L. M. Montgomery

L. M. Montgomery is well-known for her best-selling book, Anne of Green Gables. In the novel, the Canadian author provides a detailed description of the life of an orphaned girl by the name Anne Shirley. This novel was a hit and gave Montgomery international recognition. Following this success, she released subsequent books on the same character. In total, Montgomery published 20 novels, 30 essays, 500 poems, and 530 short stories.

Most of her works were set in real places within Canada helping them becoming tourist landmarks. For example, Green Gables farm saw the emergence of Prince Edward Island National Park. Due to her immense contribution to literature, Lucy Maud Montgomery was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. This membership saw her get a special medal only worn in public in the presence of the King or his representatives such as the Governor-General.

Personal life and education

Lucy Maud Montgomery was born on November 30, 1874, in Prince Edward Island to mother Clara Woolner Macneill and father Hugh John Montgomery. Her mother died of tuberculosis when she was barely one year nine months old. Her father then placed Lucy under the custodian of her maternal grandparents.

At the age of 7 years, Lucy relocated to the-now Prince Albert, Saskatchewan where she was raised by grandparents Lucy Woolner Macneill and Alexander Marquis Macneill. She had quite a lonely childhood, spending most of her time alone even though she had relatives. That led her to create imaginary friends to deal with the loneliness.

After reading the book, Anne of Green Gables and Montgomery’s biography, you get the feeling that the book’s character, Anne, is the reflection of Lucy’s childhood. Just like the character, She had quite a lonely childhood, had imaginary friends to deal with the loneliness, and often dreamt of fame in the future.

L. M. Montgomery was among the talented writers who wrote much about World War I after it broke out. As observed by her biographer, Mary Henley Rubio, she wanted to talk about the war was. Her journals indicate that it completely consumed her. She got furious when her husband failed to buy a daily newspaper.

She studied at Prince of Wales College where she got a teacher’s license and later enrolled in Dalhousie University to study literature.

Writing career

During the publication of her first novel, Lucy Maud Montgomery was issued with a stamp by the Post Office Department. As a prolific writer, she focused much of her work on Anne as the main character. After an unbeaten run, the author started writing about a new character, Emily, in 1921. This new character star was debuted in the book Emily of New Moon, replacing Anne in her novel series. As opposed to Anne, who wasn’t sure of where her life was headed, Emily understood that she wanted to become a writer.

Besides these popular series, Montgomery also released exciting works like The Story Girl, Jane of Lantern Hill, The Alpine Path: The Story of My Career, and A Tangled Web, among many other successful books, essays, and journals.