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Lucy Maud Montgomery is introduce in Season 9 of Murdoch Mysteries when she enrolls in George Crabtree's writing class while on a short visit of Toronto.

History[]

Lucy Maud Montgomery OBE (November 30, 1874 – April 24, 1942), publicly known as L. M. Montgomery, was a Canadian author best known for a series of novels beginning in 1908 with Anne of Green Gables.

The central character, Anne, an orphaned girl from the fictional community of Bolingbroke, Nova Scotia (based upon the real community of New London), is sent to Prince Edward Island after a childhood spent in strangers' homes and orphanages. The novel recounts how Anne Shirley makes her way with the Cuthberts, in school, and within the town. Written for all ages, it has been considered a children's novel since the mid-twentieth century.

Anne of Green Gables was an immediate success and made Montgomery famous in her lifetime, giving her an international following. The first novel was followed by a series of sequels with Anne as the central character. Montgomery went on to publish 20 novels as well as 530 short stories, 500 poems, and 30 essays. Most of the novels were set in Prince Edward Island, and locations within Canada's smallest province became literary landmarks and popular tourist sites—namely Green Gables farm, the genesis of Prince Edward Island National Park. She was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1935. (There were no Canadian orders, decorations or medals for civilians until the 1970s.)

Appearances and Mentions[]

Unlucky In Love[]

  • When Lucy Montgomery shows up 10 minutes late to his writing class after getting too caught up in the novelties of Toronto, George immediately takes a liking to her. She explains that, although she's already written some short stories and poetry, she hopes to try writing a novel.
  • During the second class, George takes some advice about honest critique he received from Murdoch a bit too seriously and winds up scaring away all of his students excluding Lucy Montgomery. Fortunately for him, she claims to be looking for "honest opinion."
  • George and Miss Montgomery go to a nearby restaurant to continue their discussion. He tells her that he thinks, based on what he's read of the draft of her "Anne of Green Gables" novel, that she's very talented. Unfortunately, George again gets too caught up listing criticisms (Anne's family is too dull, too many descriptions of nature, Anne's adventures are "uninteresting") until, when he suggests changing Anne's gender, Miss Montgomery can take no more. "I'll make this short and sweet. Goodbye, Mr. Crabtree."
  • On the streets of Toronto, George and Miss Montgomery happen to run into each other, but this time, both wish to apologize. She says that once she'd calmed down, she realized his critique could benefit her greatly, and asks if they could continue to discuss it. They go out to lunch together.
  • George clarifies that he still thinks her novel has real potential, but just that she "ought to do away with some of the dull bits and flesh out the parts that are more rousing." When she responds positively to this advice, he again brings up the idea of making Anne a boy. "Why should I? Half the world is made up of women," Montgomery says. George agrees and sticks to his original advice of making it more exciting. He says that she should incorporate the haunted woods scenes earlier in the book and "Gives us some ghosts. We need to actually see them. And a dead body." Although she's unsure about the corpse, Miss Montgomery appears interested in the addition of ghosts. "What about a white lady who walks along the brook at night, who wrings her hands and utters wailing cries, appearing when there's a death in the family?"
  • Later, while talking over a glass of wine, George suggests she uses all three of her names (Lucy, Montgomery, and what her family calls her-- Maud) in her pen name. He expresses disappointment that he, himself, only has two names to use due to being an orphan. "I remember as a child, I used to pretend that I was really the son of some great Earl and I'd been stolen away by a cruel and wicked nurse who ended up dying before she had the chance to confess." Miss Montgomery seems very intrigued by this story. "Adversity can be the making of man." The two share a passionate kiss.
  • George speaks to Henry about Lucy Maud Montgomery in a very positive manner, describing her as his intellectual equal. "I think she could be the one."
  • Unfortunately, Lucy stands George up on their dinner date, and in conversation about it later, tells him that there's no room in her life "for another person right now." Although she must return to Prince Edward Island to take care of her grandmother the next morning, the couple spend one last night together and share another kiss.
  • Lucy says that she has rewritten the first several chapters of "Anne of Green Gables" keeping in mind his criticism and asks him to send her his opinion on them via her postal address.

The Write Stuff[]

  • Lucy Maud Montgomery and George Crabtree's path cross again when they are both at the same writing convention. George tells the inspector that he not only knows her, but inspired her main character, Anne. Unfortunately, when he approaches her and her fiance, she seemingly has no recollection of their previous relationship.
  • Rudyard Kipling, a suspect in a murder occurring at the convention, tells Murdoch that he believes the murder victim was "getting forward" with Lucy Maud Montgomery at the time of his demise. Previously, Miss Montgomery had not mentioned their being in each other's company at that time.
  • George is tasked with fetching Miss Montgomery for questioning. "You really don't remember me?" he asks. Even with a brief reminder of their affair, however, she says he must be mistaking her for someone else.
  • When questioned, Miss Montgomery claims that she only helped the murder victim dry his shirt, and that the two were no more than friends. She says that she only lied to keep her fiance from wrongly suspecting otherwise. Murdoch asks who was still in that room when she left, to which she indicates Edith Wharton. Personally, however, Miss Montgomery believes his death was so poetic that he "couldn't have conceived of a more delicious ending if he wrote it himself," indicating a possible suicide.
  • At the end of the episode, George and Lucy Maud Montgomery happen upon one another once more. Finally, she admits to knowing him, saying she's read his book twice. She says that her fiance is not quite "comfortable" with her former relationships, and thus she attempted to keep her remembrance of George to a nonverbal acknowledgement, although George proved unaware of her signals. "I think of you, though. Often," she tells him. She suggests having a double-date with both of their current significant others. During this conversation, George brings up her own book, Anne of Green Gables. He tells her that it should "be a moving picture. No, a series of moving pictures." With a kiss on the cheek, Miss Montgomery tells George to take care and departs.

Gallery[]


Murdoch Mysteries Recurring Actors and Characters
Daniel Maslany as Detective WattsShanice Banton as Violet HartLachlan Murdoch as Henry HigginsArwen Humphreys as Margaret BrackenreidCharles Vandervaart as John BrackenreidClare McConnell as Effie NewsomeBea Santos as Louise CherryPeter Keleghan as Terrence MeyersPeter Stebbings as James PendrickMatthew Bennett as Allen CleggNigel Bennett as former Chief Constable Giles • Siobhan Murphy as Ruth NewsomeShailene Garnett as Nomi JohnstonStephanie Belding as Nurse SullivanSebastian Pigott as Dr. DixonColin Mochrie as Ralph FellowsJames McGowan as Dr. ForbesPatrick McKenna as Hamish SlorachDmitry Chepovetsky as Nikola TeslaJohn Tench as Alexander Graham BellMartin Moreau as Theodore RooseveltCyrus Lane as Rupert NewsomeCraig Brown as Eddie CrawfordDavid Reale as Mr. ClementsErin Agostino as Nina BloomMouna Traoré as Rebecca JamesJordan Johnson-Hinds as Nate DesmondDylan Neal as Jasper LinneyKristian Bruun as Constable JacksonRichard Clarkin as Chief Constable DavisMichael Seater as James GilliesRothaford Gray as Alderman William Peyton HubbardCyrus Lane as Roger NewsomeGeorgina Reilly as Emily GraceCharlotte Sullivan as Charlotte (formerly Minerva Fairchild)Sean Harraher as Constable WorseleyTamara Hope as Edna Brooks (née Garrison)Giacomo Gianniotti as Leslie GarlandNicole Underhay as Margaret HaileSarah Gadon as Ruby OgdenKate Greenhouse as Sally PendrickStephen McHattie as Harry MurdochGeraint Wyn Davies as Arthur Conan Doyle
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