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Maud: The Life of L.M. Montgomery
Harcdover
166 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 1992
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
September 11, 2024
I was originally more than a trifle disappointed and frustrated that Harry Bruce's 1992 biography Maud: The Life of L.M. Montgomery is out of print (and yes, with regard to textual difficulty, I would probably consider Maud: The Life of L.M. Montgomery as being suitable for readers from about the age of eleven or so onwards, although not specifically and uniquely geared towards younger audiences either).
But yes, after reading what Harry Bruce has actually penned about Lucy Maud Montgomery (and particularly thematics and contents wise), I am actually kind of glad the book is no longer in print (and also pleased that I was able to read Maud: The Life of L.M. Montgomery for free on Open Library, that I did not have to pay actual money to purchase a copy on ABE Books or Amazon Marketplace in order to peruse Maud: The Life of L.M. Montgomery and provide a review), because in my opinion and very much truthfully and brutally honestly speaking, Bruce's featured text for Maud: The Life of L.M. Montgomery (which begins with a rather detailed depiction of the time a teenaged Lucy Maud Montgomery spent unhappily teaching school, then moves back to provide general birth to death biography details) has definitely been rather a huge reading disappointment to and for me. For indeed, what the author, for what Harry Bruce writes in Maud: The Life of L.M. Montgomery, this not only relies extremely heavily if not even exclusively on L.M. Montgomery's published journals, no, Bruce equally and uncritically seems to take EVERYTHING negative and verbally nasty that Maud shows and describes in these journal entries as the so-called whole truth and nothing but the truth and as such not what journals generally are, namely personal perceptions, reflections, emotions (and that journals should therefore and course be approached as such and not as necessarily representing or at least always representing actual and absolute reality).
And therefore, L.M. Montgomery's at times pretty harsh negativity and the verbal personal attacks in her journals should in my opinion not automatically be taken at face value so to speak and be uncritically believed/accepted. But indeed, that Harry Bruce to and for me majoly does precisely this and basically just seems to completely transfer L.M. Montgomery's journals into Maud: The Life of L.M. Montgomery as quasi gospel, this creates not only an unbalanced and painfully uncomfortable text for Maud: The Life of L.M. Montgomery it also makes Maud herself appear as someone actually not all that likable (and that frankly, L.M. Montgomery does not deserve having such a strangely skewed portrait of herself be presented in Maud: The Life of L.M. Montgomery and that from where I am standing, Maud would likely herself be the first to tell the author that he, that Harry Bruce should not only be relying on one source, should be considering more than just her journals for his in my opinion only at best two star text).
But yes, after reading what Harry Bruce has actually penned about Lucy Maud Montgomery (and particularly thematics and contents wise), I am actually kind of glad the book is no longer in print (and also pleased that I was able to read Maud: The Life of L.M. Montgomery for free on Open Library, that I did not have to pay actual money to purchase a copy on ABE Books or Amazon Marketplace in order to peruse Maud: The Life of L.M. Montgomery and provide a review), because in my opinion and very much truthfully and brutally honestly speaking, Bruce's featured text for Maud: The Life of L.M. Montgomery (which begins with a rather detailed depiction of the time a teenaged Lucy Maud Montgomery spent unhappily teaching school, then moves back to provide general birth to death biography details) has definitely been rather a huge reading disappointment to and for me. For indeed, what the author, for what Harry Bruce writes in Maud: The Life of L.M. Montgomery, this not only relies extremely heavily if not even exclusively on L.M. Montgomery's published journals, no, Bruce equally and uncritically seems to take EVERYTHING negative and verbally nasty that Maud shows and describes in these journal entries as the so-called whole truth and nothing but the truth and as such not what journals generally are, namely personal perceptions, reflections, emotions (and that journals should therefore and course be approached as such and not as necessarily representing or at least always representing actual and absolute reality).
And therefore, L.M. Montgomery's at times pretty harsh negativity and the verbal personal attacks in her journals should in my opinion not automatically be taken at face value so to speak and be uncritically believed/accepted. But indeed, that Harry Bruce to and for me majoly does precisely this and basically just seems to completely transfer L.M. Montgomery's journals into Maud: The Life of L.M. Montgomery as quasi gospel, this creates not only an unbalanced and painfully uncomfortable text for Maud: The Life of L.M. Montgomery it also makes Maud herself appear as someone actually not all that likable (and that frankly, L.M. Montgomery does not deserve having such a strangely skewed portrait of herself be presented in Maud: The Life of L.M. Montgomery and that from where I am standing, Maud would likely herself be the first to tell the author that he, that Harry Bruce should not only be relying on one source, should be considering more than just her journals for his in my opinion only at best two star text).
August 23, 2016
Written more as a juvenile biography
June 6, 2022
Fabulous!! :) This was a great biography :) This is a middle grade biography on the author of Anne of Green Gables and it is fantastic!! :) So I read a few reviews on this book and they were a bit critical however I do feel that given the context in which this book is written it is great :) So this book is written for young readers who likely have ready Anne of Green Gables or one of LM Montgomery’s other books and loved it. This book give a wonderful overview of the young life of the author which greatly influence the rest of her writing career. I feel it captures very well what would have been the heart of the author and gives alot of context and insight into the life she lead as a child and a young woman fighting her way through a very male dominated society to arise as a young authoress. This story so well portrays how the wonderful young Anne we have all fallen in love with is created out of the heart and being of young Maud. This inspired orphan is the hopes and dreams of a young orphan who despite all that was set against her prevailed by perseverance to have the life she envisioned for herself. Just as Anne triumhed again and again over all of her setbacks and difficulties. This book was absolutely lovely and I highly recommend it for anyone who has loved Anne or any of LM Montgomery’s other beloved characters. Perhaps the best part of this biography is that in the last few pages the author addresses the fact of is Anne real? And you will have to read what Maud wrote about her to find out :) A fantastic, fantastic middle grade biography.
October 31, 2012
This is a short biography of Lucy Maud Montgomery, the author of Anne of Green Gables and other classic books adored by children and readers for more than 100 years. It mostly focuses on Maud's early life and young adulthood up until her marriage to the Rev. Ewan MacDonald when she was 36.
The part that I found most interesting was Maud's ill-fated love affair with Herman Leard. In 1897 there were very strict expectations for how young couples would court and behave before marriage, especially on PEI where the population was very conservative and class-concsious. It is described in the book as "secret meeting... where they kissed and caressed each other by the soft light from candles... He always left her bedroom at midnight, but only after Maud had gasped out frantic orders for him to get out..."
Maud was overpoweringly attracted to Herman, she could not stay away from him, yet in the rational part of her mind she know that she could never marry him. "In the end, Maud believed, no man could feel anything but contempt for a single woman he'd seduced." And marriage to him "she believed would mean a year of bliss, followed by a lifetime of misery, regret, and corrosive boredom."
The part that I found most interesting was Maud's ill-fated love affair with Herman Leard. In 1897 there were very strict expectations for how young couples would court and behave before marriage, especially on PEI where the population was very conservative and class-concsious. It is described in the book as "secret meeting... where they kissed and caressed each other by the soft light from candles... He always left her bedroom at midnight, but only after Maud had gasped out frantic orders for him to get out..."
Maud was overpoweringly attracted to Herman, she could not stay away from him, yet in the rational part of her mind she know that she could never marry him. "In the end, Maud believed, no man could feel anything but contempt for a single woman he'd seduced." And marriage to him "she believed would mean a year of bliss, followed by a lifetime of misery, regret, and corrosive boredom."
October 26, 2017
Written for young readers. Doesn't go into her depression really.
August 25, 2019
This is a brief biography of LM Montgomery for children, published about 30 yrs ago. I’m not quite sure how this ended up on my bookshelf - though the sticker on the front saying ‘Children’s Editorial dept file copy. Do NOT remove’ is probably a clue! As a devoted ’Fanne’ since a trip to PEI as a 7 year old, it’s more a question of why I haven’t read a biography of my favourite author before, rather than why I have just read one now.
This book gave me a quick survey of some of the basic facts of Maud’s life and a nice look at the similarities between young Maud and her most famous fictional creation. It also raised many more questions that it didn’t try to answer - how did she come to be the only woman working in a local newspaper office in the 1890s? Did she recognise the depression (possibly manic depression) hinted at in this biography? How did she cope with her late marriage? And how did her sons find her as a mother? I’m hungry now to read a more detailed biography of her. Recommendations welcome, please.
This book gave me a quick survey of some of the basic facts of Maud’s life and a nice look at the similarities between young Maud and her most famous fictional creation. It also raised many more questions that it didn’t try to answer - how did she come to be the only woman working in a local newspaper office in the 1890s? Did she recognise the depression (possibly manic depression) hinted at in this biography? How did she cope with her late marriage? And how did her sons find her as a mother? I’m hungry now to read a more detailed biography of her. Recommendations welcome, please.
August 28, 2019
I read this biography about Lucy Maud Montgomery almost in one day! It was so interesting to see which parts of her stories were inspired by real life and which were fictional. I didn’t realize she based so much on her actual experiences. That’s something I tend to do so it was fun finding out one of my favorite authors did that too!
August 24, 2017
As a teenager I devoured books by L. M. Montgomery, from Anne of Green Gables to collections of short stories, I loved them all.
This book is a fast read. At 176 pages it feels more like a summary of her life, than an in depth biography. But still the insight into Montgomery was interesting, and I enjoyed reading it. I came away wanting to read and know more about her.
Montgomery had an interesting life, and a hard life. She lived with her grandparents, and lost her mother at a young age, and her father gave custody of her over to family. I really was inspired by how hard she worked to become a writer. She worked her way through school, and even worked as a newspaper woman in an age where women didn't often do those things. She married late in life, but she also had a whirlwind of romances with various young men. Montgomery seems like the type of woman with whom it would be easy to be friends with.
In the end I gave this book 4 stars on Goodreads.
This book is a fast read. At 176 pages it feels more like a summary of her life, than an in depth biography. But still the insight into Montgomery was interesting, and I enjoyed reading it. I came away wanting to read and know more about her.
Montgomery had an interesting life, and a hard life. She lived with her grandparents, and lost her mother at a young age, and her father gave custody of her over to family. I really was inspired by how hard she worked to become a writer. She worked her way through school, and even worked as a newspaper woman in an age where women didn't often do those things. She married late in life, but she also had a whirlwind of romances with various young men. Montgomery seems like the type of woman with whom it would be easy to be friends with.
In the end I gave this book 4 stars on Goodreads.
May 12, 2016
Cette bio m'a donné une furieuse envie de relire la série d'Anne la maison aux pignons verts que j'ai tant adoré étant gamine et qui m'a tout aussi ravi lors de sa relecture pendant l'adolescence.
La seule chose que je reproche à ce livre c'est qu'il est trop court. J'en aurais pris plus sur la vie de cette auteure ainsi que ces moments où elle a écrit les romans qui allaient suivre Anne. Mais en plus du récit de la vie de Lucy Maud Montgomery j'ai surtout aimé le voyage dans le temps. J'entends par là ce rappel aux activités , aux idées, aux moeurs de l'époque (L.M. vécue de 1874 à 1942). Quand je pense aux fois où je rechigne à faire le ménage de mon appartement alors que pour ces dames faire le ménage durait une journée entière , y a de quoi se sentir un peu honteuse ;)
La seule chose que je reproche à ce livre c'est qu'il est trop court. J'en aurais pris plus sur la vie de cette auteure ainsi que ces moments où elle a écrit les romans qui allaient suivre Anne. Mais en plus du récit de la vie de Lucy Maud Montgomery j'ai surtout aimé le voyage dans le temps. J'entends par là ce rappel aux activités , aux idées, aux moeurs de l'époque (L.M. vécue de 1874 à 1942). Quand je pense aux fois où je rechigne à faire le ménage de mon appartement alors que pour ces dames faire le ménage durait une journée entière , y a de quoi se sentir un peu honteuse ;)
December 7, 2012
As a huge fan of Anne Shirley (I even have a daughter named after her), I enjoyed reading more about Maud's life. I loved finding the similarities between her and some of her characters, especially Anne. As one who has ancestors from PEI, I also loved learning more about Prince Edward Island geography, and appreciated the map included in the front of the book. It made me want to go visit PEI as soon as I can!
August 4, 2013
This biography of Lucy Maud Montgomery, best known as the author of the Anne of Green Gables series, has a crackling opening. Harry Bruce knew not to bury that lead. Well done Mr. Bruce. However, after that, it settles into a rather standard biography which, inexplicably peters out when Montgomery gets married. I was looking for information about how she lived with depression, and this book does not examine anything in that realm, which I found disappointing.
November 15, 2014
I liked learning about Lucy Montgomery. this book wasn't particularly well written but then it might have been a children's book. I didn't read Anne of Green Gables until I was an adult and I was totally entranced. It's not surprising that there are a lot of parallels between Lucy's upbringing and Anne's. I find it interesting that authors like Montgomery and James Herriot wrote stories based on negative life experiences but made their stories positive.
January 8, 2015
I loved Anne of Green Gables, The Avonlee books and The Emily books. So naturally I had to know the author. In this book I learned to admire her the way I admired Hetty King. How wonderful and inspirational Ms. Montgomery would be to me. She spent most of her life unmarried. Then later in life,...well the biography does say it was only for convenience sake not love. She was also a beacon in her little island of Nova Scotia. If you loved her books, you'll love this little quick read biography.
June 4, 2017
This a thorough yet quickly read biography of Lucy Maud Montgomery MacDonald's early life, both interior and exterior up to the writing of Anne of Green Gables. Being based on her selected journals, letters, several reputable biographies and an autobiography, it is obviously well-researched. I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to know more about the woman and the island that created of one of fiction's best-known characters and settings.
September 22, 2010
Maud lead such a determined life. From a very early age, she knew what she wanted and she continuously pursued that dream. Some of the circumstances of her life were not the greatest but she didn't let that stop her. For a woman living during that era, she was quite progressive and was well ahead of current trends. She was an amazing woman!
August 14, 2011
I was inspired to finally read this after my recent trip to PEI. This book offers a very good, simplistic overview of Montgomery's life. An easy read, it touches on the author's life, relationships and inspirations behind her most famous work. Written in a style that might appeal to younger readers, or to those only superficially interested in Montgomery's biography.
January 2, 2012
After visiting Prince Edward Island in September I was quite motivated to learn about Maud's life. I was an ardent fan of the Anne books growing up. Reading about Lucy Maud Mongomery's life in that idyllic place definitely provided some insight into the evolution of the Anne chronicles. What a struggle she had as woman back then, being allowed to go to college and then to become a writer!
October 31, 2018
Biography of one of my favourite authors, about her life both before and after 'Anne', her writing life and the hardships of growing up in Canada and PEI. Quick, easy read, suitable for teens and adults and not badly written.
September 15, 2017
I've no other bios on LM to compare to and the library that I borrowed this from has it shelved as a YA bio... It's a three, three and a half. I'll read some of LM's journals next...
"I wouldn't be anybody but myself for all the world—not even a better or nobler anybody." -LM Montgomery
"I wouldn't be anybody but myself for all the world—not even a better or nobler anybody." -LM Montgomery
June 12, 2018
L. M Montgomery is my favourite author so I was thrilled to get my hands on a copy of this book. It very much emphasises her early life and barely touched soon after she is a famous author. I enjoyed it but wanted more detail about her late life, career and family.
May 20, 2011
Quick bio on L.M. Montgomery and it reminded me that I really want to vacation on Prince Edward Island...
September 18, 2011
Not the most exciting of lives, but since it is the life of the woman who created Anne of Green Gables, how could I do anything but love her completely? What determination!
March 27, 2012
I have a soft spot for this book because it was the first biography of Montgomery I ever read, but it has a lot of inaccuracies in it. However, it's super readable.
October 6, 2012
Not the best bio of L. M. Montgomery, but one of the first I ever read.
March 19, 2015
Very interesting to see how certain stories in her life played out in her fiction
July 6, 2020
This was a quick read that gave you a glimpse into Maud's life. It isn't indepth, and I don't think it was ever meant to be. I enjoyed it, and I especially enjoyed Mr. Bruce's perspective into Maud's life. His writing was perfect for letting me escape to the island and imagine Maud as a young girl, and then witness some of the things she had to struggle with as she grew older.
It doesn't tell any of the more hard hitting issues with which Maud had to endure later in life. It barely touches on her time with Herman Leard, which I feel Maud measured the rest of her life against. It also doesn't mention Hugh, the child she lost. Her troubles with Chester, or even much about her life dealing with Ewan's mental challenges, which were severe. Nor does it mention how Maud died.
If you have a young reader who loves Maud's books and wants to learn more about her, this is a great starting book. Well worth the read for enjoyment. If you really want to learn more about Maud and her full life story, I would recommend The Gift of Wings by Mary Rubio, and of course, Maud's personal journals. They are all excellent.
It doesn't tell any of the more hard hitting issues with which Maud had to endure later in life. It barely touches on her time with Herman Leard, which I feel Maud measured the rest of her life against. It also doesn't mention Hugh, the child she lost. Her troubles with Chester, or even much about her life dealing with Ewan's mental challenges, which were severe. Nor does it mention how Maud died.
If you have a young reader who loves Maud's books and wants to learn more about her, this is a great starting book. Well worth the read for enjoyment. If you really want to learn more about Maud and her full life story, I would recommend The Gift of Wings by Mary Rubio, and of course, Maud's personal journals. They are all excellent.
September 30, 2025
This is the first 5 star rating I’ve given in a long time. For real “Anne” lovers who want to know LM Montgomery more, and who don’t have the time to read all her 4-5 journals right now this book is perfect.
I really loved learning more about Mauds life, from the challenges to the different places she lived in, to the friends and beaux that she loved.
Most of all, I loved being inspired by her deep commitment to her writing. What a legend. I’m so glad Harry Bruce took such an interest in her story, she was such an intelligent and determined woman.
I really loved learning more about Mauds life, from the challenges to the different places she lived in, to the friends and beaux that she loved.
Most of all, I loved being inspired by her deep commitment to her writing. What a legend. I’m so glad Harry Bruce took such an interest in her story, she was such an intelligent and determined woman.
October 19, 2019
I finally found a copy of this book. (Ironically, I had it all along with my Anne books...) It was an interesting read, although it felt somewhat dated and the author opinionated. I think it actually made it more interesting in the end. The book had personality. L.M. had a very hard life which she survived, in part, by writing. I'm glad she did, because although I didn't find these books until I was an adult, I loved them.
November 17, 2022
Maud: The Life of L.M. Montgomery is a meaningful middle-grade biography about the author of the beloved Anne of Green Gables. It is a good introduction to Montgomery’s childhood, young adulthood, and her writing career with a brief mention of her relationship with her husband, Reverend Ewan MacDonald. A few pages of photographs are also included in the book. I enjoyed learning about L.M. Montgomery and her fascinating life.
June 7, 2023
I liked it! I enjoyed the writing style and learned a lot about L.M. Montgomery that I didn't know. The author doesn't write at all about her later life and grazes over her death, but I loved learning about the first half of her life! I'd love to read her journals sometime now. I am going to try to find them somewhere. She is one of my favorite authors so I loved learning more about her life! She is an incredible author and fascinating person!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews