together, fighting and attending dances, which never happened due to their age difference. Notes in the afterword indicate many of the poems and stories were pre-written, then adapted to form this final commentary on the Blythe family, which helps to explain some of it.

In short, don't expect another Anne-book, but if you are looking for more detail on their lives after the war, after Walter dies, you really must read it. This is an interesting mix of stories and poems -- the stories involve people who know Anne and Gilbert Blythe's family, but they aren't actually in the stories. The poems are by Anne and her son Walter, and we get to hear the family's thoughts and reactions for them, which was by far what I liked best about the book. Most of the stories have happy endings of one sort or another, but many of them also delve into the ideas of disillusionment, despair, regret, spite, and the constant misunderstand This is an interesting mix of stories and poems -- the stories involve people who know Anne and Gilbert Blythe's family, but they aren't actually in the stories.

Most of the stories have happy endings of one sort or another, but many of them also delve into the ideas of disillusionment, despair, regret, spite, and the constant misunderstandings between generations. The tone of the poetry overall was one of regret and loss, a wishful look back at a happier time. This is not a cheerful book. It's an interesting book to study -- I enjoyed thinking about what Montgomery must have been trying to say with the collection, and I'm glad I read the book. But overall it has a feel of disenchantment that did not appeal to me.

This book is L. Montgomery's last installment in the Anne of Green Gables series. I can see why it was never published before. Its format is unusual: I have to admit I skipped most of the poetry, but I enjoyed the short stories—I think This book is L. I have to admit I skipped most of the poetry, but I enjoyed the short stories—I think they are better than some of L. Montgomery's other short story collections. I enjoyed most of these short stories.

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There was only the one written from the point of view of the guests at a wedding that was hard to read. It was rather annoying reading people's thoughts, which were mostly very superficial and judgmental. The other stories were vey nice, if perhaps a bit predictable. Blythe was refered to as such a wonderful person in every story, but she wasn't a character in any of them.

Pl I enjoyed most of these short stories.

The Blythes Are Quoted | Benjamin Lefebvre

That was a little too much even for an Anne fan like myself. Jan 06, Nadine Keels rated it really liked it. What a delightful trip back to Prince Edward Island! To see Rilla of Ingleside's story taking place in the background was quite a touch.

Review: The Blythes are Quoted, by L.M. Montgomery

Aug 12, Misti rated it liked it. A collection of short stories set in and around Glen St. The Blythes are never the focal point of these stories, but they appear or are mentioned in all of them. I thought that I had read most of Montgomery's short stories long ago, but I seem to have missed this collection. Tho A collection of short stories set in and around Glen St. Though I didn't absolutely love any of them, I found some of the stories enjoyable, some mediocre, and some I outright disliked.