The Years Before Anne

The Years Before Anne is a biography by Francis W.P. Bolger about L.M. Montgomery's early career prior to the publication of Anne of Green Gables in 1908. The book was first published in 1974 by The Prince Edward Island Heritage Foundation, and it has since been reprinted by Nimbus Publishing. In his preface to the book, Bolger wrote, "The year 1974 marks the centenary of the birth of Lucy Maud Montgomery. This book is written as a humble tribute to the woman who receives and eminently deserves recognition as Prince Edward Island's most famous international personage."

Bolger's book contains a treasure trove of primary source research on L.M. Montgomery's early life and writing career. He includes letters written by L.M. Montgomery to her dear friend Penzie Macneill during the year Montgomery lived with her father in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. Bolger also reprints stories and poems saved in L.M. Montgomery's early scrapbooks from the 1890s during her college years that illustrate her ascent up "The Alpine Path." In addition, Bolger draws from a series of letters written by Montgomery to her longtime penpal Ephraim Weber to provide a greater understanding of the author.

Here is the book's description from its back cover:

Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874-1942) is best known for Anne of Green Gables, first published in 1908, but her literary career was firmly established before this endearing novel brought her international acclaim. Her letters to her friends Penzie Macneill and Ephraim Weber add a rich dimension to her character, while her short stories, serials, and poems illustrate the gradual unfolding of a remarkable talent.

Her family and island life contributed immensely to this literary development. The Montgomerys, who were at the heart of the island's social and political life, provided the subject matter, while her talent for writing came from her mother's family, the Macneills, who produced writers, poets, and satirists. And of growing up surrounded by the pastoral beauty of the countryside and the sparkling waters of the sea, she wrote, "Were it not for those Cavendish years, I do not think Anne of Green Gables would ever have been written."

Francis W. P. Bolger, who teaches history at the University of Prince Edward Island, has compiled an informative and complete picture of the fascinating life and brilliant career of Lucy Maud Montgomery, drawing on her scrapbooks, letters, diaries, photos and conversations with family members.

Image credit:
Scanned book cover of my copy of The Years Before Anne.

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Created October 5, 1999. Last updated September 18, 2024.
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