Kindred Spirit: A Biography of L. M. Montgomery, Creator of Anne of Green Gables - Hardcover

Andronik, Catherine M.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0689316712 ISBN 13: 9780689316715

Publisher: Atheneum, 1993

Synopsis

Recounts Montgomery's childhood in rural Canada at the turn of the century--a childhood similar to that of her creation--and describes her struggle to become a writer without support or encouragement from friends or family.

About this title

From School Library Journal:

Grade 6-10-Although Lucy Maud Montgomery's life superficially paralled that of her literary creation Anne Shirley, it was a much darker existence than the one she painted for the irresponsible orphan of Green Gables. Andronik introduces Maud (no one called her Lucy) as a young child who lost her mother to tuberculosis and her father to wanderlust. She describes her growing up on Prince Edward's Island under the guardianship of stern and disapproving grandparents. As a child, she read voraciously and wrote poetry to assuage her loneliness and, with no support from her family, she attended college, taught school, worked as a journalist, and ultimately became a writer. Unlike Harry Bruce's recent Maud (Bantam, 1992), this biography devotes ample space to Montgomery's troubled marriage and dismal later years. However, the most intriguing parts of the book are those documenting how people, places, and incidents from her life were incorporated into the classic Anne of Green Gables. Also of interest are selections from the writer's journals that reveal her turbulent inner life and resolute spirit. Unfortunately, the black-and-white photographs are quite dark. Given the enduring popularity of Montgomery's books, not to mention the television series, this balanced and competently written biography should, nonetheless, have wide appeal.
Pat Katka, San Diego Public Library
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist:

Gr. 6-9. Andronik recounts the life of Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery, who created the Anne of Green Gables series. She describes Montgomery's early life growing up with her grandparents on Prince Edward Island (Montgomery's mother died when she was very young, and her father frequently traveled away from home, making Maud, as she was called, almost an orphan like her famous heroine). Andronick also treats Montgomery's struggles as she worked her way to a successful literary career and her mid-life marriage to a minister, Ewan McDonald. Largely on the basis of Montgomery's own journals, the author reveals details about her subject's long feud with her U.S. publisher, describes the warmth of her literary friendships with two other authors (who were her "kindred spirits"), and mentions the many disappointments that her marriage brought. Although Andronik's prose cannot compare with Montgomery's, she offers fascinating insight into this popular author's life, and this title is sure to be welcomed by Anne Shirley fans. Extensively noted and indexed; several black-and-white photos (of varying clarity) are included also. Kay Weisman

About this edition

• Publisher: Atheneum
• Publication date: 1993
• ISBN 10: 0689316712
• ISBN 13: 9780689316715
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 160