Lucy Maud Montgomery was born on Prince Edward Island, Canada, in 1874. She had her first poem published at the age of 15 and after completing college she worked for a short time as a journalist before becoming a teacher. In 1908 Anne of Green Gables was published to huge acclaim with Anne of Avonlea coming soon after. Many successful novels follwed but by late 1930s, due to personal troubles, illness and depression, she stopped writing.