Lucy Maud Montgomery was born in 1874 in New London, Prince Edward Island, and raised by her grandparents after her mother died of tuberculosis. Her early years were marked by loneliness, which she filled with an active imagination and storytelling. This period of her life greatly influenced her writing, shaping the vivid, emotional worlds she later created in her novels. Montgomery attended Prince of Wales College and Dalhousie University, where she studied literature before becoming a teacher.Montgomery's breakthrough came with Anne of Green Gables in 1908, a novel that resonated worldwide and brought her lasting fame. The story of Anne Shirley, an imaginative orphan with a love for nature, drew heavily on Montgomery's experiences growing up on Prince Edward Island. The success of Anne led to numerous sequels and established Montgomery as one of Canada's most beloved authors. Despite her growing success, Montgomery often grappled with personal challenges, including bouts of depression and struggles in her marriage to Ewen Macdonald, a Presbyterian minister.Throughout her life, Montgomery published 20 novels, 530 short stories, and over 500 poems, continuing to write even as she faced difficult periods, including the trauma of World War I and her husband's mental health issues. Her Emily series, particularly Emily of New Moon, reflected her deep connection to writing and creativity. Montgomery's legacy endures, with her works continuing to captivate readers worldwide and her influence recognized in academic circles and popular culture.
