Montgomery, L(ucy) M(aud)

(Canadian, 1874–1942)

Born on Prince Edward Island, Montgomery was raised mostly by her maternal grandparents and began writing while looking after her grandmother. Her heroines have enduring appeal, particularly Anne, the orphan sent by mistake to Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, whose gift is an ability to imaginatively transform her world. Although Montgomery's prose style is sometimes flowery, it never ignores harsh realities, and her view of adolescence is never simple-minded. Start with Anne of Green Gables (1908); this is the first of the Anne series which follows the heroine's career from childhood to marriage and motherhood. There is also the Emily series beginning with Emily of New Moon (1923).

Louisa May Alcott. See CANADA  IP