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Customer Reviews (12)

Great!
I bought this book for my son for a book report he was doing. He really enjoyed reading it.

Great transaction
The book is in wonderful condition and arrived quickly and well-packaged.My daughter loves it!Thanks for the positive transaction!

Secret Garden
For both this and the beautifully illustrated unabridged version I must say that the movies follow the book quite well. However, being a book lover, I much prefer reading the story. I have both editions. The illustrated one is so beautiful that I have it as a display version only. This edtition is the one that I read and share. The Secret Garden is a book that any real book lover definitely needs to have as part of their library. You will not be able to put the book down until you have read it through to the end. The story will carry you along on it's magical journey through friendship, faith and the power of positive thinking.

Sigh. A favorite.
I read this book for the first time this last spring, and it was about time.I love the '93 movie version with Kate Maberly.I've watched it close to one hundred times and I had hoped the book would have such a hold on me.`Ay, that it did!
It's a perfect book to read in the spring; but strangely enough, I find myself being drawn to it as the winter approaches too.If you read it in the spring, try working with seedlings while you read it. It's magical.Also, you'll want to keep biscuits, preserves and milk close by, as Mary and her cousin Colin learn that nature has a healing power over more than what's planted in The Secret Garden.

Great story
I first read this book when I was 12.I Loved it. Having just moved from Central America to the US I could relate to Mary & how she had to adjust to a different home, new surroundings and customs that felt so odd to her. Now I love reading this story to the students I tutor because it helps them understand and accept other students from different backgrounds and cultures. ... Read more

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SARA CREWE; OK, WHAT HAPPENED AT MISS MINCHIN'S. IN the first place, Miss Minchin lived in London. Her home was a large, dull, tall one, in a large, dull square, where aJi the houses were alike, and all the sparrows were alike, and where all the door-knockers made the same heavy sound, and on still days-and nearly all the days were still-seemed to resound through the entire row in which the knock was knocked. On Miss Minchin's door there was a brass plate. On the brass plate there was inscribed in black letters. MISS MINCHIN'S SELECT SEMINARY FOR YOUNG LADIES. Little Sara Crewe never went in or out of the house without reading that door-plate and reflecting upon it. By the time she was twelve, she had decided that all her trouble arose because, in the first place, she was not " Select," and in

About the Publisher

Forgotten Books is a publisher of historical writings, such as: Philosophy, Classics, Science, Religion, History, Folklore and Mythology.

Forgotten Books' Classic Reprint Series utilizes the latest technology to regenerate facsimiles of historically important writings. Careful attention has been made to accurately preserve the original format of each page whilst digitally enhancing the difficult to read text. Read books online for free at http://www.forgottenbooks.org ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (5)

Refreshing
This book was not what I expected. I thought it was going to be boring, I almost did not want to read it. But within the first chapter I was hooked. This book is so sweet & it teaches you the thing everyone is now so big on...to believe. This is such a great book I recommend it to everyone, & its a great book to read & share if there are any kids around your life.

Classic!
I'm not sure how this classic escaped me all these years. I am so glad I finally found it. The Secret Garden is such a lovely read. Definitely recommend!

Children's Classic
For those of you who haven't read this, you should.

It's the story of Mary Lennox, who grew up in India, extremely spoiled by the servants, whose only job was to keep her quiet and out of the way of her parents.After her parents die she's sent to live with her uncle in England, a crotchety old man mourning the loss of his wife, who also wants nothing to do with her.Lonely, spoiled Mary explores the manor and the garden, finding all sorts of hidden secrets as well as her own happiness.

A must-read for children and adults.It's the kind of story that just makes you feel warm and comfortable inside.

One of my favorite books
I read this a couple times when I was a young teenager and now I just read it again 10 years later. It is still one of my favorite books. I love the theme that children need activities and hobbies and exercise to stay healthy, physically and mentally. I wish I had my own secret garden inside a stone wall :)
I think this is a wonderful book for any young child to read. The characters are good and the story is so beautiful.

Definitely buy this!
I hadn't read The Secret Garden since I was a kid. I'm so glad I found it on Kindle and read it again as an adult! What a wonderful story! And as a free Kindle book, it's hard to pass up!

I gave it 4/5 stars only because the formatting didn't quite come out perfect (a few squares with question marks in it appeared). Still, it's easy to read despite the few errors. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Fantastic Story, Wrong author
Heidi is a BEAUTIFUL story that teaches the value of patience and of submission to a higher power,but you've got the author confused, it's JoHanna Spyri, not Frances Hodgson Burnett.(Burnett wrote "The Secret Garden", "A Little Princess", "Little Lord Fauntleroy", "The Lost Prince" etc...) Heidi was translated into english by many different translators who each put a slightly different 'spin' in their translations.Some of them had rather harsh views of God; others more kind, loving views so pay attention to the translation when picking your own copy. Also, I definitely prefer those that retain the German titles (Herr instead of Mr. ect...) ... Read more

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When orphaned Mary Lennox, lonely and sad, comes to live at her uncle's great house on the Yorkshire moors, she finds it full of secrets. At night, she hears the sound of crying down one of the long corridors. Outside, she meets Dickon, a magical boy who can charm and talk to animals. Then, one day, with the help of a friendly robin, Mary discovers the most mysterious wonder of all -- a secret garden, walled and locked, which has been completely forgotten for years and years. Is everything in the garden dead, or can Mary bring it back to life?

Customer Reviews (1)

Sara's Review of The Secret Garden
The Secret Garden was written by Frances Hodgson Burnett and it is a book about a girl named Mary Lennox who was born in India and had servants to take care of her. She was always mean and never treated anyone nicely. Then her parents died and she moves to England to live with her uncle in his big dark mansion. She meets two boys named Dickon and Colin and they discover a secret garden that's been locked up for ten years. Colin is always in bed and thinks he is ill and going to die so he treats people like he was a king and they were his servants. Mary and Colin are two very mean and spoiled children but because of Dickon and the secret garden, they become great friends.
I liked the book because the author described everything and made it sound like it was real. When she described the garden and the way the children looked and the weather in England, you could imagine it. One thing I didn't like about the book was when some of the characters talked in Yorkshire. It was very hard to understand what they were saying. I would recommend this book because I learned that people can change the way they act and discoverer new things.
... Read more

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The book has no illustrations or index. Purchasers are entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Subjects: Fiction / Literary; History / Military / World War I; ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Large Print and only One Volume of Two
"Robin", by Frances Hodgson Burnett is a lovely slightly gothic romance with many of the bells and whistles that the author is known for: dreams, miracles, other-wordly stuff that we are so familiar with in "Secret Garden". However, I DO NOT recommend this paperback edition. It's over-priced and it's only the first of two volumes. Save your money. Buy "Robin" second hand or take it out of your library. Unless you need to read jumbo print, this is a silly investment for a paperback.

Romance, Loss and Spiritualism.
This is an interesting novel about a young girl, Robin, her romance with Donal and his loss during World War One. The book was published in 1922.
Robin is the neglected daughter of a beautiful but shallow widow. Her mother's protector, Lord Coombe, provides for a more caring living arrangement and Robin rarely sees her notorious mother, "the Lady downstairs".
Robin becomes the companion/secretary to a kind Duchess. She meets handsome soldier Donal, a former childhood companion, and they renew their friendship. Donal recognises Robin as his soulmate, they fall in love and are secretly married. Cruelly, young Donal is reported as dying in battle. Lord Coombe, the Duchess, and Robin's childhood nurse, Dowie, all work to save Robin from her overwhelming grief and despair.
This war romance has selfish mothers, gossiping neighbors, secret marriages, tragic deaths and a secluded pregnancy. What it doesn't have is a three dimensional hero and heroine.
Robin is childlike, utterly malleable, quietly loving and accepting. Donal is tall and brave and true. The Author tells the reader about Robin and Donal, there is very little dialogue or conversation that gives insight into the young lovers. They are the saintly casualties of a cruel war.
We learn more about Lord Coombe, loyal Dowie and the terrible death and destruction that result from World War One. The Author effectively creates the character's feelings of pride and resolve that gradually slide into despair and hopelessness at the loss of so many young soldiers.
The Author also mounts an explanation and defense of Spiritualism. Spiritualism eventually becomes as large a feature in the romance as Robin and Donal's courtship, and is integral to Robin's recovery from despair.
Not as entertaining as The Making of a Marchioness, but not bad.
Recommended.

World War I novel
Set in England in the early 1900s, Robin is a little girl who only knows her mother by sight. Robin is raised by nurses and governesses. When she was five years old, she meets Donal in the park and they play together. When she is in her late teens, kind friends find her a position as a companion, secretary to a kindly Duchess. Robin meets Donal at a party and they fall in love. Donal then enlists in the army and goes to war. When he is reported dead, Robin is discovered to be expecting. Robin's friends take care of her until the baby is born. ... Read more

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For years Marco and his father, have moved, involved in plots and secret councils for the sake of the unfortunate kingdom of Samavia, hoping that one day a Lost Prince might come to rule his people. Now, at last, a change is coming, and Marco is to cross Europe - the Lost Prince is stirring. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Don't read abridged!
I got this book from my local library and was so enthralled by it.But when I ordered the Puffin Classic and found it was abridged, I was very disappointed.It is not possible to abridge a book with so much depth.So if you order it, don't get the abridged version.

"The Lamp is Lighted"
"The men without a Country"....

"The Lost Prince" has languished almost forgotten in our family bookshelf for many decades, a worn, old-style hard cover copy that is easy to overlook when scanning the shelves for something to re-read in a desperate moment.I prefer the older books when reviewing because it may help someone else find a long-forgotten story that they, too might enjoy.Time has a way of standing still when it comes to literature.Some of these old classics still deserve to hold their rightful place in our world and be read again by a younger generation.

This is a story about the royal family of a small nation - who have been dethroned, lost their country in a coup and who have been been preparing covertly for the last 500 years to reclaim it from their usurpers.While it is a story of war and strife, it is also one of basic, hard truth within the human struggle for independence.Those who find themselves lacking in power and strength, end up like the heroes in this story - "the men without a country".

But the preparation to reestablish their claim began almost immediately, and as the story unfolds, the heir apparent "in line" is a handsome, obviously well-bred lad referred to publicly as "Marco Loristan".His strikingly sophisticated father whose threadbare clothing is but an insufficient veneer to conceal what is his birthright, is secretly grooming his son to take up the torch as it is passed to him; but he must be careful not to lay the burden at the boys feet before he is ready.He must also not reveal the plans to the boy because of the inherent danger, nor his birthright before the time is ripe.As Loristan and his loyalists wait and work to recapture his crown, they are waiting for sufficient followers to gain enough power to enable them to triumph when the finally make their move; they are wary of attempting to regain power prematurely, less they fail.

Along the way, the boy Marco is out one day trying to amuse himself in the streets of London since he has little to do at home; becomes accidently acquainted with a motley lot of grimy street urchins, led by a decadent ex-gentleman's crippled son, "The Rat" who wheels him self along on a board for mobility and has a following among the street youngsters who are eager to have a leader in their hopeless lives.They are children then; little do they realize that their street game planning will turn to reality for them as the elder Loristan sees a unique opportunity open up to make use of a youthful army.

Little mention of "Marco's" mother is made during the initial phases of the tale, and we learn why much later. As the story progresses, we learn that the movement has been building it's forces slowly and stealthily; but though the way is fraught with peril, the time to strike is nigh; and the anonymous supporters are given the code word:"The Lamp is Lighted".

The story reminds one of the Secret Societies that used to meet covertly in order to form and propagate separate ideas that may have been unpopular in their current time, such as the "Sons of LIberty", and The "Free Stone Masons" during the days of the American Revolution and before.

It is an entertaining story - simply, yet artfully told.

Great Allegory
If Pilgram's Progress is an allegory of Christianity then this story, The Lost Prince, is an allegory of the kingdom of God.

Jesus said "...seek first His kingdom and His righteousness..."

Throughout a 500 year exile from their homeland, successive generations of the king of Samavia have passed on the regal culture of their household by training their sons. They maintain their courtly attitudes, values and code of conduct even in the midst of very challenging socio-economic circumstances.

This narrative will provide parents with the tools they need to make abstract kingdom concepts explicit, and provide "teachable moments" to communicate kingdom context and vision for "everyday" living. This story can provide an illustration of how individuals and communities (families) can begin to adopt and uphold the culture of the "household" of God the Father.

"Thy kingdom come...on earth as it is in heaven."

Please read this book aloud and discuss it in groups...groups of family members, groups of seekers of the kingdom.

Burnett's Lost Book
This is Frances Burnett's best. She also wrote Little Lord Fauntleroy, The Little Princess and The Secret Garden. But this one has more substance to it than any of those, much as I liked them.

Marco Loristan and his father, and his father's faithful attendant Lazarus from his days as a soldier, are Samavians in exile. Samavia is a small country apparently in the Alps, which has had a bloody 500 year history of civil strife. It started when a king of the Fedorovitch dynasty, who had been wasteful and self-indulgent, was killed and his son, Prince Ivor, could not be found. Indeed, it was speculated that his own father had ordered him killed. So the two largest houses, Maranovitch and Iarovitch, began a fighting over the crown that lasted, growing hot and then cold, for some 500 years.

In fact, Ivor Fedorovitch was attacked but not killed, and sought refuge in a monastery near the border, where he rested and healed up, and realized that he could not return to the capital without a substantial army to route out the usurpers, and at 16, he was too young for that.

So Prince Ivor came to be known as the Lost Prince, who traveled incognito and who passed the secret of his royal claim down from father to son. We learn this story at the beginning of the book, but for some reason Burnett continues the myth that "nobody knows" who the Lost Prince is, but that there always will be one. He will be trained by his father to be prepared to assume the thrown whenever Samavia should call for him.

Now, we learn this story at the beginning, and we learn also that Marco's very dignified and intelligent father has been training him for all these years to live up to the oath he made as a very young child: "The sword in my hand -- for Samavia! The heart in my breast -- for Samavia! The swiftness of my sight, the thought of my brain, the life of my life -- for Samavia. Here grows a man for Samavia. God be thanked."

Marco and his "aide-de-camp," a crippled boy who is never given any other name than The Rat, are sent across Europe to pass the message along to a secret society that "The Lamp is Lighted," a signal for those who have been stock-piling weapons and supplies. When he finds the people he was meant to pass the message to and they uniformly say "God be thanked," they are in awe of Marco, bow to him and treat him with the highest respect.

And yet Burnett chooses to pretend that the readers do not realize that Marco's father, Stefan Loristan, is in fact the direct descendant of Ivor Fedorovitch and ought to be king. Perhaps she thought it would be good for the readers to guess right long before Marco himself did. But we understand that Marco is a very intelligent lad, and so it does not add up that he didn't add it up.

In spite of this one anomalous blind spot in Marco, this is a marvelous story of adventure, one at least as appropriate for adults as for children. Indeed, I think the concepts involved would confuse a child who is not a strong reader already.

Ruritania, Jr.
Frances Hodgson Burnett is usually known for her two girls' stories (A Little Princess/Sara Crew and The Secret Garden), still popular, and her ostensible boys' story (Little Lord Fauntleroy), hopelessly saccherine.It is most unfortunate that The Lost Prince, a real 'boys' story' and excellent adventure, has been overlooked.

The plot is heroic, involving a pair of friends traveling through pre-WWI Europe and the complicated politics of a fictional central-European country, Samavia.Marco Loristan has been raised to be a polyglot soldier and a patriot by his exile father: obedience, duty, and attention to detail are his watchwords.'The Rat' is a boy of the London streets; although physically handicapped, he has a brilliant mind and a fascination for politics and military history, insofar as he is able to piece them together.He is rather brighter than the fairly stolid Marco, although less perceptive and emotionally mature. When the time comes for a secret message to be sent across Europe to rouse the Samavian patriots, the Rat's ingenuity and Marco's disciplined knowledge make them the perfect pair.

There is much that is dated, of course, and the themes of militant patriotism, quasi-feudal obedience and loyalty, and savior-like kingship are not unproblematic in the modern world, although they are no more present here than in most fantasy novels.On the other hand, the spiritual center of the book, involving the revelations of Eastern Mysticism about peace, forgiveness, and non-violence, feels surprisingly 'up-to-date.'What is perhaps timeless is the boyish friendship and adventure, and the fantasy of a Europe mostly untouched by the horrors of the 20th century. ... Read more

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This collection includes: In the Closed Room, The Land of the Blue Flower, The Little Hunchback Zia, My Robin ... Read more

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This resource is directly related to its literature equivalent and filled with a variety of cross-curricular lessons to do before, during, and after reading the book. This reproducible book includes sample plans, author information, vocabulary building ideas, cross-curriculum activities, sectional activities and quizzes, unit tests, and ideas for culminating and extending the novel. ... Read more

Product Description
General Books publication date: 2009Original publication date: 1901Original Publisher: F. A. StokesSubjects: Fiction / GeneralFiction / ClassicsFiction / LiteraryHistory / GeneralNotes: This is an OCR reprint. There may be typos or missing text. There are no illustrations or an index.When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free. You can also preview the book there. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Wonderful!
First, this book contains both Making of a Marchioness and THe Methods of Lady Walderhurst its sequel in one volume.Making of a Marchioness was actually mentioned by the ladies in Pursuit of Love, which I just finished reading, apparently Nancy Mitford was a great fan.
The first book is the story of the very poor Emily Fox Seton, who is advancing in age and is considered a prime candidate for old maid forever condemnedto pinching pennies and living off the kindness of relatives.At the home of a friend she meets Lord Walderhurst a most available widower who of course is the target of many mothers trying to marry off their daughters.Lord Walderhurst is not at all interested in marriage but slowly begins to notice Emily, specifically her kindness and common sense.You can guess where the story leads! This is very romantic, but not in a sappy way, the hero and heroine are so opposite of what you would normally expect which makes the story so engaging.
Its sequel, the Methods of Lady Walderhurst is a bit of a saga covering the early married life of the couple. Lord Walderhurst's heir (if Emily does not have a son) shows up with his Indian wife and her mysterious maidand create a nice little saga with a very touching ending of redemption and friendship.
This is a lovely story, very well told, with great insight and a very uplifting conclusion. Highly recommended.

Fabulous
Emily Fox-Seton is poor--not desperately so, but genteel. She's a simple soul really, content in the simple pleasures of life, hating the life she was born into but not knowing that she deserves much better. For work, she takes on odd jobs for wealthy women. When Lady Maria invites her to a country house-party, Emily meets the marquis, Lord Walderhurst, who, to her surprise, asks her to marry him. What follows is "the making of a marchioness," as Emily adjusts to her new life. There, she meets two of Lord Walderhurst's relatives--his disgruntled heir presumptive, Captain Osborn, and wife Hester, just back from India.

Frances Hodgson Burnett is better known for some of her other books (including The Secret Garden and Little Lord Fauntleroy), but The Making of a Marchioness is a fine novel as well. Emily is a bit too perfect, sometimes, but she's a sweet woman, blissfully ignorant of the bad feelings and thoughts of those around her. You just can't help but to like her. According to the preface, the author called Emily "a sort of Cinderella... with big feet instead of little ones." And indeed, this is a kind of Cinderella story. Walderhurst isn't a Prince Charming, though--he married not so much for love as for comfort, and he's taciturn at the best of times. Still, he loves Emily in his own strange way.

This is a story that tries so hard not to be sentimental that it is, in a way. Like some of her other books, The Making of a Marchioness is about class--the pretension or lack thereof to enter into high society. It's also, on a way, about contrasts; nobody could be more different than Emily than Hester, and nobody could be more different from the very English maid Jane Cupp than Hester's ayah Ameerah. The novel was published in 1901, and in some ways it suffers from late Victorian and Edwardian prejudices towards Indians (there's even an Uncle Tom's Cabin reference in there somewhere). But if you can overlook this, this really is a charming little book.

This is Persephone #29

We can see the happy ending coming...
But it doesn't matter a bit. The sweet character of the heroine and the charm of the narrative keep the reader totally engaged.

Miss Emily Fox-Seton is thirty-five, steeped in genteel poverty, and quite cheerfully making do. She runs errands and does various secretarial services for rich patrons. She dresses with style on very little, appreciates every good thing that comes her way - and is perfectly unaware of her remarkable qualities.

One of her patrons, old Lady Maria, invites Miss Fox-Seton to her country estate to help organize her summer entertaining. Miss Fox-Seton is thrilled to be getting a week in the county.

Lady Maria's nephew, the widowed Marquis of Walderhurst, will be there. So will several gorgeous young women who would be happy to marry him. And the tale enfolds.

This book was published in 1901, during the same era that New Woman literature was on the scene. But Miss Emily Fox-Seton is not a New Woman, even though she has the organizational powers of a high level PR executive.

The Making of a Marchioness is a frothy, romantic, nostalgic societal fairy tale told with wit and grace. At the same time, there's something oddly deep about the portrait of Miss Fox-Seton, who sees everyone as kind and almost everything as delightful.

A First-Rate Edwardian Romance.
This is a brief but pleasant romance, occasionally sold under the title of "Emily Fox-Seton".
Emily is thirty-four years old, of excellent family background with a good "woman's education". Unfortunately, Emily is penniless and has to make her own living. Fortunately, Emily is practical, intelligent and extremely good natured. She has been dealt a poor hand but cheerfully makes the best of it.
Emily survives by Being Useful to noble and upper middle class ladies for a modest remuneration. Emily locates and recruits reliable servants, performs secretarial duties and runs errands for these patrons.
As the story opens, Lady Maria Bayne has invited Emily to her country estate to help with her annual "early August party". This year, the houseparty's draw will be the wealthy, widowed Marquis of Wanderhurst who is looking for a wife.
The reader is introduced to the potential contenders to the title of Marchioness. The American heiress, Cora Brooke, who has everything money can buy, excepting a Noble title. The beautiful debutante success of the last Social Season, Lady Agatha Slade, who must marry to save her family from absolute penury. And the widowed writer, clever Mrs Ralph, ready for another success. The hunt is on and it is all very entertaining.
One of interesting sidelights into this rarefied society is how much more freedom and self-determination is available to self-employed Emily when compared with the constricted and confined lives of the heiress and the debutante.
Recommended.

review
Very happy to obtain a copy of this book.Could have taken months haunting used book stores.In very good condition, esp considering it's age. ... Read more

Product Description
Engrossing tale of young Sara Crewe, whose pleasant days at an English boarding school end abruptly when her father dies, leaving her penniless and at the mercy of a vindictive headmistress. A delightful fairy-tale ending makes this riches-to-rags-to-riches tale one that will captivate romantics of all ages. (Abridged)
... Read more

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This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishing's Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more

Product Description
When the orphan Mary Lennox comes to live at Misselthwaite Manor, she finds it filled with gloom and mystery. Her uncle is sad and silent, there are strange cries in the night and there are tales of a hidden secret garden which Mary is determined to find and unlock. ... Read more

Product Description
When she is orphaned, the star pupil of Miss Minchin's boarding school in London becomes a penniless, friendless ward of the cruel Miss Minchin. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Sara Crewe: or what happened to Miss Minchin
Excellent reading for children Story helps to build personal morals and shows life in early England. Will appeal to little girls who of course always daydream to be "little princesses",as the reworking of this book in later years is by that title. Another great work by Frances Hodgson Burnett. ... Read more

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"Thoroughly researched and a good read."— New York Times

"Gretchen Gerzina’s biography, which is conscientious, well researched and diligent in its treatment of such things as the State of Tennessee after the Civil War, the women’s suffrage movement and the law relating to publishing, and which has made good use of family papers, steadfastly follows the trail of ‘an extraordinary woman,’ a quasi-fictional heroine of feminist romance."—Times Literary Supplement

"In this first biography to have the cooperation of Burnett’s descendants and relatives, we see a side of her that . . . puts her career in a whole different light."—Boston Globe

"A first-rate biography."—Children’s Literature Association Quarterly

Hugely successful in her own time for adult novels and plays, Frances Hodgson Burnett (1849–1924) would be astounded to find out she is remembered for a handful of books for children, but most of all for the enormously popular The Secret Garden. This fascinating biography—the first to have the full cooperation of Burnett’s descendants and relatives—examines her life with lively intelligence, sensitivity, and a wealth of new material.

Burnett’s life was full of those reversals of fortune that mark her work. Following modest beginnings in mid-Victorian Manchester, England she arrived in post–Civil War Tennessee at the age of fifteen with her widowed mother and four siblings. Burnett was a breadwinner for the family from the age of seventeen, eventually publishing a total of fifty-two books and writing and producing thirteen plays. She made and spent a fortune in her lifetime, was generous and profligate, yet anxious about money and obsessively hardworking.

Constantly restless and inventive, Burnett’s personal life was as complex as her professional one. Her first marriage to a southern doctor disintegrated after her prolonged absences and rumors of her flirtations and a scandalous affair. Her subsequent marriage to an abusive English doctor also failed. She understood the intensity and loneliness of the thoughtful child, but was herself a largely absent mother of two sons—overwhelmed by guilt when tragedy struck one of them; the other one never got over being the model for Little Lord Fauntleroy.

A woman of contrasts and paradoxes, this quintessentially British writer was equally at home in the United States, which honored her with a memorial in Central Park. Frances Hodgson Burnett reinvented for herself and for generations to come the magic and the mystery of the childhood she never had. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

I love Secret Garden
Frances Hodgson Burnett
I love The Secret Garden, and that's the real reason for my getting and reading this book. But I have to agree (especially as a former editor) that the editing appears, at times, to be nonexistent. There were times when I simply shook my head because I was puzzled by such things as confusing pronoun referents. Still, I would recommend it to other lovers of Burnett's work, her life is that interesting.

a remarkable woman
What's good: The book is fully documented and the sources are mostly Frances herself and her trustworthy friends.

What's not so good: The book is written in competent, though arid, prose.Not much enthusiasm for Frances comes through.The book gives the impression of being an academic project, undertaken because academics are required to do such projects and almost every other woman has already been done.

Academic presses frequently have the authors do their own proof-reading, and this book is not well proofed.There are no glaring errors such as a spell-checker would find, but errors that would elude a spell-checker are not infrequent.

Worse, there are at least two glaring factual errors:
On page 286, the biographer states that "President Roosevelt" declared war in 1917, bringing America into World War I.

On page 215, the biographer declares that in 1900, "she was now forty-five."On page 13, the biographer declares that "Frances Eliza, the third child and first daughter, was born there too, on 24 November 1849."A little arithmetic will demonstrate that in 1900, Frances cannot have been "forty-five."She was in fact 50 or 51.

Still, for a Black British academic at Columbia University, the biographer is rather free of zeal, but she does insist on mentioning every Black maid which Frances, like other Southern women of the time, employed.However, she is forced to admit Frances' unswerving devotion to social equality, which she pushed in her novels.

As to the question of "flirtations," which are used to promote this biography, there is no evidence of them. Frances was extremely careful of her reputation (she had to be, since she was famous most of her life), and always traveled with a maid and usually a female companion as well.Whether Frances slept with Stephen Townsend during the ten years when he was around so much, one can only guess.But since he blackmailed her into marrying him in 1900 by threatening to tell the world they'd had an affair, it seems likely that there must have been some truth in it.On all occasions when she felt wronged, she threw herself publicly into the fray and defended herself indignantly.She was such a person that she could not have done that without truth on her side.

Frances Hodgson Burnett was a remarkable human being, and a biography of her should be read, since for the last fifty years or so, we have been assured by academics, psychologists and self-appointed pseudo-intellectuals that humans cannot possibly be what she in fact was.

An impressive and seminal effort
While during her life time (1849-1924), Frances Hodgson Burnett was best known for her many adult novels and plays, today it is for her children's books that she is remembered, especially for her masterpiece which has become a true classic and has never been out of print -- The Secret Garden. Frances Hodgson Burnett: The Unexpected Life Of The Author of "The Secret Garden" is an impressive and seminal effort in which biographer Gretchen Holbrook Gerzina (Professor of English, Bernard College, Columbia University) had the full cooperation of Burnett's descendants and relatives to help her examine and present an inherently fascinating life story of lively intelligence, contemporary sensitivity, and a wealth of new and never-before-published materials. From her modest beginnings in mid-Victorian Manchester, to her arrival in post-Civil "War Tennessee at the age of 15 with her widowed mother and two sisters, this outstanding biography details her become the family breadwinner at the age of 17 and the eventual publishing of 52 books and 13 plays. This is also the story of her marriages, flirtations, and a scandalous affair, the troubled motherhood of two sons (one of whom become the model for Little Lord Fauntleroy). A welcome and much appreciated contribution to literary biographies, Frances Hodgson Burnett is enthusiastically recommended reading!

Fascinating life of a best-selling author
Frances Hodgson Burnett was a celebrity and author of many runaway best-sellers from the 1870s to the 1920s and beyond.Now mostly remembered for her children's books, she had great fame for her romances and plays as well.This English-born author moved to the US as a child and became a true-life American rags-to-riches story.It is extremely interesting to learn how she was carried away by the resulting fame and fortune and what choices she made.

I have always loved Frances Hodgson Burnett's books and am delighted that such a detailed biography is now available.I have read the previous accounts of her life but this book is especially well-written and contains plenty of new material.Highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
A moving biography of Burnett, author of The Secret Garden andA Little Princess and one of the more famous literary figures of the Gilded Age. ... Read more

Product Description
When Sara Crewe, the seven-year-old daughter of a rich and loving father, arrives at her new school in London from India, she is nicknamed the Little Princess by her classmates. She has all the comfort and fine things she could want, but she also reveals a kind and loving heart, a lively mind and a rich imagination. When her father dies, bankrupt, Sara is suddenly reduced to a life of poverty and is forced to live in a cold, damp attic, with only her dreams to support her. But will they be enough? ... Read more

Product Description
The book has no illustrations or index. Purchasers are entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Subjects: Readers; Boarding schools; Orphans; London (England); History / General; Juvenile Fiction / General; Juvenile Fiction / Family / Orphans ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

A Great Book to Grow On
This is another version of "A Little Princess", more suitable for young readers. I read this over and over as a little girl. Not as intimidating to a child, this book has the same essence, grit and character of the longer story. It really is a must-read: do your child a favor and bring it home!

BEST FICTIONAL BOOK
SARA CREWE IS A VERY GOOD BOOK. THERE ARE ALOT OF THINGS THAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS BOOK.FRANCES HODGSON BURNET WRITES VERY GOOD BOOKS. ...ITHINK THAT SARA CREWE IS A BOOK THAT EVERY LITTLE KID SHOULD READ.

The most compelling fictional character ever
I first read Sara Crewe in an old St. Nicholas Magazine for Children book from 1888 when I was 11 years old. It was serialized in three parts. Not as well known or as long as Frances Hodgson Burnett's later The Little Princess, I still prefer this version. Sara is enchanting, more believable than in the later version.I was later abused from the time I was about 12 to maybe 15 years of age,and Sara helped me get through those awful years. I used to pretend that I was a princess, too, that although there was misery and loneliness in my life I could, like Sara, rise above it. I'm nearly 37 now, and I still consider Sara Crewe my favorite fictional character. Every child should read this.

Touching story of dignity and generosity
Sara Crewe is a penniless orphan who endures cold, heartless conditions with spirit and dignity.While shorter than "A Little Princess", this book retains the essence of the main character and theme.Her dreamsprotect her from the harsh reality until one day they magically come true. This is a perfect book for 4-6 graders, combining a compelling story,interesting vocabulary, and great values.

Condensed version for younger readers.
"Sara Crewe" is a condensed version of the wonderful classic, "The Little Princess." Although the text is written for younger readers, it is no match for the original. ... Read more

Product Description
Introduction Entitled The Story Of The Lost Fairy Book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A wonderful collection of creative and pleasing stories
Young Snowflower lives with her grandmother, Dame Frostyface, in a little cottage at the edge of a forest.The two are very poor, and own only a cat, two hens, a bed of dried grass, and one good piece of furniture: "a great armchair with wheels on its feet, a black velvet cushion, and many curious carvings of flowers and fawns on its dark oaken back."

One day, Dame Frostyface leaves to visit her aunt, and asks Snowflower to remain behind.She tells the girl that the fancy armchair was made by a cunning fairy, and that it is enchanted.If Snowflower should feel lonely, she should lay her head gently on the cushion of the armchair and say, "Chair of my grandmother, tell me a story.Should Snowflower have the occasion to travel, she should sit in the chair and say, "Chair of my grandmother, take me such a way."

After an interval of solitude, Snowflower's food stores are nearly depleted, so she decides to travel in the armchair along the same path her grandmother took.While journeying, she hears that King Winwealth plans to give a seven day feast to celebrate the birth of his only daughter, Princess Greedalind.Snowflower, who is quite hungry, wishes to share in the feast, and travels to the palace in the enchanted armchair.

Since the disappearance of his brother, Prince Wisewit, King Winwealth has been an unhappy ruler, especially since his marriage to the covetous and disagreeable Queen Wantall and the birth of their unpleasant child.The King's low spirits prompt his favorite page to suggest that Snowflower's chair might provide some diversion, so she and the chair are summoned to the banquet each evening to entertain the king.

Each evening, the chair tells a different story until a total of seven stories are told: "The Christmas Cuckoo", "The Lords of the White and Grey Castles", "The Greedy Shepard", "The Story of Fairyfoot", "The Story of Childe Charity", "Sour and Civil", and "The Story of Merrymind".As each consecutive evening passes, the king's depression lifts and Snowflower's situation improves, until all of the stories end happily together.

This wonderful collection of creative and pleasing stories will entertain fairytale enthusiasts of all ages.

A Collection of Tales Loved By Frances Hodgson Burnett
Frances Browne, the author of this enchanting and original collection of fairy tales lived between 1816 and 1879.She was blinded by smallpox when she was a baby and so all of the vivid descriptions in this charming book are from her own memory of the tales that she heard as a child and from her colorful imagination. In 1904 Frances Hodgson Burnett wrote an introduction for a new edition of the book because as a little child she had won a copy of it as a prize for good behavior in school. It became her favorite book but was lost to her over the years. She searched high and low for it and it eventually surfaced in Boston and again in a second hand shop in London. This edition contains the introduction by Burnett that is certainly an added treat.It is brilliantly illustrated by Switzerland's Gisele Rime with her characteristic bright colors and whimsical decorative borders. Unlike other collections of fairy tales these are completely original and bring us new characters and plots with gentle moral lessons.The fame of Frances Browne may not approach the Grimms or Andersen but the beauty and cleverness of her tales will enchant and delight you just the same. Curl up in Granny's wonderful chair, snuggle close and follow the stories of Fairyfoot and Childe Charity, Prince Wisewit and Merry Mind. Meet the Lords of the White and Grey Castles. This is a grand experience not just a good book.

Granny's Wonderful Chair
Do you remember visiting Grandma as a child? Perhaps snuggling into her favorite chair when you were too tired to possibly do anything else? Do you recall the comfort, the smell, the feel, the total release of 'Grandma's'chair?This was one my of favorite 'escape' books as a child. I would curlup in 'Granny's Wonderful Chair' and be transported to many a wonderousplace. I have searched for many years for this title, and was so excited tosee it unearthed for republishing! We will be reading it aloud as a familynow.Granny's Wonderful Chair is a great addition not only to yourlibrary, but to you and your children's memory's as well! ... Read more