Born in Clifton, Prince Edward Island in 1874,
Montgomery had a lonely childhood. Before she was 2, her mother
Clara died of tuberculosis and her father left her to be raised
by strict, aging grandparents. At 35, Montgomery married a
clergyman who later developed a mental illness which she tried
to cover up so that he could keep his job.
Although her family did not support her efforts as a writer,
Montgomery received international acclaim and financial reward
for her Anne of Green Gables series of books featuring the
plucky Anne Shirley. The programme features scenes from various
productions of Anne. Actress Megan Follows, who portrayed
Anne in CBC Television's Anne of Green Gables, believes that
Montgomery “created a character who was very liberated
and yet she was very much a victim of the structure of her
time.”
Relatives describe Montgomery as a happy woman. However,
over scenes from her life recreated by actress Kimberly Toombs,
viewers hear excerpts from Montgomery’s personal journals,
which reveal a passionate, sexual woman trapped in a restrictive
environment. Montgomery confessed to often feeling “rotten,
bored and angry.” She says that she felt like a “hopeless
prisoner” on her wedding day.
The rich Prince Edward Island landscape is a beautiful backdrop
for much of this documentary. Viewers also see Green Gables,
which is now an attraction visited by thousands of tourists
from all over the world.
Original Air Date - November 1, 1996
Links
P.E.I's
official Anne of Green Gables site
Lucy
Maud Montgomery: An Island Tribute to a Great Writer
(Note: CBC does not endorse the content of external sites)
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