The Bend in the Road: An Invitation to the World and Work of L.M. Montgomery is an interactive, multimedia CD-ROM that was produced in 2000 by the L.M. Montgomery Institute at the University of Prince Edward Island.
I purchased the CD-ROM and found it both engaging and content-filled. It is divided into sections on "Life," "Works," "Impact," "Learning," and "Credits," providing a true invitation to L.M. Montgomery's fans. The images and audio clips are extensive. There are galleries of photographs of L.M. Montgomery and photographs taken by her. You can view first edition covers of L.M. Montgomery's novels, explore a genealogy, and watch clips showing her scrapbooks, clothing, needlework and personal belongings.
My favorite portions were the timeline and the video clips of Dr. Elizabeth Epperly viewing L.M. Montgomery's scrapbooks. It was clear to me that a huge amount of time went into the production of the CD-ROM, gearing it towards fans, scholars and educators.
In spite of these attributes, the CD-ROM also has a few downsides. It is designed solely for PC users, and it does not work on Mac computers. Using the CD-ROM was glitchy for me, and it crashed three times as I went through the contents. I tried to go through the CD-ROM in an orderly manner, but sometimes it would jump between sections, so I began using the back button to navigate so I wouldn't miss anything. Another limitation is that the CD-ROM URL links do not work, which hampers its use as an interactive tool.
For those keenly interested in learning more about L.M. Montgomery's life, the CD-ROM is a useful purchase; however, its price of $46.95 (US dollars) might be high for a fan more interested in L.M. Montgomery's books than in her life.
Here is the description of the CD-ROM from The L.M. Montgomery Institute:
The Bend in the Road is a multimedia CD-ROM presentation that invites viewers to discover some of the riches in the life, work, and influence of Canadian hero and internationally acclaimed writer, Lucy Maud Montgomery.
With 342 separate screens, thirty video clips, some one hundred audio clips, over two hundred of Montgomery's own photographs, readings by renowned actor Elizabeth Mawson, introductions to the principal Montgomery sites on Prince Edward Island and in Ontario, glimpses of rare manuscript and archival materials, hot links to related sites, commentary on all of Montgomery's writing, a new bibliography, and questions for discussion and research – The Bend in the Road is designed to appeal to Montgomery scholars and enthusiasts as well as those entirely new to Montgomery's work or life who have an interest in culture, history, or inspiration. The CD-ROM includes a family tree that has photographs and audio clips from some of Montgomery's living relatives. Noted historians, family members, and scholars take viewers on tours through Montgomery's past, the sites that now preserve her memory, and a gallery of Montgomery's own photographs. The Bend in the Road is ideal for individual viewing and also for classroom use; students from elementary grades through graduate school will find ideas and materials to pursue.
Image credit:
The Bend in the Road CD-ROM packaging.
Official Website:
The Bend in the Road: An Invitation to the World and Work of L.M. Montgomery (2000)
Created March 10, 2002. Last Updated November 12, 2024.
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