The Lucy Maud Montgomery Album

Elisabeth Anne MacDonald-Murray is an assistant professor of English at
the University of Western Ontario.

This large, glossy volume is more than just an attractive coffee-table
book about one of Canada’s best-loved authors; it is a veritable
treasure trove for die-hard Montgomery fans. The Lucy Maud Montgomery
Album is a remarkable compendium of information and memorabilia
pertaining to the life, writings, and marketing of P.E.I.’s favorite
daughter. Kevin McCabe and Alexandra Heilbron have collected an
impressive array of photos, letters, and articles that cover a wide
range of subjects, from Montgomery’s family background to her fashion
sense, and from her fan clubs to the Japanese fascination with her
best-known creation, Anne of Green Gables. Although the very breadth of
such a project tends to preclude the achievement of any real depth in
its analysis of the subject, nonetheless the editors have produced a
work that stands as a testament to Montgomery and the enduring appeal of
her writings.

The text could not be described as an academic work—although several
prominent scholars have contributed to it—yet it is by no means
lacking in merit as a research tool. The editors have brought together
in one volume such an exhaustive collection of just about anything and
everything that has to do with Montgomery that it cannot fail to be the
first point of reference for any researcher wishing to investigate not
only her life and career but also her continuing allure for readers of
all ages. The sections dealing with Montgomery’s international
reputation and with the burgeoning industry that has marketed Montgomery
and her work in everything from movies and videos to dolls and tea
towels illustrate the remarkable impact that her fairly simple stories
have had on generations of readers.

The extreme eclecticism of the collection—which includes the
horoscopes of both Montgomery and her husband—will delight fans, as
will the extensive list of clubs and newsletters worldwide. The book
offers much valuable information for the researcher as well, although
the task of wading through the collected gushings and reminiscences may
prove frustrating. That said, devotee and scholar alike will welcome
this volume.