The Selected Journals Of L.M. Montgomery, Vol. 2: 1910-1921

The Selected Journals of L.M. Montgomery #2

by L.M. Montgomery (Editor), Mary Henley Rubio, Elizabeth Hillman Waterston

Elizabeth Waterston is a 2011 Fellow of The Royal Society of Canada.

This volume of Lucy Maud Montgomery's journals records a time of great change and upheaval both in Montgomery's life and in society. When she wrote the first entry in this volume she had recently become a world-famous author, having published Anne of Green Gables in 1908. Here we become privy to her response to the death of her grandmother, her marriage and honeymoon trip to Scotland and England, and her departure from Prince Edward Island to the new restrictions of her life as the wife of a Presbyterian minister in an Ontario village.

Montgomery reveals the intensities of friendships, the minutiae of homemaking, and the joys of motherhood along with the traumas of a disturbed marriage. By turns tart and sentimental, sharp-sighted and anxiety-ridden, L.M. Montgomery provides a compelling record of her remarkable life against a background -- both social and literary -- of a tumultuous period in Canadian history.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir, Canada, Classics, History, Biography Memoir

435 pages, Paperback

First published March 10, 1988

About the author

Lucy Maud Montgomery was a Canadian author whose novels, stories, essays and poems made her one of the most widely read writers in Canadian literary history. Publishing under the name L. M. Montgomery, she achieved international recognition with the novel Anne of Green Gables, released in 1908, which quickly became a bestseller and introduced readers to the imaginative orphan Anne Shirley. The success of the book transformed Montgomery from a schoolteacher and magazine contributor into a celebrated literary figure whose work reached audiences far beyond Canada. Raised on Prince Edward Island, she drew deeply on its landscapes, rural communities, and storytelling traditions, turning the island into the setting for many of her novels. The popularity of Anne of Green Gables led to numerous sequels, including Anne of Avonlea and Anne of the Island, establishing a beloved series that followed Anne from childhood to adulthood. Montgomery continued to write steadily throughout her life, producing twenty novels and more than a thousand short stories poems and essays. Her fiction often centered on young women, personal growth, and the emotional ties between people and place, combining gentle humor with reflections on memory, imagination, and belonging. Although she enjoyed enormous popularity, Montgomery also faced personal difficulties, including long periods of depression and the strain of caring for her husband, a Presbyterian minister who struggled with mental illness. Writing became both a profession and a refuge, allowing her to transform memories of childhood and observation of everyday life into vivid storytelling. In addition to the Anne series, she created other notable works, including the Emily novels and several stand alone stories that explored identity, creativity, and attachment to home. Her books were translated widely and attracted devoted readers around the world, helping shape the international image of Prince Edward Island as a place of pastoral beauty and warm community life. Scholars later studied her extensive journals letters and manuscripts, which revealed the complex inner life behind the cheerful tone of many of her books. By the time of her death in 1942, Montgomery had become one of the most successful and influential authors in Canadian literature. Her stories about imagination, resilience, and the search for belonging continue to inspire readers of all ages, and Anne Shirley remains one of the most recognizable characters in children's fiction. Through generations of readers, Montgomery's work has encouraged appreciation for storytelling, nature, and the emotional richness of ordinary life. Her legacy also includes a vast body of diaries and correspondence that document the challenges faced by a professional woman writer in the early twentieth century. Institutions such as the L. M. Montgomery Institute have continued to examine her influence on literature culture and tourism, particularly on Prince Edward Island, where sites associated with her fiction attract visitors from many countries. Adaptations of Anne of Green Gables for film, television, and theatre have introduced new audiences to her stories, ensuring that her characters remain part of global popular culture. Though critical opinion once dismissed her as merely a writer for children, later scholarship recognized the depth of her themes and the enduring craft of her storytelling. Today she is remembered as a central figure in Canadian literature whose imaginative vision gave voice to the beauty of rural life while celebrating the hopes of young dreamers who search for belonging.

Reviews

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fascinating peep into Maud's life. This volume felt less like fiction. The first three years of her marriage, before the start of the Great War she was marvelously happy particularly when her baby came. It was interesting to see the similarities and differences of her fictional war experience and her real life one. The year 1919 was very hard reading with the loss of Frede and the appearance of her husbands Melancholia which, at least initially, horrified her. It is hard to imagine the next volume being as interesting with those dramatic episodes in the past, but I still look forward to the next season of her life.

[Mireille Duval · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly fascinating read. I enjoyed it much more than Volume I, even if I wish LMM mentioned her books more often. I loved reading her thoughts about motherhood (especially as I myself am a new mother) and getting a glimpse of how life was in those days in her view. I'm always very happy to spot things that later made appearances in her novels - the chloroforming of the cat in Anne of the Island, the short story My Graves that Anne wrote, and some turn of phrases and books she read. It was very interesting too to see how annoyed she was at writing Anne of the Island - which is my favorite book of hers! Her account of the war was also poignant, though I'd rather read it in novel form in Rilla of Ingleside (which she wanted to title "Rilla-My-Rilla", oh, my heart). In general it's depressing how much heartache she has to go through - losing a baby, her husband going mad, losing her dearest and almost only friend in Frede, going through lawsuits with her old publisher (I was indignant to read that she should have gotten 20,000$ from the first Anne movie but didn't get a cent!). It's truly amazing that her novels are so full of happiness and light.

I know these journals were "selected" and a new unabridged version is coming out. Frankly, I think I prefer the abridged version - they're already depressing enough! I'll certainly read the other ones soon.

[Serenity Bohon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rilla of Ingleside is one of my favorite books in the Anne of Green Gables series. It follows Anne's youngest daughter during World War I. I'm sure that's one reason I loved this Volume in which Montgomery is in that role herself. Mostly, it's just amazing to get to listen in as Montgomery lives the life that surrounded the writing of my favorite books and as she (rather rarely, considering) mentions them by name and occasionally describes how she feels about them. She felt very much as I do about many things, including motherhood and the frustration with doing too many things that take you away from what you really love. Having these journals to read is an amazing gift for someone so shaped by their author.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, things are starting to get dark now. She married Ewan Macdonald, but years into the marriage learned of his struggles with "religious melancholia," where he'd get so consumed with thoughts of not being saved that he couldn't function. She gave birth to three children in four years, but sadly, her middle child was stillborn. She made a good amount of money from her books, but she also had disputes with her publisher that she had to take to court. She's also dealing with World War I, the flu pandemic, and several deaths, including that of a cousin she was very close to. She adores her children, and it's hard reading passages where she writes such sweet things about her oldest son, knowing what a scumbag he turned out to be. But in terms of writing, I liked this one better than the first volume- her writing here is more thoughtful and introspective. It's also interesting reading abouot her visiting Boston, where her publisher is!

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I visited the church and Manse in Leaskdale before re-reading this, it was wonderful to be able to picture some of the scenes. Any fans of Montgomery that are going to be in the Toronto area should plan a trip to visit her homes around there and then read these journals.

[Christine Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting document from a gifted writer. Easy to read, she has a sense of humour and duty that carries her through the most difficult times.

[Kristen Kellick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is probably my second or third time reading this volume, and the first in several years, so I was somewhat familiar with the material but was able to come to it semi-fresh.

This time, having just married and being more familiar with mental illness than 5-6 years ago, this volume resonated with me in a way that I'm sure went right over my head last time. It also says something about the quality of LMM's writing that I can feel her mental anguish, and even some of her physical suffering, just from reading about it. She is one of the few authors whose descriptions of cold, harsh winters can make me feel I'm there with her, even on a hot July day.

I suspect I'll be re-reading the other volumes before too long, but with breaks in-between -- to give me both time to absorb and consider what I've read, and to regain my own internal balance before I continue.

[Maria Elmvang · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always find it interesting to learn more about my favourite authors, and LMM is no exception. However, reading this one so shortly after hearing the rumours that she may have committed suicide rather than died from a stroke as originally assumed (it hasn't been confirmed, but I thought it had for a couple of days while reading this) put a very different twist to the book. She led a hard life, and one that became increasingly difficult as the years went by.

I do have the rest of her journals, but think I need to take a break before continuing with them.

[Melinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

After traveling to Prince Edward Island for the sole purpose of seeing "Anne Land", I wanted to read and learn everything I could about the creator of those wonderful stories. Reading this second volume was even more interesting than the first volume. I felt as if I were right there with Lucy Maud Montgomery as she left PEI and started a new life as a minister's wife, became a mother, fought her legal battles with her unscrupulous publisher, and the agonies of WWI. I can' wait to travel with her in Volume III.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read (several times in some cases) all of L.M. Montgomery's novels, I was very interested in her life and character. I put volumes one and two on hold at the library, and volume two was available first. I kind of wish I read volume one first, just so I would be more familiar with people and places that were commonplace for Maud and not really explained or introduced in the second volume. Other than that, I was fascinated by her journals. What a remarkable, intelligent, humorous woman! Her writing really brought her experiences to life,and I am looking forward to reading more!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, was her life SAD. Plenty of tragedy, lot's of hard work with little support. A complete lack of kindred spirits... and kindred husband. Although I will say that as a busy mother of younglings myself, when she lists how jam-packed her day is (in order that her descendants can marvel over it)... I don't see much of a difference between now and then! Except I get up at 5 and she got up at 7 :)

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another glimpse into the genius and torment of LM Montgomery. What enhances this volume is its authentic, almost painful snapshot of life in Canada in the early 20th century...and how the mores & morals of society, the impact of war, and legal conflicts define a country that seems so alien to us, in the comfortable, technological, less regulated early 21st century. A fabulous read AND a diamond mine for historical research.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite volumes so far of her journals. I think part of the reason for this is because this was the period in time when she was first married and having her children and I really connected to the observances and occurrences around this. There were countless phrases and passages that made me laugh or cry.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this volume of Montgomery's journals very much and even a little more than the first one. Her documentation of WWI was fascinating and I loved the insight of her daily lifestyle as a minister's wife. Also (spoiler alert here) her account of Fred's death was extremely moving, something that still affects me now just thinking about it! Very well written and much enjoyed:)

[Karin · Rating 4 out of 5]

still not convinced i like maud very much, but her books make so much more sense now. far more interesting than volume 1, i particularly enjoyed the war years (terrible thing to say, i know). it was fascinating to get a glimpse into how news from the front was received, how people reacted, what the beginnings of the red cross involved, etc etc.

[Kathi Olsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I enjoyed this volume more than the others. She went from being pretty satisfied with her life, through the war, losing her friend Frede and then the beginning of the major attacks of "melancholia" of her husband. her character and strengths really shone through in this book.

[Mitzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read - I picked this up to "flip through" one evening, and ended up re-reading the whole thing. Fascinating, needless to say. ;)

July 2010 - Fascinating look into the mind of one of my favorite authors!

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

hard to get ahold of- snippets of her life from one of my favourite writers... writeresses?

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Volume 2 is even better than volume 1. The personal losses, including her husband's deep depression, are staggering. Amazing she could continue to write children's books through all of this.

[Courtney]

Eventually I'll get back into this, but the first one was rather depressing and I just couldn't read this volume right afterward.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Depressing, but very interesting.