Maggie Smith’s Many Faces—A Literary Tribute

The day that legendary actress Dame Maggie Smith died was a hard one. Fans across the world raised their cups—and their wands—to the woman who played such characters as Mother Superior, Violet Crawley and the forever iconic Professor Minerva McGonagall. I mean, she was so talented that she was given a title by the Queen herself! So, in an effort to forever memorialize one of the greatest actors in our generation, enjoy the private library of Dame Maggie Smith, with book recommendations that her characters would have enjoyed. Each recommendation is inspired by the character she played and made with each of them in mind. Herewithin lies stories that are as great as the ones she had a part in. 

Lady Bluebery – Gnomeo & Juliet 

The head of the Montague family, Lady Bluebery is bombastic, spirited and always in search of her next adventure. She has been known to wish Gnomeo good luck in his lawnmower races, and needs a book that would satisfy that need for speed. Path of the Fury by David Weber would have found its place on Lady Bluebery’s mushroom shelf. Path of the Fury follows ex-commando leader Alicia Devries as she battles her way through planets filled with pirates while also attempting to stop her old team members from attacking her. A fast-paced adventure novel, Lady Bluebery would have enjoyed this book while keeping her ever-watchful eye on Gnomeo and that red-capped Juliet. 

Mother Superior – Sister Act 

Look out, here comes Mother Superior! Strict and unwavering, Mother Superior takes her religion as seriously as she takes her job. Given that she strives for moral superiority and religious excellence, it only seems fair that The Book of Job by Stephen Mitchell would find its place next to her bible. Mitchell dives headfirst into the human experience, in particular how we deal with existentialism and human suffering. While the rest of the nuns are off having…what do you call it?…fun, Mother Superior certainly would be found annotating this book along with a strong cup of tea. 

Violet Crawley – Downton Abbey 

Violet Crawley: smart as a whip, patriotic as hell and above all else, an unrelenting matriarch. Although her home in Downton Abbey houses nothing short of hundreds of books, I like to think that she would come back time and time again to The Illusion of Power: Political Theater in the English Renaissance by Stephen Orgel. Short and sweet, Orgel’s novel guides readers through the connection between the theater and English politics. Although she is quite a strict woman, Violet might enjoy the lively nature of this book, sharing her findings with the rest of her family. And with only 95 pages, she could read it once, twice or even three times over in the course of an afternoon amongst the withered pages of her library. 

Minerva McGonagall – Harry Potter

Before I get into the book recommendation, I want to take this opportunity to share my own story with Professor McGonagall. I first read the Harry Potter series in first grade and continue to find joy from the franchise—despite many of my values not aligning with that of the author. Professor McGonagall not only taught the class I wanted more than anything to take (Transfiguration), but she proved to me that being clever, witty and proud was not a thing to fear or side sweep, but rather something to find pride and gratitude in. Her legacy forever ingrained in the hallowed halls of Hogwarts, I would recommend her a classic that is as iconic as she is: The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien. I believe that while she might feel used to and no longer unnerved by the magic presence around her, she might find joy and a sense of exploration in this timeless novel. The elements of fantasy combined with the turbulent group dynamic would suit her well, and who knows? Maybe she can start a bookclub with the other Hogwarts professors. 

The world will remember Maggie Smith as a wonderful actress, whose acting ability transported and transformed the lives of millions. She will forever be memorialized in the wizards, nuns, gnomes, and aristocrats that she played. Goodbye Maggie, we will never forget your legacy.