Lucy Maud Montgomery
Who was Lucy Maud Montgomery?
Canadian writer (1874–1942)
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Lucy Maud Montgomery (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Lucy Maud Montgomery (November 30, 1874 – April 24, 1942) was a Canadian author best known for the Anne of Green Gables series, making her one of Canada's most famous writers. She was born on Prince Edward Island to Hugh John Montgomery and Clara Woolner Macneill Montgomery. Tragically, her mother died of tuberculosis when Lucy was just a toddler. Her father moved to Saskatchewan, leaving Lucy to be raised by her maternal grandparents, Alexander and Lucy Woolner Macneill, in Cavendish, Prince Edward Island.
Montgomery went to local schools before attending Prince of Wales College in Charlottetown, where she earned a teaching license in 1894. She also studied literature at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, from 1895 to 1896 before starting her teaching career. During this time, she worked as a journalist and began publishing poetry and short stories in various magazines and newspapers in Canada and the United States.
In 1908, Montgomery gained international fame with the release of Anne of Green Gables, a novel about an imaginative orphan girl adopted by elderly siblings on Prince Edward Island. The book quickly became a bestseller and led to a series of sequels following Anne Shirley through her life. Montgomery continued writing and published twenty novels, as well as collections of short stories and poetry. Her other well-known series included the Emily books, starting with Emily of New Moon in 1923, and standalone novels like Jane of Lantern Hill.
In 1911, Montgomery married Reverend Ewan Macdonald and moved to Ontario, where she kept writing while also fulfilling her role as a minister's wife. They had three sons, though one died in infancy. Despite her public success, Montgomery struggled with depression and anxiety, which she detailed in her personal journals. She passed away on April 24, 1942, in Toronto, Ontario, but was buried in the Cavendish Cemetery on Prince Edward Island, showing her deep connection to her birthplace.
Before Fame
Montgomery's early life on Prince Edward Island played a big role in shaping her imagination and gave her the settings she would later use in her famous books. After her mother's death, she was raised by her grandparents. She found comfort in reading and writing, making up fantasy worlds and stories as a child. The rural Maritime area, with its red soil, coastal views, and close-knit farming communities, became the backdrop for her stories.
In the late 19th century, there was increasing interest in children's books and stories in women's magazines, giving female writers new chances. Montgomery started getting her work published in her teens, with poems and stories appearing in local and national outlets. Her teaching jobs in different Prince Edward Island communities gave her a look into rural life and the experiences of young people, which she later used to create her most memorable characters.
Key Achievements
- Published Anne of Green Gables in 1908, which became an international bestseller translated into dozens of languages
- Authored 20 novels and over 500 short stories during her career
- Appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1935 for her contributions to literature
- Designated a Person of National Historic Significance by the Government of Canada
- Established Prince Edward Island as a major literary tourism destination through her vivid depictions of the island
Did You Know?
- 01.Montgomery wrote Anne of Green Gables on sheets of paper that she hid in a hatbox, and the manuscript was initially rejected by several publishers before being accepted
- 02.She was the first woman to be made a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in England
- 03.Montgomery kept detailed personal journals from age 14 until shortly before her death, totaling over 5,000 pages
- 04.The Japanese translation of Anne of Green Gables became so popular that thousands of Japanese tourists visit Prince Edward Island annually
- 05.She wrote much of her work by hand in notebooks, often writing late into the night after completing her household duties
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Officer of the Order of the British Empire | — | — |
| Person of National Historic Significance | — | — |