Suicide took life of Anne creator, expert on author not surprised JIM DAY The Guardian
Elizabeth Epperly could have told you years ago that Lucy Maud Montgomery took her own life.
But Epperly, a world-renowned expert on the famous author who penned Anne of Green Gables, never wanted to be the one to make the shocking revelation.
“No, I wasn’t tempted to do that,’’ said Epperly, a former president of the University of Prince Edward Island and founder of the L.M. Montgomery Institute.
“I didn’t want to do that.’’
Montgomery’s granddaughter, Kate Macdonald Butler, wrote in the Globe and Mail on the weekend the long-held secret about one of Canada’s most beloved authors.
Epperly described as fitting both the source and context of the troubling secret being brought to light.
Butler wrote that reading a series on mental health in The Globe and Mail during the summer inspired her to reflect upon her own family’s history with depression. She said despite her grandmother’s great success, it is known that Montgomery suffered from depression, that she was isolated, sad and filled with worry and dread for much of her life.
But the family never spoke publicly about the extent of Montgomery’s illness, until now. Butler said the author of Anne, 19 other novels, personal journals and hundreds of short stories and poems committed suicide at the age of 67 through an overdose.
“I am proud of her courage, given how isolated and lonely she must have felt during certain periods of her life,’’ Butler wrote in the weekend newspaper article.
“I wish that her family or community had had some of the tools that are available today. I expect that most families continue to be bewildered about how to help loved ones who suffer from debilitating depression.’’
Epperly, who has spoken to Butler on numerous occasions, called her the moment she read the article.
“I said ‘Kate, I love the piece, it is so beautiful. I’m so glad you did that. People need to hear that from the family’.’’
Epperly said she learned about 30 years ago that Montgomery took her own life.
Epperly, who has written extensively on Montgomery and her work, doesn’t want to identify her source other than to say it was “somebody who would have known.’’
Epperly said letters written by Montgomery clearly show how the author’s life had become unbearable and that she wanted to do something about it. Montgomery’s last journal entry was in March of 1942 just one month before she died.
“The tone of the March entry . . . basically she is saying her life is so miserable, she is going to have to end it,’’ said Epperly.
She is hopeful the compassionate manner in which Butler has revealed that Montgomery committed suicide will help raise awareness towards mental-health issues like depression.
Epperly also would like to see the revelation lead more people to read the work of Montgomery, which has already been in the spotlight this year with great attention being heaped on the 100th anniversary of the author’s most-read work, Anne of Green Gables.
“There is such richness in Montgomery’s writing,’’ said Epperly, who is living in New Brunswick, where she continues to research, read and write about the author.
Considering Montgomery’s declining mental state that culminated in suicide, Epperly does not believe the author would likely have penned any further great works.
“I think without the appropriate treatment, I don’t think she would have been writing anything like Anne of Green Gables,’’ she said.
“I don’t think we were deprived of a literary gem. She was on a downward spiral, darkening her imagination and ability to write.’’
Epperly expects the suicide to be highlighted in an upcoming biography on Montgomery by author Mary Rubio.
She is pleased, though, that Butler was the first to go public with the revelation.
“I am delighted that the family has taken the initiative with . . . this compassionate response on its own,’’ she said.
Dr. Angus Beck is an Island psychiatrist who has over the years provided Rubio with information on mood disorder to assist in her work on Montgomery.
Speaking on Rubio’s behalf, he said the upcoming book, called Lucy Maud Montgomery: The Gift of Wings, shows Montgomery’s situation to be a complex case.
Montgomery took prescribed medication for symptoms related to depression and sleep disorder.
Beck said Rubio leaves to the reader to make the determination of whether Montgomery took her own life.
Some family members have interpreted a letter written by Montgomery as being a suicide note, but Beck said Rubio is not comfortable making a firm conclusion based on the note and her host of other research.
“My professional opinion,’’ Beck said of his considerable knowledge of Montgomery’s case, “is this is a lady who had a number of losses in her life, marital dissatisfaction and situational stresses who likely had a biological disorder of a recurrent depressive illness, quite possibly a bipolar disorder.’’
Mark Leggott, chairman of the Lucy Maud Montgomery Institute in Charlottetown, said while some people have been surprised by the news, most say they’re glad Montgomery can be used to highlight the realities of mental illness.
Kismet Baun of the Canadian Mental Health Association says unlike Montgomery’s stories, her life didn’t have a happy ending, but some good can result by promoting public discussion.
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Bill Bradley from Johnstons River, PE writes: How about a little respect, maybe she just didn't think that Montgomery would want the world knowing that she was suffering from a mental illness, now maybe some people won't be as embarassed to seek help with such conditions before taking their own lives as well.
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Lynn Howard from Ontario writes: I'm glad Montgomery had the choice and was strong enough to put an end to her misery. The pain in her last journal was so unbearably sad.
It takes a lot of courage for her family to share this information and I thank them.
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Rich from Halifax, NS writes: What is the first poster trying to say? This was a wonderful talented person who suffered greatly. In those days, sadly, people could not discuss mental illness, much less come out in the open with it.
The result was many had to suffer terribly in silence. Thank Heavens, today it can be discussed like any other illness. Indeed, it takes great strength to seek help and we should be applauding their courage.
Just try walking one day in the shoes of a truly depressed or bipolar person and you will understand. It is just like cancer or any other illness. Sadly, for all her fame and talent, she could not beat the odds. Let us hope the medicines of today are more helpful.
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Anne Fan from PEI writes: I am glad to read the E. Epperley knew and did not reveal the fact that Ms. Montgomery took her life. Revealing that fact is a decision of her family's and they chose to announce it. How very respectful! It has been my experience that those with the most talent in writing words or music often feel depressed or detached in some way from the real world...which can be a cruel place. I hope that this announcement can have a positive spin on those who suffer from various mental illnesses, proving to the world that they can achieve much, even while in pain. While I do not have a mental illness, I have known many who do, and the stigma is often worse than the disease. Bravo to her family for revealing the truth.
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Tracy from PEI writes: Rich, Mr Bradley was responding to the inital poster Bubba . That post has since been deleted.
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PEISlander from PEI writes: And we had to know this because why???
I don't get the comment that it was good Montgomery had a choice along with the backbone to put herself out of her misery. (???)
Did the family go public because there was an biography coming out that would have exposed this?
I personally feel the world doesn't need to know everything about everyone. I also give kudos to those that have known this fact and chose to respect the memory of LM Montgomery.
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citizen from PE writes: Arent we
stigmatizing somewhat here by having it on the news, the noon news, and in print? Just leave it be.
In those dreary days unwed mothers were scarlet women and anything like mental illness ignored and not addressed. This was the attitude even in the 70s of unwed mothers, a bloody big scandal.
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Shelle.B from PEI writes: It's 2008 obviously, the Only People who Today, would stgmatize Persons dealing with Depression-Manic Depression-Bipolar disorders would be The Ignorant.
(and Lord knows we have more than our share of Ignorant on PEI
(Small Minded, Tunnel Vision Ignorant.)
And in the year 2008, there's No Excuse for remaining Ignorant. There are more than enough opportunities for Adult Education and those Who Are Educated, look-up to adults who are wise enough to go back to school to better themselves by obtaing the GED grade 12. Unfortunatly those who chose to remain uneducated as Adults, are looked down upon for not chosing to be wise and have the fortitude to go take Adult Classes to obtain a GED Grade 12.
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KaReN from Pe writes: Huh What aRe You Talking About.
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