For example, Maud's journals give a lush counterpoint to the themes and imagery in Anne of Green Gables, a book that's often been shunted into the kidlit category and which readers of this blog hopefully recognize as a beautiful tour de force. I was amazed at how well she captured both the natural world of PEI and the strictures of the manners and morals against which she struggled. Maud even refers to herself as an "emotional orphan" in her journals...it's no wonder she turned the full force of her sensitivity and imagination toward another orphaned girl.

Don't worry...one doesn't only discover sad things when researching one's favorite authors. For example, I was delighted to find a recipe for New Moon Pudding, which Maud made on special occasions, in the lovely Aunt Maud's Recipe Book: From The Kitchen of L.M. Montgomery by Elaine Crawford and Kelly Crawford:

2 cups milk
1 cup breadcrumbs (diced slices of bread)
1/3 cup sugar
3 egg yolks, slightly beaten
Rind of ½ lemon
¼ tsp salt

Combine all ingredients and pour into a buttered 8x8x2 inch pan. Set into a larger pan and pour into the outer pan hot water to a depth of inch. Bake in a 350 F oven until a silver knife stuck into the centre comes clean, about 45 minutes.

3 egg whites
¼ cup sugar
1½ tbsp lemon juice

Beat egg whites still with sugar and lemon juice. Put on top of the pudding, return to oven and barely brown the meringues. Serve with cream. Serves six.

Guest blog contributed by Erin Blakemore, author of The Heroine's Bookshelf