In the early 1900's, Lucy Maud Montgomery was working as an editor for the Halifax Morning Chronicle when she read a newspaper article about a local couple who applied to adopt a boy, but instead was sent a girl. The wheels started turning in Miss Montgomery's head.
In 1905, she wrote a novel about an elderly sister and brother from P.E.I. who apply to adopt a boy, but instead are sent a red-headed, freckle-faced girl with a wild imagination. Most people would assume that her story was immediately snapped up by a publisher. But this was not the case. After five rejections, Miss Montgomery put her manuscript in a hat box and tucked it away. In the meantime, she got on with her life.
Three years passed. Finally, the author resubmitted her story. This time it was accepted by L. C. Page of Boston, Massachusetts. Anne of Green Gables was an immediate success in bookstores, selling more than 19000 copies in the first five months. It was translated into 20 different languages. Miss Montgomery penned seven sequels, all of which enjoyed a certain amount of success. Today it has sold an estimated 50 million copies worldwide.
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