7 Lesser-Known Books by L.M. Montgomery Beyond Anne of Green Gables

Over a hundred years since Lucy Maud Montgomery penned Anne of Green Gables (1908), the world remains captivated by “kindred spirits.” In recent years, Anne’s influence has sparked a three-part TV adaptation and the Netflix series Anne With an E. The show’s immense popularity led to an outcry when CBC and Netflix canceled it in 2019, prompting fans to gather over 1.5 million signatures on a petition to revive it. Enthusiasts even funded billboards in Toronto and Times Square, pleading, “Save Anne With An E: Ready to Fight for What’s Right?”

Fortunately, Montgomery’s literary legacy extends far beyond Anne. For those yearning for more, here are seven other L.M. Montgomery books that promise to delight fans and offer a fresh literary escape.

1. The Story Girl (1911)

Paired with its sequel, The Golden Road (1913), this two-part series follows a girl whose talent for storytelling captivates all around her. It inspired the beloved Canadian TV show Road to Avonela, created by Kevin Sullivan and featuring Sarah Polley, who later became a director. While Sullivan’s adaptation weaves together numerous Montgomery short stories into The Story Girl’s framework, the original novels center on two enchanting summers a group of cousins shares at their family’s Prince Edward Island home. Sara Stanley, the titular character, enthralls them with tales of family intrigue and historical secrets.

2. The Alpine Path (1917)

Though many see Montgomery’s works as reflective of her life, she penned a genuine autobiography titled The Alpine Path, initially serialized in Everywoman’s World magazine in 1917. Despite Montgomery’s claim that her journey to success was ordinary, the magazine’s editor believed her story was worth sharing. She eventually agreed, aiming to inspire others on similar paths. The title, drawn from a poem in her childhood notebook, symbolizes the challenging ascent to recognition, particularly for women writers. Decades after her passing, the serialized autobiography was compiled into a complete book.

3. Further Chronicles of Avonlea (1920)

Fans of Anne will relish this charming collection of stories set in Avonlea, though Montgomery never intended these tales for publication. She sued her publisher, L.C. Page & Company, over their unauthorized release and won $18,000 in damages as part of a settlement that allowed the book’s publication. However, the publisher breached the agreement, which initially required removing all references to Anne.

“If you come across it[,] don’t read it,” Montgomery advised in a letter to a fellow author. “It would diminish your opinion of my writing. Only a few stories are worth reading.” Despite her critique, many readers today would respectfully disagree.

4. Emily of New Moon (1923)

After completing the 10-volume Anne series, Montgomery sought a fresh start by creating Emily, a creative orphan raised by strict aunts. She insisted Emily wasn’t a replacement for Anne, and any similarities were “a failure to portray her as intended.” Emily battles narrow-minded adults on her journey to becoming a poet, experiencing moments of profound inspiration she calls “the flash.” Renowned author Alice Munro praised Emily of New Moon for its “atmosphere of mystery and even dread.”

5. Pat of Silver Bush (1933)

Montgomery’s affection extended beyond Green Gables to Silver Bush, the Prince Edward Island home of her aunt and uncle and the site of her wedding to Ewen MacDonald. Despite a troubled marriage and personal struggles, Montgomery often returned to Silver Bush for solace. In the novel, Pat Gardiner finds similar comfort in her family home, which remains a constant source of stability through life’s challenges.

6. Jane of Lantern Hill (1937)

Montgomery lost her mother to tuberculosis before she turned 2 years old, and her father later entrusted her to her stern grandparents near the real Green Gables. In this penultimate novel [PDF], Jane, a young girl, reconnects with her estranged father and hopes to reunite her parents. Set in the 1930s, the story blends family reconciliation with modern elements like automobiles, which were rare on Prince Edward Island until after World War I.

7. Among the Shadows: Tales From the Darker Side (1990)

Montgomery’s fascination with the occult might surprise readers, as she attended numerous séances and was intrigued by Ouija boards. This collection, published decades after her death, features chilling stories ranging from a clairvoyant heroine solving a ghostly mystery to a deceased brother returning to prevent a maritime disaster. These tales reveal a darker, lesser-known side of the beloved children’s author.