“I’m Writing Living Epistles Now”: Mothering as Artistry in L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Ingleside

Abstract While Anne of Green Gables enjoys a rich body of scholarly analysis, its sequels gain less attention. In particular, the final instalment of the Anne books— Anne of Ingleside, which depicts Anne as a mother of six—remains under-theorised in L.M. Montgomery scholarship. Critics have problematised how this novel represents a disappointing descent into domestic conformity for Anne, lamenting how the artistic, rebellious spirit that defined Anne’s childhood appears subdued in her later life. This article challenges such readings. It argues that Anne’s care-work for her children can be interpreted as a form of artistry and self-expression, involving significant intellectual and emotional labour, in Anne of Ingleside . The article weaves together three conceptual threads: aesthetic education (Greene 1995), matricentric feminism (O’Reilly 2019) and the ethic of care (Gilligan 1982). It also draws on a pioneering work in Montgomery scholarship — Elizabeth as reported by Epperly. 1993) in The Fragrance of Sweet-Grass— to discuss how “romance” in Montgomery’s novels encompasses not just conventional partnership but varied types of spiritual and emotional fulfilment — including the love of pastoral beauty and imaginative living. The article showcases how Anne’s care-work facilitates this romantic pursuit for new generations . The article aims to help contribute to maternal literary theory and reposition Anne of Ingleside as a text of critical significance within Montgomery’s oeuvre.