Prince Edward Island (PEI) was one of author Lucy Maud Montgomery’s favorite places. With picturesque red sand beaches and weathered cliffs bounding peaceful, wooded forests, what’s not to love?
Montgomery went by the moniker L.M. Montgomery in her published works. She grew up in Cavendish, a small town bordering the Gulf of St. Lawrence, on the east central side of Canada’s smallest province, PEI.
Tragically, her mother died of tuberculosis before L.M. reached the age of two. L.M.’s father sent her to live with her maternal grandparents, Alexander and Lucy Macneill, in Cavendish.
Green Gables was drawn from David Macneill’s house, though not so much the house itself as the situation and scenery, and the truth of my description of it is attested by the fact that everyone has recognized it. – L.M. Montgomery’s Journal
As an only child living with elderly parents and only adult cousins for companionship, L.M. developed a vivid imagination to help cope with her loneliness. She created imaginary friends and elaborate worlds that gave her the family, friendship, and community for which she yearned.
She would later thread these themes throughout her stories, particularly Anne of Green Gables. In fact, Montgomery took many of her life’s experiences and used them to write the now-famous story.
This afternoon I took a walk back through dear old Lover’s Lane. Surely, it is the prettiest spot in the world. Apart from the beauty, I have a strange love for it. In those divine woodland solitudes one can hear the voice of one’s own soul – the voice of nature – the voice of God. I wish I might go there every day of my life – I always feel better after a stroll under those green arches where nature reveals herself in all her beauty. – L.M. Montgomery’s Journal
I think many of us share her sentiments about quiet walks in the woods 😉
The woods always seem to me to have a delicate, subtle life all their own. In the woods, I like to be alone for every tree is a true old friend and every tip-toeing wind a merry comrade. I always feel so utterly and satisfyingly at home. – L.M. Montgomery’s Journal
L.M. became a teacher but continued to write and was published in newspapers and other venues.
I cannot remember a time when I was not writing, or when I did not mean to be an author. To write has always been my central purpose around which every effort and hope and ambition of my life has grouped itself. – L.M. Montgomery’s Journal
I love that quote! I’m pretty sure L.M. and I would be kindred spirits.
In the book, Anne feels alone and misunderstood. Butt, to her surprise, she finds “kindred spirits” in many of the people she meets. These friendships help her develop into a confident young woman who, like L.M., becomes a schoolteacher.
Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It’s splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world. – Anne of Green Gables
In 1898, L.M.’s grandfather died, and she moved back to Cavendish to help her grandmother who was becoming increasingly frail.
It was during these years that Montgomery would use the richly imaginative creations of her younger years to form the basis of her first book, Anne of Green Gables.
The book became an immediate success, selling 19,000 copies in the first five months. To date, Anne of Green Gables has sold more than 50 million copies worldwide and has been translated into more than 36 languages. Indeed, we explored Green Gables with many visitors from Asia and Europe.
Not only was L.M. a prolific writer, butt she was also an accomplished photographer. She appreciated the unique beauty of the shores near Cavendish and captured the colorful scenes in her words and pictures.
Like L.M., Jay and I marveled at the beauty of PEI’s beaches.
As the sun was setting, Jay noticed two red-tinged, angelic dogs playing on the beach.
Naturally, Jay went over to the dogs and introduced himself to them and their owner, a gentleman named David.
Here’s where the pleasant surprise comes in….
David’s last name may be familiar to you: Macneill.
Macneill is the maiden name of L.M.’s mother, and the last name of the grandparents who raised her. David is named after L.M.’s cousin, David Macneill, who lived in the green gable house featured in Anne of Green Gables.
Yes, through divine intervention, Jay had just become friends with a descendant of L.M. Montgomery.
David kindly invited Jay to see the grounds where L.M. lived with her grandparents.
In a labor of love, David and his parents faithfully re-built the home, which had been destroyed years earlier. David showed Jay L.M.’s original desk and the kitchen where she worked with her grandmother as an assistant postmaster.
The home, which is now a museum, gives fans of L.M.’s writing an authentic view of how and where L.M. wrote Anne of Green Gables.
After touring the museum, David shared with Jay the small shop on the property where he and his family sell L.M.-related merchandise, including books thoughtfully autographed by L.M.’s descendants.
I can’t think of a better way for our tour of Prince Edward Island to have ended.
We saw blue gulf waters lapping red sand beaches.
We walked through dense, magical forests.
We toured the inspiring home of Green Gables.
And… best of all… Jay made a new friend who gifted him the pleasant surprise: a first-hand account of L.M. Montgomery’s life. Thank you, David!
And thank you PEI for a happily memorable first Canadian stop on our Summer of 2025 Tour!
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