L.M. Montgomery's writings are replete with enchanting yet subtle and fluid depictions of nature that convey her intense appreciation for the natural world. At a time of ecological crises, intensifying environmental anxiety, and burgeoning eco-critical perspectives, L.M. Montgomery and the Matter of Nature(s) repositions the Canadian author's relationship to nature in terms of current environmental criticism across several disciplines, introducing a fresh approach to her life and work. Drawing on a wide range of Montgomery's novels as well as her journals, this collection suggests that socio-ecological relationships encompass ideas of reciprocity, affiliation, autonomy, and the capacity for transformation in both the human and more-than-human worlds, and that these ideas are integral to Montgomery's vision and her literary legacy. Framed by the twin themes of materiality and interrelationships, essays by scholars of literature, law, animal studies, anthropology, and ecology examine place, embodiment, and difference in Montgomery's works and embrace the multiplicities embedded in the concept of nature. Through innovative critical approaches, L.M. Montgomery and the Matter of Nature(s) opens up conversations about humans' interactions with nature and the material environment.

Rita Bode, professor of English literature at Trent University, is co-editor, with Jean Mitchell, of L.M. Montgomery and the Matter of Nature(s), and with Lesley D. Clement of L.M. Montgomery’s Rainbow Valleys: The Ontario Years, 1911–1942.

Rita Bode's profile page

Jean Mitchell is associate professor of anthropology at the University of Prince Edward Island and co-editor of Anne around the World.

Jean Mitchell's profile page

"This collection is significant for its ability to offer unexpected, highly convincing engagements with L. M. Montgomery's work and disciplines far beyond the scope of traditional literary studies. It provides new perspectives on Montgomery's oeuvre, whil

"An emphasis on humanity's interrelatedness with nature extends the significance of L.M. Montgomery and the Matter of Nature(s) past Montgomery studies and Canadian literary and cultural studies to engage with the larger issues of how humans' interactions

"An emphasis on humanity's interrelatedness with nature extends the significance of L.M. Montgomery and the Matter of Nature(s) past Montgomery studies and Canadian literary and cultural studies to engage with the larger issues of how humans' interactions with nature shape our daily lives and the future of the planet." Mary Jeanette Moran, Illinois State University