A Tangled Web

6b L. M. Montgomery. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1931. First Edition 

Notes

A Tangled Web, first published in 1931, is a charming standalone novel by Canadian author L. M. Montgomery (1874–1942), best remembered for her beloved Anne of Green Gables series. Set on Prince Edward Island, the story follows the eccentric and interconnected Dark and Penhallow families, whose longstanding rivalries, romances, and family secrets are thrown into turmoil when their formidable matriarch, Aunt Becky, announces that her treasured family heirloom, an antique jug, will be awarded to a deserving relative after her death. What follows is a delightful tangle of gossip, jealousy, misunderstandings, and unexpected romance as the extended family competes for the coveted inheritance. Blending Montgomery’s signature wit, colorful characters, and affectionate portrayals of small-town life, the novel explores themes of family loyalty, pride, forgiveness, and the complexities of human relationships. Though less widely known than her Anne novels, A Tangled Web remains a delightful example of Montgomery’s storytelling, showcasing her gift for weaving humor and heartfelt emotion into the everyday lives of her characters.

A particularly interesting publication detail is that the novel was released in Britain under the alternative title Aunt Becky Began It, making the different early editions especially interesting to Montgomery collectors.

Lucy Maud Montgomery was a celebrated Canadian novelist, poet, and short-story writer best remembered for creating Anne Shirley, the imaginative heroine of Anne of Green Gables (1908). Born on Prince Edward Island, Montgomery was raised by her maternal grandparents following her mother's early death, and the island's picturesque landscapes, rural communities, and colorful personalities became enduring inspirations for her fiction. Although she worked briefly as a teacher and journalist, her literary career flourished following the extraordinary success of Anne of Green Gables, which established her as one of Canada's most beloved authors. Over her lifetime, Montgomery published 20 novels and hundreds of short stories and poems.

Notes

Bright orange canvas binding with deep blue lettering to cover and spine. Original dust jacket with some chipping at points and rubbing along extremities. Pen inscription to first fly leaf, “Jan. 22nd/35 Best wishes from Auntie Minnie.” Fine condition overall.