The Secret Garden

The Secret Garden is a novel written by Frances Eliza Hodgson Burnett, English playwright and author, published in 1911. Frances Hodgson Burnett is widely known for her children’s stories, in particular Little Lord Fauntleroy, A Little Princess and The Secret Garden. This is now one of the most popular novels and is considered to be a classic of English children’s literature.


The story goes about very troubled, sickly and unloved 10 year old girl, named Mary Lennox, who was born in India to rich and selfish British parents who never wanted her and never cared about her. Servants were the only people who took care of her. Later a cholera epidemic hit India and killed her parents and all the servants.


The story reveals us the struggle between the accepted wisdom of the day and common sense, where common sense prevail. The children, by their own observations, strengthened by the common-sense of Dickon's family, break free of the imposed regime and triumph.