Lucy Maud Montgomery

Signed photo from WikipediaLucy Maud Mongomery, the creator of the firebrand orphan Anne, was born in Canada's smallest province, Prince Edward Island, in 1874, when the nation itself was only seven years old.

She published her first novel, Anne of Green Gables, in 1908, and the title character, Anne, became an immediate sensation.

With several Anne novels to her credit, L.M. Montgomery acquired an international following, which she retains to this day.

The official PEI website shows the long list of her publications. Czech, Polish, Finnish, Norwegian, French, Dutch and Japanese are some of the languages into which the books have been translated. Her Anne books have also been widely produced on stage and screen and made into audio books.

One of her old homes has been declared a national heritage site. Another former home, the Lucy Maud Mongomery Museum, was listed for sale by her descendant, Robert Mongomery, the current curator, who is about to retire.
In Kensington, PEI, there is an Anne of Green Gables Society that interested people can join: the website offers various perks of membership. There is also a Lucy Maud Montgomery Society in Ontario, where the author wrote about half her books. Established in 1911, this organization is currently celebrating its hundredth birthday.

The Japan-Prince Edward Island Society in Yokohama, Japan, is a non-profit society recognized by the Canadian Embassy. It's purpose is to provide travel information to Japanese Anne fans, of whom there are many.

L.M. Montgomery died in 1942, twenty-five years before the Order of Canada was created. But she did receive an OBE, Order of the British Empire, in 1936. The tenth L.M. Montgomery Institute Conference will be held at the University of Prince Edward Island in June 2012.