On this day in 1942, Lucy Maud Montgomery died.
One of Canada's most prolific authors, she wrote 20 novels, 530 short stories, 500 poems and 30 essays.
But she is most famous for her book Anne of Green Gables.
This is the story of her life.
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It is the Victoria Day Long Weekend, and for this month's fun thread, I have every province's provincial bird or animal enjoying the outdoors this weekend!
9. Prince Edward Island (Red Fox)
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#LeafsForever
Today in 1874, Lucy Maud Montgomery was born in Clifton, PEI.
Her most famous work is Anne of Green Gables, released in 1908. It has sold 50 million copies in 36 languages.
In her life, she wrote 20 novels, 530 short stories, 500 poems and 30 essays.
She died in 1942.
It is Women's History Month and today I am looking at the life of Lucy Maud Montgomery!
Lucy Maud Montgomery was born on Nov. 30, 1874. As a child, she was very lonely. To deal with her loneliness, she invented imaginary friends and worlds. This helped her develop her creativity.
She published her first poem, On Cape Le Force, in 1890 when she was 15.
As an adult, she worked as a teacher. She didn't enjoy the job but it gave her time to write. From 1897 to 1907, she published over 100 stories.
In 1908, she published her first novel, Anne of Green Gables. The book was a massive success and established her career as a writer. From June 1908 to November 1909, it went through six printings. In its first five months it sold 19,000 copies.
She wrote Anne of Avonlea in 1909 and Anne of the Island in 1915. By the end of the First World War, Montgomery was a household name across the English-speaking world. She wrote five more Anne books from 1917 to 1939.
From 1923 to 1927, she wrote her bestselling Emily of New Moon trilogy. Her books set on Prince Edward Island have helped the province develop an entire tourism industry around her literary work.
The Green Gables farm became the genesis for Prince Edward Island National Park.
In the 1930s, Montgomery was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire by King George V.
Montgomery died in 1942 & was buried in Cavendish, PEI. While her death was listed as heart failure, the Montgomery family believed she died by suicide due to a note she left beside her body. The family kept the note secret until 2008. Throughout her life, Montgomery suffered from depression.
Her note stated:
"I have lost my mind by spells and I do not dare think what I may do in those spells. May God forgive me and I hope everyone else will forgive me even if they cannot understand. My position is too awful to endure and nobody realizes it. What an end to a life in which I tried always to do my best in spite of many mistakes."
The family came forward to lift some of the stigma related to mental illness. There is some speculation that the note was simply part of a journal now lost.
In 1943, Montgomery was named a National Historic Person.
Over her writing career, she published 20 novels, 530 short stories, 500 poems and 30 essays.
Her books remain in print to this day. In 2014, a CBC poll voted Anne Shirley as Canada's most iconic fictional character.
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