Canadian children's writer L.M. Montgomery is famous for classic novel Anne of Green Gables, which has become a favourite among young female readers worldwide.
Early Life of L.M. Montgomery
Lucy Maud Montgomery was born on November 30, 1874, in Prince Edward Island, Canada. When she was two her mother died, and her father remarried and moved away, leaving the young Montgomery to be raised by her severe and stern grandparents. Writing became an emotional release to her channeling into creating stories.
She published her first poem at the age of 15. She became a teacher and a reporter in Halifax, Nova Scotia, then at the age of 24 she returned to Prince Edward Island to care for her grandmother. There she wrote for magazines and began what was to become her classic, Anne of Green Gables.
Anne of Green Gables
Montgomery wrote and rewrote Anne of Green Gables. She received several rejections from publishers before it was finally accepted and by that time she was already 34. Anne of Green Gables tells the story of Anne, a young orphan adopted by an elderly couple who were hoping for a boy when they seek for adoption.
The novel captures the dreams and challenges of childhood and adolescence. In so many ways it reflects Montgomery's own experiences. The book became an instant success most especially to young girls. It was said to have been admired by Mark Twain. Its popularity became so overwhelming that Montgomery decided to write seven 'Anne' sequels, including Anne of Avonlea and Rilla of Ingleside, which follow the heroine, Anne, through her life from teaching, marriage and raising her own family.
In 1911, after the death of her grandmother, Montgomery married a preacher and moved to Ontario with him. While raising a family, she managed to write a book every other year, producing many more books and short-story collections.
Quoted from Anne of Green Gables, spoken by Anne:
"Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive – it's such an interesting world. It wouldn't be half so interesting if we know all about everything, would it. There'd be no scope for imagination then, would there?"
Works by L.M. Montgomery
- Anne of Green Gables, 1908
- Anne of Avonlea, 1909
- Kilmeny of the Orchard, 1910
- The Story Girl, 1911
- The Golden Road, 1913
- Anne of the Island, 1915
- Anne's House of Dreams, 1917
- Rainbow Valley, 1919
- Rilla of Ingleside, 1921
- Emily of New Moon, 1923
- Emily Climbs, 1925
- The Blue Castle, 1926
- Emily's Quest, 1927
- Magic for Marigold, 1929
- A Tangled Web, 1931
- Mistress Pat, 1935
- Anne of Windy Poplars, 1936
- Anne of Ingleside, 1939
Quotations from Anne of Green Gables and sequel books: Link
Sources:
Goring, Rosemary, editor. Larousse Dictionary of Writers. New York: Larousse, 1994
McGovern, Una, editor. Chambers Biographical Dictionary. Edinburgh: Chambers Harrap, 2002
Ousby, Ian. The Cambridge Guide to Literature in English. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993
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