The Blue Castle

About the Author

Lucy Maud Montgomery

Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874-1942) was a Canadian author whose rich imagination and deep sensitivity to landscapes, especially her beloved Prince Edward Island, produced some of the most enduring works in children's literature. Born in Clifton (now New London), PEI, Montgomery experienced early tragedy when her mother died from tuberculosis when she was just 21 months old. Her father, unable to care for her alone, left her with maternal grandparents in Cavendish, creating the first of many displacements that would inform her writing about orphans and outsiders. Her childhood was marked by loneliness and a sense of being unwanted, though she found solace in nature, books, and her own vivid imagination. Montgomery began writing early, publishing her first poem at age 15. After completing her teaching certificate at Prince of Wales College, she worked as a teacher while continuing to write, selling numerous short stories and poems to Canadian and American publications. The breakthrough came in 1908 with the publication of 'Anne of Green Gables,' which achieved immediate international success and established Montgomery as a significant literary voice. Despite her professional success, Montgomery's personal life was marked by struggle. In 1911, following her grandmother's death, she married Reverend Ewan Macdonald and moved to Ontario, leaving her beloved island. Their marriage brought three sons (one stillborn) but little happiness, as Ewan suffered from religious melancholia and mental illness. Montgomery herself battled depression throughout her life while maintaining a public persona of cheerfulness. This tension between inner turmoil and outward conformity appears as a theme in many of her works, particularly 'The Blue Castle,' her only novel centered on an adult protagonist. Montgomery was prolific, writing 20 novels and over 500 short stories, along with poetry, essays, and volumes of journals. Her most famous works include the 'Anne of Green Gables' series, the 'Emily of New Moon' trilogy, 'The Story Girl,' and 'The Blue Castle.' Her writing is characterized by vivid descriptions of natural settings, strong female protagonists, humor, and an underlying current of melancholy that reflects her own emotional struggles. Though her books present optimistic worldviews, they don't shy away from addressing darker themes of loss, loneliness, and societal constraints, particularly those placed on women. Lucy Maud Montgomery died on April 24, 1942, with her family reporting the cause as congestive heart failure, though evidence suggests she may have taken her own life. Her legacy includes not only her beloved books, which continue to be translated and adapted worldwide, but also her journals, which provide valuable insights into the life of a female writer navigating professional success amid personal challenges in early 20th century Canada. Montgomery was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1935, and her home in Cavendish has become a literary landmark attracting visitors from around the world.