By Madeleine Crown | On November 11, 2026 | Comments (0)
Lucy Maud Montgomery (known to readers worldwide as L.M. Montgomery) became renowned for her beloved orphan characters — Anne Shirley of Anne of Green Gables (1908) and Emily Byrd Starr of Emily of New Moon (1923). From a young age, Maud, as she was known to her familiars, was determined to become a famous writer.
Many of Montgomery’s characters contained elements of her imagination and penchant for storytelling. Her ambition to achieve a successful writing career was conveyed most strikingly by the character she deemed her favorite —the eponymous heroine of the Emily of New Moon trilogy.
“ … dear little ‘Emily’ whom I love far better than I ever loved ‘Anne’. . .” (Montgomery Journals, Volume III) Read More→
By Marie Lebert | On September 30, 2026 | Updated October 1, 2026 | Comments (0)
Russian poet Olga Ivinskaya (1912–1995) is remembered as Boris Pasternak’s friend and lover, and the inspiration for the character of Lara in Doctor Zhivago (1957). She was also his co-translator for contemporary poetry collections.
Olga Ivinskaya was instrumental in getting Doctor Zhivago published in Italy and in other countries after Pasternak (1890 – 1960) was unable find a publisher in Russia. She was imprisoned in a labor camp for several years because of her relationship with Pasternak and involvement in the publication of the novel. Read More→
Ida B. Wells was a fearless crusader in the early civil rights movement. A journalist, editor, speaker, reformer, and suffragist, she was born on July 16, 1862 (and lived her big, courageous life until 1932). Get an introduction to her remarkable life and work with these fascinating facts about Ida B. Wells.
Wells was best known for spearheading a national antilynching campaign, through which she worked tirelessly and fearlessly to end the uniquely American practice of the public mob murders of Black Americans.
Wells’ reputation continues to grow, even decades after her death. Journalism awards have been established in her name, scholarships are endowed in her honor, and there’s a museum celebrating her legacy in her hometown in Mississippi. Read More→
By Chris Prickett | On July 20, 2026 | Updated July 24, 2026 | Comments (2)
Like many of the main characters in her novels, Australian-American writer Shirley Hazzard (1931–2016) traveled and moved homes from a young age. At first, this relocation was due to the decisions of parents responding to work or world events, and later to the dictates of her employers.
Photo at right, Shirley Hazzard in 2007, photo by Christopher Peterson. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. Read More→
By Nava Atlas | On April 11, 2026 | Updated June 27, 2026 | Comments (0)
I find literary centenaries fascinating. What books were being read and discussed one hundred years ago? What books and stories have become classics? Here we’ll explore literary centenaries that happened in 2026 — specifically, books by women writers published in 1926. Which have stood the test of time?
Because of the hoopla surrounding the centenary of The Great Gatsby in 2025, I did a similar roundup of books and stories by women writers from 1925.
All of these books and stories following are in the public domain, so you might find free versions of them online on sites like Project Gutenberg. Many are still circulating in print form in public or university libraries; and audio versions of most are available as well. Read More→
Categories: 
Comments: