[LINK] Anne has made it big

[rfmcdonald]

From CBC Prince Edward Island:

Anne of Green Gables has been published in Mandarin for the first time.

The world-famous L. M. Montgomery novel has been translated into dozens of languages but this is the first time it's been published in the official language of China.

UPEI professor and Montgomery expert Betsy Epperly was at the book launch in Beijing last week. She says the Chinese invented landscape art, and would be drawn to the landscape images of the novel.

Epperly also says the Anne character itself holds a big attraction for the Chinese people.

"By their standards, she would seem somewhat eccentric, and very free, but also because she has such a kind heart," she says.

"So they're attracted to the kindness, to the landscape, and to the volatility and articulation in Anne."

The Chinese government's press published 10,000 copies of Anne of Green Gables. Epperly predicts it will become so popular that the next printing will see a million copies printed. She also believes that because the Chinese government is printing the books, Anne will have a better chance of getting into schools there.

That would mean access to 350 million children.