The MaudCast: The Podcast of the L.M. Montgomery Institute

S03E04 The Fantastic Realms of L.M. Montgomery and Madeleine L’Engle,
with Heidi Lawrence

What happens when we read L.M. Montgomery as a work of fantasy? C.S. Lewis expert Brenton Dickieson chats with Madeleine L’Engle scholar Heidi Lawrence about the intense realism and rich expansiveness of other worlds in fiction.

Episode Description

In this episode, MaudCast host Brenton Dickieson sits down with Heidi Lawrence, a scholar of Madeleine L’Engle, eco-psychology, and children’s literature. This long-awaited conversation starts with bedside-table books and ends up somewhere out in the cosmos and near the realms of theology. Along the way, Heidi and Brenton talk about everything: why middle grade fiction takes a harder skill to write than anyone gives it credit for, what Heidi’s University of Glasgow PhD found when it put L’Engle’s realism and fantasy in the same universe, and what C.S. Lewis’s talking-brutes and Tolkien’s eucatastrophe have to do with reading Prince Edward Island as a fantasy world. Brenton and Heidi trace Anne’s imaginary friends, Emily of New Moon’s “flash,” and Jane of Lantern Hill’s magic house through the lens of fantasy theory, including Brian Attebery’s fuzzy sets, Farah Mendlesohn’s four types of fantasy, and J.R.R. Tolkien’s work in “On Fairy-stories.” Eventually, they land on the most dynamic question of the hour: is providence just fantasy by another name? It’s a conversation for anyone who’s ever reread a favourite book and found it richer the second time.

What is the MaudCast?

The MaudCast is the podcast of the L.M. Montgomery Institute. In our quest to discover cutting-edge scholarship about the life and works of Lucy Maud Montgomery, we welcome to the microphone leading academics, emerging scholars, local researchers, and imaginative readers and writers from around the world. Hosted by Dr. Brenton Dickieson, we broadcast from the beautiful campus of the University of Prince Edward Island.

Episode Notes, Links, and References

Discussions about L.M. Montgomery's own work:

• The Story Girl (1911) 
• Jane of Lantern Hill (1937)  
• The Emily trilogy: Emily of New Moon (1923), Emily Climbs (1925), Emily's Quest (1927)  
• Anne of Green Gables (1908)  

Other books and poems we chatted about at length:

• Tennyson, Alfred, Lord. Idylls of the King. 1859–1885.  
• Waterston, Elizabeth. Magic Island: The Fictions of L.M. Montgomery. Oxford UP, 2008.  
• MacDonald, George. The Golden Key (1867) and The Light Princess (1864). — 
• Lewis, C.S. An Experiment in Criticism. Cambridge UP, 1961.  
• Tolkien, J.R.R. "On Fairy-Stories." 1947 (essay).  
• L'Engle, Madeleine. A Wrinkle in Time (1962) and the Time Quintet.  
• Attebery, Brian. Strategies of Fantasy. Indiana UP, 1992. 
• Burnett, Frances Hodgson. The Secret Garden. 1911.  

Heidi’s Work

Lawrence, Heidi A. Reading Madeleine L’Engle: Ecopsychology in Children’s and Adolescent Literature. Routledge, 2023.

Lawrence, Heidi A. “Absent Fathers: Conversations Between L.M. Montgomery and Madeleine L’Engle.” In Children and Childhoods in L.M. Montgomery: Continuing Conversations, eds. Rita Bode, Lesley Clement, Holly Pike, and Margaret Steffler. McGill-Queen’s UP, 2022, pp. 182–200.

Lawrence, Heidi A. “‘Lost Laughter’: Mental Health through Nature Connectedness in Magic for Marigold.” Journal of L.M. Montgomery Studies, special collection “L.M. Montgomery and Mental Health,” ed. Lesley D. Clement, 29 May 2023.

Lawrence, Heidi A. “Caught Forever in a Picture Frame: The Impact of the Gaze in Kilmeny of the Orchard.” Journal of L.M. Montgomery Studies, special collection “L.M. Montgomery and Vision,” eds. Lesley D. Clement and Tara K. Parmiter, 8 Nov. 2022.

Friendly Note to Readers of Tolkien and L’Engle

To our Tolkien-loving friends, when Brenton says “Gandalf is a dwarf,” he is simply making a link between the Middle-earth character and “Gandalfr” in the Poetic Edda. We have not changed his species.

And finally, a quick note that our bookish friend and yours, Madeleine L’Engle died September 6, 2007, not when we had guessed in the chat. Dear Madeline, thanks for all the stories!

Special Guest Bio

Heidi A. Lawrence studies the intersections of literature for young people with ecopsychology and ecotherapy, and has a special interest in fantasy and highly imaginative literature. She considers the ways in which such readings allow audiences to re-imagine their connections to the nonhuman world, leading to increased well-being. She is also beginning to think about ways in which fantasy may be flying under the radar in children’s literature. She has a monograph with Routledge on Madeleine L’Engle and ecopsychology, as well as articles and a book chapter on L.M. Montgomery and a book chapter on Louisa May Alcott. She holds a PhD in English Literature (University of Glasgow, UK), MA degrees in English (Brigham Young University) and Medieval Studies (University of Leeds, UK), and an MPhil in English Literature (University of York, UK). She currently adjuncts at Brigham Young University (Provo, Utah).

The MaudCast Team

Host and Founding Producer: Brenton Dickieson

Founding Co-Producer: Kate Scarth

Technical Director: Kristy McKinney

Interim Producer: Donald Moses

MaudCast Intern: Fleur Rodrigues

Music: Nicolas Riel 

Logo Design: Heidi Haering

Where to find the MaudCast

Find the MaudCast on Instagram: www.instagram.com/lmmimaudcast

Find the MaudCast’s other socials on linktree: https://linktr.ee/TheMaudcast?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=0c4e460c-2b28-4322-a8b6-95f4451b92aa 

L.M. Montgomery Institute’s website: https://www.lmmontgomery.ca/

The Journal of L.M. Montgomery Studies: https://journaloflmmontgomerystudies.ca/

Find Brenton Dickieson on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bdickieson

Check out Brenton Dickieson’s website: www.aPilgrimInNarnia.com

Find Nicolas Riel on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/24tFIIiCjulHu0pbxeQVdA?si=RwSzlCJkQ9604TR-qxNinQ

Special thanks to the Robertson Library at UPEI and all of our community partners.

The MaudCast is supported in part by funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

MaudCast S03E03 Emily Carr, L.M. Montgomery, and Literary Houses of Dreams, with Bonnie Tulloch and Pascale Halliday

Episode Description:

Host Brenton Dickieson sits down with Pascale Halliday, former Executive Director of the Emily Carr House, and Dr. Bonnie Tulloch, L.M. Montgomery scholar and educator, to explore the surprising parallels between Carr and Montgomery. Born about the same time as islanders on opposite sides of the country—Carr in Victoria, BC in 1871, and Montgomery on Prince Edward Island’s north shore in 1874—both women turned early creative ambition, complicated family lives, and decades of life writing into a lasting national mythology. Pascale takes us inside the Carr House itself, including the (in)famous Howloween Pet Parade, while Bonnie brings her research on storytelling and sense-making to bear on what connects a painter of the Pacific coast to the Atlantic Canadian author of Green Gables.

What is the MaudCast?

The MaudCast is the podcast of the L.M. Montgomery Institute. In our quest to discover cutting-edge scholarship about the life and works of Lucy Maud Montgomery, we welcome to the microphone leading academics, emerging scholars, local researchers, and imaginative readers and writers from around the world. Hosted by Dr. Brenton Dickieson, we broadcast from the beautiful campus of the University of Prince Edward Island.

Episode Links

• Emily Carr | Historica Canada
• Lucy Maud Montgomery | Historica Canada
• Emily Carr, painter, 1871-1945 - Canada Postage Stamp
• Royal Canadian Mint—Emily Carr coins
• Royal Canadian Mint unveils L.M. Montgomery $1 coin

Special Guest Bios

Dr. Bonnie Tulloch (she/her) completed her PhD in the School of Information at the University of British Columbia in 2023, building on a 2018 Vanier Scholarship, a 2020 UBC Public Scholar Award, and the inaugural Elizabeth R. Epperly Award for Outstanding Early Career Paper at the L.M. Montgomery and Reading Conference. Her research spans children’s and young adult literature and media, with a focus on the sense-making practices underlying different forms of storytelling—her dissertation examined youth, internet memes, and digital citizenship. Earlier projects include a study of Canadian children’s island fiction and a master’s thesis on children’s nonsense poetry. As an interdisciplinary scholar, she is works as a very creative teacher in BC. At the time of recording, Bonnie served as Journal Coordinator for the Journal of L.M. Montgomery Studies.

Pascale Halliday (she/her) is a history and education professional with a background in museum interpretation, program development, and historic site direction. She was Executive Director of the Carr House Community Society in Victoria, BC—the birthplace of artist and author Emily Carr—after roles there as summer interpreter and programming manager. She has since moved to New Brunswick, where she is Visitor Program Manager at Kings Landing Historical Settlement, and remains on the Carr House board. Alongside Bonnie Tulloch, she is currently developing a blog project on the historic houses of female authors.

The MaudCast Team

Host and Founding Producer: Brenton Dickieson

Founding Co-Producer: Kate Scarth

Technical Director: Kristy McKinney

Interim Producer: Donald Moses

Guest Producer: Fleur Rodrigues

MaudCast Intern: Fleur Rodrigues

Music: Nicolas Riel 

Logo Design: Heidi Haering

Where to find the MaudCast

Find the MaudCast on Instagram: www.instagram.com/lmmimaudcast

L.M. Montgomery Institute’s website: https://www.lmmontgomery.ca/

The Journal of L.M. Montgomery Studies: https://journaloflmmontgomerystudies.ca/

Find the MaudCast’s other socials on linktree: https://linktr.ee/TheMaudcast?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=0c4e460c-2b28-4322-a8b6-95f4451b92aa 

Find Brenton Dickieson on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bdickieson

Check out Brenton Dickieson’s website: www.aPilgrimInNarnia.com

Find Nicolas Riel on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/24tFIIiCjulHu0pbxeQVdA?si=RwSzlCJkQ9604TR-qxNinQ

Special thanks to the Robertson Library at UPEI and all of our community partners.

The MaudCast is supported in part by funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

 

Allison Hudson and Caroline Jones are two of the organizers of the next biennial L.M. Montgomery Institute conference (that’s every two years, not “biannual” as twice a year, like host Brenton Dickieson says in the episode). LMMI26 is here in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, June 24-28, 2026. The Montgomery conference is a highlight for so many artists, scholars, librarians, Montgomery community members, and avid readers of her work. In this episode, three friends and scholars catch up on the news, share some fond memories of past conferences, and give some hints about what’s to come.

Dr. Allison McBain Hudson is the current Visiting Scholar at the L.M. Montgomery Institute—or the LMMI, as we call it. Her Ph.D. from Dublin City University is on the significance of material culture in Montgomery’s novels, and in the episode, we talk about what “material culture studies” really means (you can hear Brenton's stumbling definition and Allison’s elegant correction). Originally from Alberta, Allison has lived in Ireland for nearly three decades, where she quilts, sews, walks dogs, and has two daughters with her husband, an Irish artist. Allison is one of the keynote speakers at the conference.

Dr. Caroline E. Jones is a past LMMI Visiting Scholar and has published a host of essay anthologies and scholarly papers. Every time I hear Caroline give a talk, I am amazed by her creative mind. In this episode, we’ll find out more about her research, which, like Allison’s, looks more closely at Montgomery’s Emily of New Moon trilogy. Formerly a bookseller and full-time academic, Caroline currently works as an editor in Austin, Texas, USA.

This episode brings together three countries—Dublin, Ireland, Prince Edward Island, Canada, and Texas, USA—Montgomery friends in conversation, even when there is an ocean and a continent in between. We hope you enjoy the episode—including the news that the most powerful Anne of my childhood, Megan Follows, will give a keynote talk. To find out more about the June conference and our guests, check out the details below.

Tagline: Bringing listeners warm, thoughtful conversations inspired by the life and works of Lucy Maud Montgomery.

Description: In this episode, we discuss fond memories of past L.M. Montgomery Institute conferences, and happy hopes for the next one in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, June 24-28, 2026.

Conference Link: https://lmmontgomery.ca/upcoming-conference/2026-l-m-montgomery-and-change/

What is the MaudCast?

The MaudCast is the podcast of the L.M. Montgomery Institute. In the our quest to discover cutting-edge scholarship about the life and works of Lucy Maud Montgomery, we welcome to the microphone leading academics, emerging scholars, local researchers, and imaginative readers and writers from around the world. Hosted by Dr. Brenton Dickieson, we broadcast from the beautiful campus of the University of Prince Edward Island.

The MaudCast Team

Host and Founding Producer: Brenton Dickieson

Founding Co-Producer: Kate Scarth

Technical Director: Kristy McKinney

MaudCast Intern: Fleur Rodrigues (with writing and design credits)

Music: Nicolas Riel, with an editing credit on this episode

Logo Design: Heidi Haering

Find the MaudCast Team Online

Find the MaudCast on Instagram: www.instagram.com/lmmimaudcast

L.M. Montgomery Institute’s website: https://www.lmmontgomery.ca/

The Journal of L.M. Montgomery Studies: https://journaloflmmontgomerystudies.ca/

Find the MaudCast’s other socials on linktree: https://linktr.ee/TheMaudcast?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=0c4e460c-2b28-4322-a8b6-95f4451b92aa  

Find Brenton Dickieson on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bdickieson

Check out Brenton Dickieson’s website: www.aPilgrimInNarnia.com

Find Nicolas Riel on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/24tFIIiCjulHu0pbxeQVdA?si=RwSzlCJkQ9604TR-qxNinQ

Special Guest Bio

Dr. Allison McBain Hudson is the current Visiting Scholar at the L.M. Montgomery Institute. She recently completed her Ph.D. at Dublin City University on the significance of material culture in the novels of L.M. Montgomery, particularly the Emily trilogy. Originally from Alberta, she obtained a BA in English from the University of Calgary in 1995 and moved to Ireland in 1997. She earned an MA in Children’s and Young Adult Literature from Dublin City University in 2019 with a focus on Montgomery’s unique Romanticism and “everyday magic.” When she’s not studying or teaching, she is quilting and sewing, walking the dogs in the woods, and looking for old houses and kindred spirits. She is married to an Irish artist, and they live on the outskirts of Dublin with their two daughters.

2026 Keynote Title: “Maud, Pat, and Me: The Materiality of Change”

Allison's Socials:

Instagram: @allisonmcbainhudson

Bluesky: @drmcbainhudson.bsky.social

Threads: @allisonmcbainhudson

Dr. Caroline E. Jones is a past Visiting Scholar at the L.M. Montgomery Institute. Her work on Montgomery goes back to her M.A. thesis, which explores the “happy ending” of the Emily trilogy. She has since presented and published on class, motherhood, the young artist, and more in Montgomery. She has essays in Children’s Play in Literature (2019), L.M. Montgomery and War (2017), L.M. Montgomery’s Rainbow Valleys (2015), and Anne Around the World (2013). Her most recent publication is “Read What You Know: Nostalgia and the Discovery of Self through L.M. Montgomery’s Emily of New Moon,” which appears in the L.M. Montgomery and Re-Vision collection in the Journal of L.M. Montgomery Studies. Formerly a bookseller and full-time academic, she currently works as an editor in Austin, Texas, USA.

Caroline's Socials:

Instagram: @byrdstarr

Facebook: Caroline Emily Byrdstarr

Threads: @byrdstarr

Special thanks to the Robertson Library at UPEI and all of our community partners.

The MaudCast is supported in part by funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

Bringing listeners warm, thoughtful conversations inspired by the life and works of Lucy Maud Montgomery.

Description: In this episode, we discuss the editorial and archival adventures of Carolyn Strom Collins, as she talks about the manuscript edition of L.M. Montgomery’s hilarious and unusual romance, The Blue Castle.

What is the MaudCast?

The MaudCast is the podcast of the L.M. Montgomery Institute. In the MaudCast’s quest to discover cutting-edge scholarship about the life and works of Lucy Maud Montgomery, we welcome to the microphone leading academics, emerging scholars, local researchers, and imaginative readers and writers from around the world. Hosted by Dr. Brenton Dickieson, we broadcast from the beautiful campus of the University of Prince Edward Island.

Special Guest Bio

Carolyn Strom Collins is the author of The Anne of Green Gables Treasury and other “Anne” companion books. She has also published companion books on Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House books, Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, and Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Secret Garden. Carolyn founded The L. M. Montgomery Literary Society as well as the Friends of the L. M. Montgomery Institute.

In season one of the MaudCast, Carolyn joined us to discuss a couple of her editorial projects: After Many Years: Twenty-one “Long-Lost” Stories by L. M. Montgomery and Anne of Green Gables: The Original Manuscript. We are sitting down with Carolyn on the release of another brilliant Montgomery archival resource, The Blue Castle: The Original Manuscript.  

The MaudCast Team

Host and Founding Producer: Brenton Dickieson

Founding Co-Producer: Kate Scarth

Technical Director: Kristy McKinney

MaudCast Intern: Fleur Rodrigues

Visual Design: Heidi Haering

Music: Nicolas Riel

Find the MaudCast on Instagram at www.instagram.com/lmmimaudcast

L.M. Montgomery Institute website: https://www.lmmontgomery.ca/

L.M. Montgomery Institute X: @LMMI_PEI

The Journal of L.M. Montgomery Studies: https://journaloflmmontgomerystudies.ca/

Find Brenton Dickieson on Instagram and X: https://www.instagram.com/bdickieson

Brenton Dickieson on Instagram and X: https://linktr.ee/brentondickieson

Brenton Dickieson’s website: www.aPilgrimInNarnia.com

Find Nicolas Riel on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/24tFIIiCjulHu0pbxeQVdA?si=RwSzlCJkQ9604TR-qxNinQ

Contact Information for the L.M. Montgomery Literary Society:

Website: https://lmmontgomeryliterarysociety.weebly.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lmmlitsociety/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LMmontgomeryLS

Special thanks to the Robertson Library at UPEI and all of our community partners.

The MaudCast is supported in part by funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.