Mary Mary Quite Contrary......, 04 Nov 2007
So this is where the nursery rhyme came from! Thus starts this well known and beloved tale as young Mary Lennox, raised in India by indifferent parents, is a most spoiled and disagreeable child. After she is orphaned she is sent to live with her recluse uncle Archibald Craven in a large mysterious mansion set amidst the dark moors of England. This story is too well known and beloved by all to rehash the plot all over again. Suffice it to say that this was a lovely tale of two bitter and unhappy young children who were able to find the "secret gardens" within themselves and used that magic to heal their tortured souls, and become healthy, happy children.

I very much enjoyed the author's characterizations of the children, along with the glorious descriptions of the gardens and the animals. All in all a lovely tale, both for the very young and the still young at heart. Five stars.

A marvelous children's story., 05 Jul 2007
We bought this lovely story for my daughter, after being fed up with the constant diet of Captain Underpants et al, that she always seemed to bring home from school. The idea was that I would read some classic literature to her each day before she went to bed. The first chapters brought forth constant grumbles and complaints (they are rather boring), but once the story got going, my daughter and I were hooked. She absolutely loved it and listened in rapt attention to every word. I don't know why the story is so magical, but somehow, it certainly is.

Unusually, the central character changes from one character to another, quite an interesting concept that actually works seamlessly, without the reader actually realising that the focus has changed.

As the garden works it's charm on the children, they slowly change from their normal selfish demeanor to care for one another and share in each other's joy.

A really lovely story. After we had finished, my daughter wanted more of the same. Captain Underpants was thankfully, relegated.

The Secret Garden ('She' Children's Classics) Cassette, 10 Nov 2005
This is a wonderful dramatisation of The Secret Garden which we have listened to many times. I am interested to find more 'She' Children's Classics.

classic children's book comes to life, 21 Oct 1999
I have listened to many different audio versions of this great book and found that this is by far the best in its presentation of the story. It really brings the story to life

Mary Mary Quite Contrary......, 04 Nov 2007
So this is where the nursery rhyme came from! Thus starts this well known and beloved tale as young Mary Lennox, raised in India by indifferent parents, is a most spoiled and disagreeable child. After she is orphaned she is sent to live with her recluse uncle Archibald Craven in a large mysterious mansion set amidst the dark moors of England. This story is too well known and beloved by all to rehash the plot all over again. Suffice it to say that this was a lovely tale of two bitter and unhappy young children who were able to find the "secret gardens" within themselves and used that magic to heal their tortured souls, and become healthy, happy children.

I very much enjoyed the author's characterizations of the children, along with the glorious descriptions of the gardens and the animals. All in all a lovely tale, both for the very young and the still young at heart. Five stars.

A marvelous children's story., 05 Jul 2007
We bought this lovely story for my daughter, after being fed up with the constant diet of Captain Underpants et al, that she always seemed to bring home from school. The idea was that I would read some classic literature to her each day before she went to bed. The first chapters brought forth constant grumbles and complaints (they are rather boring), but once the story got going, my daughter and I were hooked. She absolutely loved it and listened in rapt attention to every word. I don't know why the story is so magical, but somehow, it certainly is.

Unusually, the central character changes from one character to another, quite an interesting concept that actually works seamlessly, without the reader actually realising that the focus has changed.

As the garden works it's charm on the children, they slowly change from their normal selfish demeanor to care for one another and share in each other's joy.

A really lovely story. After we had finished, my daughter wanted more of the same. Captain Underpants was thankfully, relegated.

The Secret Garden ('She' Children's Classics) Cassette, 10 Nov 2005
This is a wonderful dramatisation of The Secret Garden which we have listened to many times. I am interested to find more 'She' Children's Classics.

classic children's book comes to life, 21 Oct 1999
I have listened to many different audio versions of this great book and found that this is by far the best in its presentation of the story. It really brings the story to life

For Teenagers & Adults, 14 Sep 2008
This is a real good book, however the old english can sometimes be confusing especially for younger readers but it is understandable once you get into it. Sara Crewe loses all her money and has nothing left and you just can't wait to find out what happen's next, the author of the book descibes evrything in very good detail that you can imagine the things that go on in the story. The ending was a bit obvious to me (hence the 4 stars) but the good thing is I kept wanting to know what was going to happen next which is why I kept reading this book.

For princesses of all ages, 28 Aug 2008
This must surely be one of the sweetest, loveliest books a girl could read in childhood. It's been a long time but reading it again all these years down the line (aged 21), it still holds such charm, wonder and profound messages about class, poverty and happiness that I know it'll be returning to my shelf to read again and pass on to my own children.

It tells the story of Sara Crewe, a rich little girl brought up in India by her beloved father, who moves to England to go to boarding school at the gloomy seminary belonging to the formidable Miss Minchin. She is the star pupil, dressed in finery and always happy to share her good fortune and vivid imagination with her classmates. But when a tragic twist of fate strips her of everything, Sara ends up a poor orphan working as a drudge in the seminary where once she was idolised by her fellow pupils. Miss Minchin uses this as a fine opportunity to take a sort of revenge on this strange little girl, who she has never understood but has always indulged thanks to her wealth. But no matter how hard her life becomes, she remains generous and polite to those around her, rich and poor alike, pretending that she is a princess in order to keep her morals and spirits strong. Finally, just as even her fiery spirit is at breaking point, an English gentleman who has been living in India moves into the house next door and magical things start to happen as their interest in each other grows. Of course everything will come right in the end, but I won't give away any more because it deserves to be read and enjoyed...

This is a beautiful, moving, and inspiring novel, whether you're 6 or 60! It is well written, with highly individual and well-rounded characters, and a wealth of description which makes it very atmospheric and allows even a child to see Sara's London in vivid detail. There are images in the book which I could still remember clearly and recognise years after I read it as a little girl, and even now I was holding my breath and waiting for everything to fall into place! In today's selfish modern society it also provides a reminder of how a little generosity and kindness goes a long way, and is a perfect fairy tale for littler princesses too. I'd also recommend 'The Secret Garden' for a slightly less girlie but equally sweet, timeless and beautiful story.

A truly brill story, 31 Mar 2003
A Little Princess is a very good book. It tells of Sara Crewe, the daughter of a very rich man, who goes to work far away from Sara's boarding school. Miss Minchin, Sara's teacher,didn't think too much of little Sara, even thouh she was obviously talented in nearly all the aspects of her work, especially french. When her father dies, poor Sara has no-one to pay for her schooling or room, so, Miss Minchin, makes Sara a servant, and she is moved up to the attic, where rats scuttle around her bed. Miss Minchin also sells all of her extravagant items of clothing and toys, which her father had sent before he died. This book is very good and you can really get into it.

BRILLIANT, 08 Dec 2001
This book is soooo excellent and you can relate to it really easily. I've never been into playing 'pretend' but now I've tried it and I don't think I could get through life without! I can't explain how much I love it!

my favourite childhood book., 16 Sep 2001
When i read this book at 10 years old i was caught up in the magical world of sara crew. i loved her at the beginning of the book for believing that herself and everyone else was a princess and even more so that even when all the terrible things where happening to her she still managed to retain this view. The book managed to keep me entertained throughout I shared her joy and cried at several points during the book. I was so relieved with the ending when everything turned out fine. even though I am now 15 i still love this book and I would suggest that no girl (and maybe even boy) grows up without reading this book.

Mary Mary Quite Contrary......, 04 Nov 2007
So this is where the nursery rhyme came from! Thus starts this well known and beloved tale as young Mary Lennox, raised in India by indifferent parents, is a most spoiled and disagreeable child. After she is orphaned she is sent to live with her recluse uncle Archibald Craven in a large mysterious mansion set amidst the dark moors of England. This story is too well known and beloved by all to rehash the plot all over again. Suffice it to say that this was a lovely tale of two bitter and unhappy young children who were able to find the "secret gardens" within themselves and used that magic to heal their tortured souls, and become healthy, happy children.

I very much enjoyed the author's characterizations of the children, along with the glorious descriptions of the gardens and the animals. All in all a lovely tale, both for the very young and the still young at heart. Five stars.

A marvelous children's story., 05 Jul 2007
We bought this lovely story for my daughter, after being fed up with the constant diet of Captain Underpants et al, that she always seemed to bring home from school. The idea was that I would read some classic literature to her each day before she went to bed. The first chapters brought forth constant grumbles and complaints (they are rather boring), but once the story got going, my daughter and I were hooked. She absolutely loved it and listened in rapt attention to every word. I don't know why the story is so magical, but somehow, it certainly is.

Unusually, the central character changes from one character to another, quite an interesting concept that actually works seamlessly, without the reader actually realising that the focus has changed.

As the garden works it's charm on the children, they slowly change from their normal selfish demeanor to care for one another and share in each other's joy.

A really lovely story. After we had finished, my daughter wanted more of the same. Captain Underpants was thankfully, relegated.

The Secret Garden ('She' Children's Classics) Cassette, 10 Nov 2005
This is a wonderful dramatisation of The Secret Garden which we have listened to many times. I am interested to find more 'She' Children's Classics.

classic children's book comes to life, 21 Oct 1999
I have listened to many different audio versions of this great book and found that this is by far the best in its presentation of the story. It really brings the story to life

For Teenagers & Adults, 14 Sep 2008
This is a real good book, however the old english can sometimes be confusing especially for younger readers but it is understandable once you get into it. Sara Crewe loses all her money and has nothing left and you just can't wait to find out what happen's next, the author of the book descibes evrything in very good detail that you can imagine the things that go on in the story. The ending was a bit obvious to me (hence the 4 stars) but the good thing is I kept wanting to know what was going to happen next which is why I kept reading this book.

For princesses of all ages, 28 Aug 2008
This must surely be one of the sweetest, loveliest books a girl could read in childhood. It's been a long time but reading it again all these years down the line (aged 21), it still holds such charm, wonder and profound messages about class, poverty and happiness that I know it'll be returning to my shelf to read again and pass on to my own children.

It tells the story of Sara Crewe, a rich little girl brought up in India by her beloved father, who moves to England to go to boarding school at the gloomy seminary belonging to the formidable Miss Minchin. She is the star pupil, dressed in finery and always happy to share her good fortune and vivid imagination with her classmates. But when a tragic twist of fate strips her of everything, Sara ends up a poor orphan working as a drudge in the seminary where once she was idolised by her fellow pupils. Miss Minchin uses this as a fine opportunity to take a sort of revenge on this strange little girl, who she has never understood but has always indulged thanks to her wealth. But no matter how hard her life becomes, she remains generous and polite to those around her, rich and poor alike, pretending that she is a princess in order to keep her morals and spirits strong. Finally, just as even her fiery spirit is at breaking point, an English gentleman who has been living in India moves into the house next door and magical things start to happen as their interest in each other grows. Of course everything will come right in the end, but I won't give away any more because it deserves to be read and enjoyed...

This is a beautiful, moving, and inspiring novel, whether you're 6 or 60! It is well written, with highly individual and well-rounded characters, and a wealth of description which makes it very atmospheric and allows even a child to see Sara's London in vivid detail. There are images in the book which I could still remember clearly and recognise years after I read it as a little girl, and even now I was holding my breath and waiting for everything to fall into place! In today's selfish modern society it also provides a reminder of how a little generosity and kindness goes a long way, and is a perfect fairy tale for littler princesses too. I'd also recommend 'The Secret Garden' for a slightly less girlie but equally sweet, timeless and beautiful story.

A truly brill story, 31 Mar 2003
A Little Princess is a very good book. It tells of Sara Crewe, the daughter of a very rich man, who goes to work far away from Sara's boarding school. Miss Minchin, Sara's teacher,didn't think too much of little Sara, even thouh she was obviously talented in nearly all the aspects of her work, especially french. When her father dies, poor Sara has no-one to pay for her schooling or room, so, Miss Minchin, makes Sara a servant, and she is moved up to the attic, where rats scuttle around her bed. Miss Minchin also sells all of her extravagant items of clothing and toys, which her father had sent before he died. This book is very good and you can really get into it.

BRILLIANT, 08 Dec 2001
This book is soooo excellent and you can relate to it really easily. I've never been into playing 'pretend' but now I've tried it and I don't think I could get through life without! I can't explain how much I love it!

my favourite childhood book., 16 Sep 2001
When i read this book at 10 years old i was caught up in the magical world of sara crew. i loved her at the beginning of the book for believing that herself and everyone else was a princess and even more so that even when all the terrible things where happening to her she still managed to retain this view. The book managed to keep me entertained throughout I shared her joy and cried at several points during the book. I was so relieved with the ending when everything turned out fine. even though I am now 15 i still love this book and I would suggest that no girl (and maybe even boy) grows up without reading this book.

lovely, 11 Apr 2007
This is a lovely little story. I find it quite uplifting reading about the children developing their personallites and becoming quite different people. I have always loved this story, and also the film. Would recomend as a classic, a childrens story and for adults reading!

A little manual for self-growth, 23 Nov 2006

Delightful children's tale - for adults too. An unhappy and miserable little girl Mary starts to transform when she moves to England and lives on the Yorkshire moors, and when - within the grounds of the huge mansion she occupies - she discovers and begins to care for a secret garden. Her growth affects the son and heir Colin who is also puny and weak initially. The son's father is also transformed. The novel is quite weird, somehow frozen in time, with bizarre fantasy ideas of endless corridors in an endless mansion, a fantasy boy figure Dickon who communes perfectly with nature and is followed by animals (at one stage he and his entourage all ludicrously troop into the house); Dickon's mother is over-worshipped. Words and ideas are repeated endlessly - thus Mary is described over and over again as getting 'fatter' (meaning healthier actually). Burnett also dangerously moves the focus gradually from Mary to Dickon and finally to Colin; the gradual abandoning of Mary as Burnett moves on is somewhat disconcerting to the reader. Servants figure everywhere in this novel rooted in the early 1900's. The opening chapter taking place in India contains a scene of horror that, like the awful scene in Jude the Obscure, shocks and distresses the adult reader. There are strengths and weaknesses, but overall it's a great book, trying and succeeding in showing how adversity can be turned to understanding and growth.




The Secret Garden by Francis Hodgson Burnett, 08 Oct 2003
The secret garden is a brillant book as I felt in some ways sorry for Mary and Colin, but the way that the garden brings them to life again and the way the book makes you feel when you read about them coming to life is absolutely amazing. I have read this book plenty of times and seen both movies but the book doesn't even compare to either movies. A most for anyone who has ever wished they could go find a secret garden to go to when they were a child.

one of the best books ever written, 16 Jul 2001
The secret garden is a brillant book as I felt in some ways sorry for Mary and Colin, but the way that the garden brings them to life again and the way the book makes you feel when you read about them coming to life is absolutely amazing. I have read this book plenty of times and seen both movies but the book doesn't even compare to either movies. A most for anyone who has ever wished they could go find a secret garden to go to when they were a child.

Mary Mary Quite Contrary......, 04 Nov 2007
So this is where the nursery rhyme came from! Thus starts this well known and beloved tale as young Mary Lennox, raised in India by indifferent parents, is a most spoiled and disagreeable child. After she is orphaned she is sent to live with her recluse uncle Archibald Craven in a large mysterious mansion set amidst the dark moors of England. This story is too well known and beloved by all to rehash the plot all over again. Suffice it to say that this was a lovely tale of two bitter and unhappy young children who were able to find the "secret gardens" within themselves and used that magic to heal their tortured souls, and become healthy, happy children.

I very much enjoyed the author's characterizations of the children, along with the glorious descriptions of the gardens and the animals. All in all a lovely tale, both for the very young and the still young at heart. Five stars.

A marvelous children's story., 05 Jul 2007
We bought this lovely story for my daughter, after being fed up with the constant diet of Captain Underpants et al, that she always seemed to bring home from school. The idea was that I would read some classic literature to her each day before she went to bed. The first chapters brought forth constant grumbles and complaints (they are rather boring), but once the story got going, my daughter and I were hooked. She absolutely loved it and listened in rapt attention to every word. I don't know why the story is so magical, but somehow, it certainly is.

Unusually, the central character changes from one character to another, quite an interesting concept that actually works seamlessly, without the reader actually realising that the focus has changed.

As the garden works it's charm on the children, they slowly change from their normal selfish demeanor to care for one another and share in each other's joy.

A really lovely story. After we had finished, my daughter wanted more of the same. Captain Underpants was thankfully, relegated.

The Secret Garden ('She' Children's Classics) Cassette, 10 Nov 2005
This is a wonderful dramatisation of The Secret Garden which we have listened to many times. I am interested to find more 'She' Children's Classics.

classic children's book comes to life, 21 Oct 1999
I have listened to many different audio versions of this great book and found that this is by far the best in its presentation of the story. It really brings the story to life

For Teenagers & Adults, 14 Sep 2008
This is a real good book, however the old english can sometimes be confusing especially for younger readers but it is understandable once you get into it. Sara Crewe loses all her money and has nothing left and you just can't wait to find out what happen's next, the author of the book descibes evrything in very good detail that you can imagine the things that go on in the story. The ending was a bit obvious to me (hence the 4 stars) but the good thing is I kept wanting to know what was going to happen next which is why I kept reading this book.

For princesses of all ages, 28 Aug 2008
This must surely be one of the sweetest, loveliest books a girl could read in childhood. It's been a long time but reading it again all these years down the line (aged 21), it still holds such charm, wonder and profound messages about class, poverty and happiness that I know it'll be returning to my shelf to read again and pass on to my own children.

It tells the story of Sara Crewe, a rich little girl brought up in India by her beloved father, who moves to England to go to boarding school at the gloomy seminary belonging to the formidable Miss Minchin. She is the star pupil, dressed in finery and always happy to share her good fortune and vivid imagination with her classmates. But when a tragic twist of fate strips her of everything, Sara ends up a poor orphan working as a drudge in the seminary where once she was idolised by her fellow pupils. Miss Minchin uses this as a fine opportunity to take a sort of revenge on this strange little girl, who she has never understood but has always indulged thanks to her wealth. But no matter how hard her life becomes, she remains generous and polite to those around her, rich and poor alike, pretending that she is a princess in order to keep her morals and spirits strong. Finally, just as even her fiery spirit is at breaking point, an English gentleman who has been living in India moves into the house next door and magical things start to happen as their interest in each other grows. Of course everything will come right in the end, but I won't give away any more because it deserves to be read and enjoyed...

This is a beautiful, moving, and inspiring novel, whether you're 6 or 60! It is well written, with highly individual and well-rounded characters, and a wealth of description which makes it very atmospheric and allows even a child to see Sara's London in vivid detail. There are images in the book which I could still remember clearly and recognise years after I read it as a little girl, and even now I was holding my breath and waiting for everything to fall into place! In today's selfish modern society it also provides a reminder of how a little generosity and kindness goes a long way, and is a perfect fairy tale for littler princesses too. I'd also recommend 'The Secret Garden' for a slightly less girlie but equally sweet, timeless and beautiful story.

A truly brill story, 31 Mar 2003
A Little Princess is a very good book. It tells of Sara Crewe, the daughter of a very rich man, who goes to work far away from Sara's boarding school. Miss Minchin, Sara's teacher,didn't think too much of little Sara, even thouh she was obviously talented in nearly all the aspects of her work, especially french. When her father dies, poor Sara has no-one to pay for her schooling or room, so, Miss Minchin, makes Sara a servant, and she is moved up to the attic, where rats scuttle around her bed. Miss Minchin also sells all of her extravagant items of clothing and toys, which her father had sent before he died. This book is very good and you can really get into it.

BRILLIANT, 08 Dec 2001
This book is soooo excellent and you can relate to it really easily. I've never been into playing 'pretend' but now I've tried it and I don't think I could get through life without! I can't explain how much I love it!

my favourite childhood book., 16 Sep 2001
When i read this book at 10 years old i was caught up in the magical world of sara crew. i loved her at the beginning of the book for believing that herself and everyone else was a princess and even more so that even when all the terrible things where happening to her she still managed to retain this view. The book managed to keep me entertained throughout I shared her joy and cried at several points during the book. I was so relieved with the ending when everything turned out fine. even though I am now 15 i still love this book and I would suggest that no girl (and maybe even boy) grows up without reading this book.

lovely, 11 Apr 2007
This is a lovely little story. I find it quite uplifting reading about the children developing their personallites and becoming quite different people. I have always loved this story, and also the film. Would recomend as a classic, a childrens story and for adults reading!

A little manual for self-growth, 23 Nov 2006

Delightful children's tale - for adults too. An unhappy and miserable little girl Mary starts to transform when she moves to England and lives on the Yorkshire moors, and when - within the grounds of the huge mansion she occupies - she discovers and begins to care for a secret garden. Her growth affects the son and heir Colin who is also puny and weak initially. The son's father is also transformed. The novel is quite weird, somehow frozen in time, with bizarre fantasy ideas of endless corridors in an endless mansion, a fantasy boy figure Dickon who communes perfectly with nature and is followed by animals (at one stage he and his entourage all ludicrously troop into the house); Dickon's mother is over-worshipped. Words and ideas are repeated endlessly - thus Mary is described over and over again as getting 'fatter' (meaning healthier actually). Burnett also dangerously moves the focus gradually from Mary to Dickon and finally to Colin; the gradual abandoning of Mary as Burnett moves on is somewhat disconcerting to the reader. Servants figure everywhere in this novel rooted in the early 1900's. The opening chapter taking place in India contains a scene of horror that, like the awful scene in Jude the Obscure, shocks and distresses the adult reader. There are strengths and weaknesses, but overall it's a great book, trying and succeeding in showing how adversity can be turned to understanding and growth.




The Secret Garden by Francis Hodgson Burnett, 08 Oct 2003
The secret garden is a brillant book as I felt in some ways sorry for Mary and Colin, but the way that the garden brings them to life again and the way the book makes you feel when you read about them coming to life is absolutely amazing. I have read this book plenty of times and seen both movies but the book doesn't even compare to either movies. A most for anyone who has ever wished they could go find a secret garden to go to when they were a child.

one of the best books ever written, 16 Jul 2001
The secret garden is a brillant book as I felt in some ways sorry for Mary and Colin, but the way that the garden brings them to life again and the way the book makes you feel when you read about them coming to life is absolutely amazing. I have read this book plenty of times and seen both movies but the book doesn't even compare to either movies. A most for anyone who has ever wished they could go find a secret garden to go to when they were a child.

always a classic, 16 Aug 2008
The brilliant thing about this story is how the two main characters grow on you. They are such brats at the beginning, but slowly, together, they begin to thaw into nice people. And, of course, the secret garden blossoms alongside them.

It is great , 15 Mar 2008
The Secret Garden, written by Frances Hodgson Burnett, is a very popular well-known tale - now a great classic! I have had the pleasure of reading it and it was fantastic. It is about Mary whose parents both and she has to leave India to live with her uncle as an unwanted child. She is very lonely and miserable there until she finds the door to the secret garden which has been locked and hidden for ten years...
I really enjoyed this book and I would rate it 7/ 10; I would recommend it to anyone who likes reading - young and old, dim and intelligent, nasty and nice, etc.

What a sweet Story, 24 Jan 2008

This book will bring nothing but a smile to the face of the reader. It is an incredibly well-written story that captivates one to the fullest. The characters are so well-described that you get a very clear and vivid picture of who they are and of course the surroundings. The author masterfully paints such a wonderful picture of the spring, the world waking up from its deep sleep, the blooming trees, the singing birds and the flowers. With spring the garden comes to life and with it, melts the ice from the hearts of the little Mistress and the little Rajah.
The story itself is an incredibly beautiful tale of a little girl, who has been cast aside by her own mother since the day of her birth, left to be raised by the help. Always lonely, unwanted, forgotten and incredibly spoiled the girl takes a long journey to learning how to appreciate the simple beauties in life, such as the sun, the flowers, the birds and the spring. She makes friends and learns to care for others.
An incredibly beautiful story which will warm your heart. Get this book and enjoy it !!!

A Great Classic, 16 Aug 2007
I remember loving this book as a child and as an adult I enjoyed it just as much. Amazingly, this book was written in 1909 and as an adult I found it's historical setting fascinating. If you want to bring this era alive then this book will do this. The story itself is a timeless one and will engage you completely. I will be reading this book again.

A Great Read, 25 May 2004
I read this book and immediatly fell in love. Mary lennox is sent away when her parents are tragicaly killed she goes to live with her cold uncle but discovers a wonderful secret!!!!

I recomend this book to everyone who likes fiction tales.
Please read it just give it a chance!

If you dont like this book you are an uneducated fool!!!ps i am looking for a man

Mary Mary Quite Contrary......, 04 Nov 2007
So this is where the nursery rhyme came from! Thus starts this well known and beloved tale as young Mary Lennox, raised in India by indifferent parents, is a most spoiled and disagreeable child. After she is orphaned she is sent to live with her recluse uncle Archibald Craven in a large mysterious mansion set amidst the dark moors of England. This story is too well known and beloved by all to rehash the plot all over again. Suffice it to say that this was a lovely tale of two bitter and unhappy young children who were able to find the "secret gardens" within themselves and used that magic to heal their tortured souls, and become healthy, happy children.

I very much enjoyed the author's characterizations of the children, along with the glorious descriptions of the gardens and the animals. All in all a lovely tale, both for the very young and the still young at heart. Five stars.

A marvelous children's story., 05 Jul 2007
We bought this lovely story for my daughter, after being fed up with the constant diet of Captain Underpants et al, that she always seemed to bring home from school. The idea was that I would read some classic literature to her each day before she went to bed. The first chapters brought forth constant grumbles and complaints (they are rather boring), but once the story got going, my daughter and I were hooked. She absolutely loved it and listened in rapt attention to every word. I don't know why the story is so magical, but somehow, it certainly is.

Unusually, the central character changes from one character to another, quite an interesting concept that actually works seamlessly, without the reader actually realising that the focus has changed.

As the garden works it's charm on the children, they slowly change from their normal selfish demeanor to care for one another and share in each other's joy.

A really lovely story. After we had finished, my daughter wanted more of the same. Captain Underpants was thankfully, relegated.

The Secret Garden ('She' Children's Classics) Cassette, 10 Nov 2005
This is a wonderful dramatisation of The Secret Garden which we have listened to many times. I am interested to find more 'She' Children's Classics.

classic children's book comes to life, 21 Oct 1999
I have listened to many different audio versions of this great book and found that this is by far the best in its presentation of the story. It really brings the story to life

For Teenagers & Adults, 14 Sep 2008
This is a real good book, however the old english can sometimes be confusing especially for younger readers but it is understandable once you get into it. Sara Crewe loses all her money and has nothing left and you just can't wait to find out what happen's next, the author of the book descibes evrything in very good detail that you can imagine the things that go on in the story. The ending was a bit obvious to me (hence the 4 stars) but the good thing is I kept wanting to know what was going to happen next which is why I kept reading this book.

For princesses of all ages, 28 Aug 2008
This must surely be one of the sweetest, loveliest books a girl could read in childhood. It's been a long time but reading it again all these years down the line (aged 21), it still holds such charm, wonder and profound messages about class, poverty and happiness that I know it'll be returning to my shelf to read again and pass on to my own children.

It tells the story of Sara Crewe, a rich little girl brought up in India by her beloved father, who moves to England to go to boarding school at the gloomy seminary belonging to the formidable Miss Minchin. She is the star pupil, dressed in finery and always happy to share her good fortune and vivid imagination with her classmates. But when a tragic twist of fate strips her of everything, Sara ends up a poor orphan working as a drudge in the seminary where once she was idolised by her fellow pupils. Miss Minchin uses this as a fine opportunity to take a sort of revenge on this strange little girl, who she has never understood but has always indulged thanks to her wealth. But no matter how hard her life becomes, she remains generous and polite to those around her, rich and poor alike, pretending that she is a princess in order to keep her morals and spirits strong. Finally, just as even her fiery spirit is at breaking point, an English gentleman who has been living in India moves into the house next door and magical things start to happen as their interest in each other grows. Of course everything will come right in the end, but I won't give away any more because it deserves to be read and enjoyed...

This is a beautiful, moving, and inspiring novel, whether you're 6 or 60! It is well written, with highly individual and well-rounded characters, and a wealth of description which makes it very atmospheric and allows even a child to see Sara's London in vivid detail. There are images in the book which I could still remember clearly and recognise years after I read it as a little girl, and even now I was holding my breath and waiting for everything to fall into place! In today's selfish modern society it also provides a reminder of how a little generosity and kindness goes a long way, and is a perfect fairy tale for littler princesses too. I'd also recommend 'The Secret Garden' for a slightly less girlie but equally sweet, timeless and beautiful story.

A truly brill story, 31 Mar 2003
A Little Princess is a very good book. It tells of Sara Crewe, the daughter of a very rich man, who goes to work far away from Sara's boarding school. Miss Minchin, Sara's teacher,didn't think too much of little Sara, even thouh she was obviously talented in nearly all the aspects of her work, especially french. When her father dies, poor Sara has no-one to pay for her schooling or room, so, Miss Minchin, makes Sara a servant, and she is moved up to the attic, where rats scuttle around her bed. Miss Minchin also sells all of her extravagant items of clothing and toys, which her father had sent before he died. This book is very good and you can really get into it.

BRILLIANT, 08 Dec 2001
This book is soooo excellent and you can relate to it really easily. I've never been into playing 'pretend' but now I've tried it and I don't think I could get through life without! I can't explain how much I love it!

my favourite childhood book., 16 Sep 2001
When i read this book at 10 years old i was caught up in the magical world of sara crew. i loved her at the beginning of the book for believing that herself and everyone else was a princess and even more so that even when all the terrible things where happening to her she still managed to retain this view. The book managed to keep me entertained throughout I shared her joy and cried at several points during the book. I was so relieved with the ending when everything turned out fine. even though I am now 15 i still love this book and I would suggest that no girl (and maybe even boy) grows up without reading this book.

lovely, 11 Apr 2007
This is a lovely little story. I find it quite uplifting reading about the children developing their personallites and becoming quite different people. I have always loved this story, and also the film. Would recomend as a classic, a childrens story and for adults reading!

A little manual for self-growth, 23 Nov 2006

Delightful children's tale - for adults too. An unhappy and miserable little girl Mary starts to transform when she moves to England and lives on the Yorkshire moors, and when - within the grounds of the huge mansion she occupies - she discovers and begins to care for a secret garden. Her growth affects the son and heir Colin who is also puny and weak initially. The son's father is also transformed. The novel is quite weird, somehow frozen in time, with bizarre fantasy ideas of endless corridors in an endless mansion, a fantasy boy figure Dickon who communes perfectly with nature and is followed by animals (at one stage he and his entourage all ludicrously troop into the house); Dickon's mother is over-worshipped. Words and ideas are repeated endlessly - thus Mary is described over and over again as getting 'fatter' (meaning healthier actually). Burnett also dangerously moves the focus gradually from Mary to Dickon and finally to Colin; the gradual abandoning of Mary as Burnett moves on is somewhat disconcerting to the reader. Servants figure everywhere in this novel rooted in the early 1900's. The opening chapter taking place in India contains a scene of horror that, like the awful scene in Jude the Obscure, shocks and distresses the adult reader. There are strengths and weaknesses, but overall it's a great book, trying and succeeding in showing how adversity can be turned to understanding and growth.




The Secret Garden by Francis Hodgson Burnett, 08 Oct 2003
The secret garden is a brillant book as I felt in some ways sorry for Mary and Colin, but the way that the garden brings them to life again and the way the book makes you feel when you read about them coming to life is absolutely amazing. I have read this book plenty of times and seen both movies but the book doesn't even compare to either movies. A most for anyone who has ever wished they could go find a secret garden to go to when they were a child.

one of the best books ever written, 16 Jul 2001
The secret garden is a brillant book as I felt in some ways sorry for Mary and Colin, but the way that the garden brings them to life again and the way the book makes you feel when you read about them coming to life is absolutely amazing. I have read this book plenty of times and seen both movies but the book doesn't even compare to either movies. A most for anyone who has ever wished they could go find a secret garden to go to when they were a child.

always a classic, 16 Aug 2008
The brilliant thing about this story is how the two main characters grow on you. They are such brats at the beginning, but slowly, together, they begin to thaw into nice people. And, of course, the secret garden blossoms alongside them.

It is great , 15 Mar 2008
The Secret Garden, written by Frances Hodgson Burnett, is a very popular well-known tale - now a great classic! I have had the pleasure of reading it and it was fantastic. It is about Mary whose parents both and she has to leave India to live with her uncle as an unwanted child. She is very lonely and miserable there until she finds the door to the secret garden which has been locked and hidden for ten years...
I really enjoyed this book and I would rate it 7/ 10; I would recommend it to anyone who likes reading - young and old, dim and intelligent, nasty and nice, etc.

What a sweet Story, 24 Jan 2008

This book will bring nothing but a smile to the face of the reader. It is an incredibly well-written story that captivates one to the fullest. The characters are so well-described that you get a very clear and vivid picture of who they are and of course the surroundings. The author masterfully paints such a wonderful picture of the spring, the world waking up from its deep sleep, the blooming trees, the singing birds and the flowers. With spring the garden comes to life and with it, melts the ice from the hearts of the little Mistress and the little Rajah.
The story itself is an incredibly beautiful tale of a little girl, who has been cast aside by her own mother since the day of her birth, left to be raised by the help. Always lonely, unwanted, forgotten and incredibly spoiled the girl takes a long journey to learning how to appreciate the simple beauties in life, such as the sun, the flowers, the birds and the spring. She makes friends and learns to care for others.
An incredibly beautiful story which will warm your heart. Get this book and enjoy it !!!

A Great Classic, 16 Aug 2007
I remember loving this book as a child and as an adult I enjoyed it just as much. Amazingly, this book was written in 1909 and as an adult I found it's historical setting fascinating. If you want to bring this era alive then this book will do this. The story itself is a timeless one and will engage you completely. I will be reading this book again.

A Great Read, 25 May 2004
I read this book and immediatly fell in love. Mary lennox is sent away when her parents are tragicaly killed she goes to live with her cold uncle but discovers a wonderful secret!!!!

I recomend this book to everyone who likes fiction tales.
Please read it just give it a chance!

If you dont like this book you are an uneducated fool!!!ps i am looking for a man

Good storyline - don't read the reviews below if you want to be surprised, 08 Aug 2008
Hodgson Burnett has a good character in Emily Fox-Seton. What happens to her is inevitable once we know the kind of woman she is and HB strives hard and long to explain to us what that is. Melodrama and the gothic are both well-represented but the book is a good example of its type - the romantic novel.

Good but not outstanding - that's why it's a 4-star not a 5-star book.

There are better but it is worth a read. I'm sure I've come across the scene where the heroine walks over the moors to pick up some shopping before - just can't remember where....

Genteel spinster's fairytale ...., 28 Jul 2008
I was really looking forward to reading this and saved it up for a long afternoon on the sofa with a cup of tea. But somehow, I was a teeny bit disappointed. I loved The Secret Garden and A Little Princess, but hadn't read any of the prolific Frances HB's work for adults as so much of it is out of print.
The book is very oddly-structured. The first part is a very charming fairytale, as well as a caustic comment on the plight of unmarried women in Victorian society. Emily is bowled over by gratitude and relief when she receives a proposal from a stodgy marquis who doesn't love her, because he has rescued her from a terrifying descent into middle-age as a distressed gentlewoman. But the second part, which is high Victorian melodrama, seems to have been tagged on as something of an afterthought. (The author admitted that she hadn't thought it through as a whole.) Though I suppose it is also a caustic comment on the plight of heirs presumptive whose great expectations (and those of their wives) can so cruelly be blighted!
I'm sure Frances HB had great fun writing it but it reads as though she knocked it off in something of a hurry!

Sharp-edged romance, 19 Jul 2006
I first read this story many years ago in an ancient Nelsons Classics edition with a nice woodcut at the front. I have reread it so often that the old book is falling apart, so I looked for a new copy and found to my surprise that what I had thought to be a private enthusiasm was widely shared-a great pleasure.
As many have said the story is melodramatic. Burnett was a more than competent writer and a marvellous observer of people and society. She makes her heroine frankly and explicitly stupid,but keeps our sympathy for her. (Incidently, contrary to what some reviewers state Emily Fox-Seton is handsome going on beautiful, as the woodcut illustrates.)
What makes the booke for me is her observation of society and people--from a middle-aged marquis to a lower-middle-class servant to a whole rural village. These are not saccharine portraits, but sharp and witty comments on the society of late 19th century Britain. You could write a useful social history of that time from this book.

The description of the plight of poor but genteel women before employment as other than servants was available is extremely touching. The disintegration of an aging aristocratic lady as she finds herself subject to ordinary human feelings for the first time for many years is very funny--and very moving.

Definitely a keeper!

JW

An unlikely couple, 13 Feb 2004
I first read this book in my teens and owned a very old out of print copy. To see that Persephone had reprinted it was a glorious surprise and I read it once more as an adult and found that my enjoyment was still the same. A more unlikely couple of lovers you could not meet - a dull, prosaic Marquis bored by being pursued by society women, and Miss Emily Fox-Seton, who cannot be described in any way as young or beautiful or even interesting. She is however a good woman, living by her own endeavours and in similar circumstances to Miss Pettigrew Lives for a day, another Persephone gem, in that she is facing a frightening future on her own. I adore all of Frances Hodgson Burnett's children's stories with their happy endings and alls well that ends well - yes, this is sentimental, yes it is Victorian, but it is delightful and each time I read it I am sorry that I have come to the end. The Indian ayah portrayed in this book is, of course, politically incorrect in today's climate, but the attitudes prevelant at the time must be borne in mind when reading in the 21st century. Some of the situations are contrived, but it is a lovely book and calling it a 'good read' though not an intellectual recommendation, sums it up beautifully.

Splendid story, 11 Apr 2002
One can only say "Aaaahhh" when this book is over. It is a gloriously readable book with well-rounded characters but very little story. There is no "darker side" in the first third, up until the Marchioness in question gets her proposal.

The major part of the book has a dark side which is easily dealt with (by packing them off to India) and true love wins out in the end!

Of course, as one would expect from the author, the novel is sentimental and (occasionally) over-simplified, but if you let all of the trials of the 20th (and 21st) century glide off you, you have a rather pretty tale from an idealised 19th and it is rather fun.

Worth reading for its 'Cinderella' start and its 'Snow White' ending.

Mary Mary Quite Contrary......, 04 Nov 2007
So this is where the nursery rhyme came from! Thus starts this well known and beloved tale as young Mary Lennox, raised in India by indifferent parents, is a most spoiled and disagreeable child. After she is orphaned she is sent to live with her recluse uncle Archibald Craven in a large mysterious mansion set amidst the dark moors of England. This story is too well known and beloved by all to rehash the plot all over again. Suffice it to say that this was a lovely tale of two bitter and unhappy young children who were able to find the "secret gardens" within themselves and used that magic to heal their tortured souls, and become healthy, happy children.

I very much enjoyed the author's characterizations of the children, along with the glorious descriptions of the gardens and the animals. All in all a lovely tale, both for the very young and the still young at heart. Five stars.

A marvelous children's story., 05 Jul 2007
We bought this lovely story for my daughter, after being fed up with the constant diet of Captain Underpants et al, that she always seemed to bring home from school. The idea was that I would read some classic literature to her each day before she went to bed. The first chapters brought forth constant grumbles and complaints (they are rather boring), but once the story got going, my daughter and I were hooked. She absolutely loved it and listened in rapt attention to every word. I don't know why the story is so magical, but somehow, it certainly is.

Unusually, the central character changes from one character to another, quite an interesting concept that actually works seamlessly, without the reader actually realising that the focus has changed.

As the garden works it's charm on the children, they slowly change from their normal selfish demeanor to care for one another and share in each other's joy.

A really lovely story. After we had finished, my daughter wanted more of the same. Captain Underpants was thankfully, relegated.

The Secret Garden ('She' Children's Classics) Cassette, 10 Nov 2005
This is a wonderful dramatisation of The Secret Garden which we have listened to many times. I am interested to find more 'She' Children's Classics.

classic children's book comes to life, 21 Oct 1999
I have listened to many different audio versions of this great book and found that this is by far the best in its presentation of the story. It really brings the story to life

For Teenagers & Adults, 14 Sep 2008
This is a real good book, however the old english can sometimes be confusing especially for younger readers but it is understandable once you get into it. Sara Crewe loses all her money and has nothing left and you just can't wait to find out what happen's next, the author of the book descibes evrything in very good detail that you can imagine the things that go on in the story. The ending was a bit obvious to me (hence the 4 stars) but the good thing is I kept wanting to know what was going to happen next which is why I kept reading this book.

For princesses of all ages, 28 Aug 2008
This must surely be one of the sweetest, loveliest books a girl could read in childhood. It's been a long time but reading it again all these years down the line (aged 21), it still holds such charm, wonder and profound messages about class, poverty and happiness that I know it'll be returning to my shelf to read again and pass on to my own children.

It tells the story of Sara Crewe, a rich little girl brought up in India by her beloved father, who moves to England to go to boarding school at the gloomy seminary belonging to the formidable Miss Minchin. She is the star pupil, dressed in finery and always happy to share her good fortune and vivid imagination with her classmates. But when a tragic twist of fate strips her of everything, Sara ends up a poor orphan working as a drudge in the seminary where once she was idolised by her fellow pupils. Miss Minchin uses this as a fine opportunity to take a sort of revenge on this strange little girl, who she has never understood but has always indulged thanks to her wealth. But no matter how hard her life becomes, she remains generous and polite to those around her, rich and poor alike, pretending that she is a princess in order to keep her morals and spirits strong. Finally, just as even her fiery spirit is at breaking point, an English gentleman who has been living in India moves into the house next door and magical things start to happen as their interest in each other grows. Of course everything will come right in the end, but I won't give away any more because it deserves to be read and enjoyed...

This is a beautiful, moving, and inspiring novel, whether you're 6 or 60! It is well written, with highly individual and well-rounded characters, and a wealth of description which makes it very atmospheric and allows even a child to see Sara's London in vivid detail. There are images in the book which I could still remember clearly and recognise years after I read it as a little girl, and even now I was holding my breath and waiting for everything to fall into place! In today's selfish modern society it also provides a reminder of how a little generosity and kindness goes a long way, and is a perfect fairy tale for littler princesses too. I'd also recommend 'The Secret Garden' for a slightly less girlie but equally sweet, timeless and beautiful story.

A truly brill story, 31 Mar 2003
A Little Princess is a very good book. It tells of Sara Crewe, the daughter of a very rich man, who goes to work far away from Sara's boarding school. Miss Minchin, Sara's teacher,didn't think too much of little Sara, even thouh she was obviously talented in nearly all the aspects of her work, especially french. When her father dies, poor Sara has no-one to pay for her schooling or room, so, Miss Minchin, makes Sara a servant, and she is moved up to the attic, where rats scuttle around her bed. Miss Minchin also sells all of her extravagant items of clothing and toys, which her father had sent before he died. This book is very good and you can really get into it.

BRILLIANT, 08 Dec 2001
This book is soooo excellent and you can relate to it really easily. I've never been into playing 'pretend' but now I've tried it and I don't think I could get through life without! I can't explain how much I love it!

my favourite childhood book., 16 Sep 2001
When i read this book at 10 years old i was caught up in the magical world of sara crew. i loved her at the beginning of the book for believing that herself and everyone else was a princess and even more so that even when all the terrible things where happening to her she still managed to retain this view. The book managed to keep me entertained throughout I shared her joy and cried at several points during the book. I was so relieved with the ending when everything turned out fine. even though I am now 15 i still love this book and I would suggest that no girl (and maybe even boy) grows up without reading this book.

lovely, 11 Apr 2007
This is a lovely little story. I find it quite uplifting reading about the children developing their personallites and becoming quite different people. I have always loved this story, and also the film. Would recomend as a classic, a childrens story and for adults reading!

A little manual for self-growth, 23 Nov 2006

Delightful children's tale - for adults too. An unhappy and miserable little girl Mary starts to transform when she moves to England and lives on the Yorkshire moors, and when - within the grounds of the huge mansion she occupies - she discovers and begins to care for a secret garden. Her growth affects the son and heir Colin who is also puny and weak initially. The son's father is also transformed. The novel is quite weird, somehow frozen in time, with bizarre fantasy ideas of endless corridors in an endless mansion, a fantasy boy figure Dickon who communes perfectly with nature and is followed by animals (at one stage he and his entourage all ludicrously troop into the house); Dickon's mother is over-worshipped. Words and ideas are repeated endlessly - thus Mary is described over and over again as getting 'fatter' (meaning healthier actually). Burnett also dangerously moves the focus gradually from Mary to Dickon and finally to Colin; the gradual abandoning of Mary as Burnett moves on is somewhat disconcerting to the reader. Servants figure everywhere in this novel rooted in the early 1900's. The opening chapter taking place in India contains a scene of horror that, like the awful scene in Jude the Obscure, shocks and distresses the adult reader. There are strengths and weaknesses, but overall it's a great book, trying and succeeding in showing how adversity can be turned to understanding and growth.




The Secret Garden by Francis Hodgson Burnett, 08 Oct 2003
The secret garden is a brillant book as I felt in some ways sorry for Mary and Colin, but the way that the garden brings them to life again and the way the book makes you feel when you read about them coming to life is absolutely amazing. I have read this book plenty of times and seen both movies but the book doesn't even compare to either movies. A most for anyone who has ever wished they could go find a secret garden to go to when they were a child.

one of the best books ever written, 16 Jul 2001
The secret garden is a brillant book as I felt in some ways sorry for Mary and Colin, but the way that the garden brings them to life again and the way the book makes you feel when you read about them coming to life is absolutely amazing. I have read this book plenty of times and seen both movies but the book doesn't even compare to either movies. A most for anyone who has ever wished they could go find a secret garden to go to when they were a child.

always a classic, 16 Aug 2008
The brilliant thing about this story is how the two main characters grow on you. They are such brats at the beginning, but slowly, together, they begin to thaw into nice people. And, of course, the secret garden blossoms alongside them.

It is great , 15 Mar 2008
The Secret Garden, written by Frances Hodgson Burnett, is a very popular well-known tale - now a great classic! I have had the pleasure of reading it and it was fantastic. It is about Mary whose parents both and she has to leave India to live with her uncle as an unwanted child. She is very lonely and miserable there until she finds the door to the secret garden which has been locked and hidden for ten years...
I really enjoyed this book and I would rate it 7/ 10; I would recommend it to anyone who likes reading - young and old, dim and intelligent, nasty and nice, etc.

What a sweet Story, 24 Jan 2008

This book will bring nothing but a smile to the face of the reader. It is an incredibly well-written story that captivates one to the fullest. The characters are so well-described that you get a very clear and vivid picture of who they are and of course the surroundings. The author masterfully paints such a wonderful picture of the spring, the world waking up from its deep sleep, the blooming trees, the singing birds and the flowers. With spring the garden comes to life and with it, melts the ice from the hearts of the little Mistress and the little Rajah.
The story itself is an incredibly beautiful tale of a little girl, who has been cast aside by her own mother since the day of her birth, left to be raised by the help. Always lonely, unwanted, forgotten and incredibly spoiled the girl takes a long journey to learning how to appreciate the simple beauties in life, such as the sun, the flowers, the birds and the spring. She makes friends and learns to care for others.
An incredibly beautiful story which will warm your heart. Get this book and enjoy it !!!

A Great Classic, 16 Aug 2007
I remember loving this book as a child and as an adult I enjoyed it just as much. Amazingly, this book was written in 1909 and as an adult I found it's historical setting fascinating. If you want to bring this era alive then this book will do this. The story itself is a timeless one and will engage you completely. I will be reading this book again.

A Great Read, 25 May 2004
I read this book and immediatly fell in love. Mary lennox is sent away when her parents are tragicaly killed she goes to live with her cold uncle but discovers a wonderful secret!!!!

I recomend this book to everyone who likes fiction tales.
Please read it just give it a chance!

If you dont like this book you are an uneducated fool!!!ps i am looking for a man

Good storyline - don't read the reviews below if you want to be surprised, 08 Aug 2008
Hodgson Burnett has a good character in Emily Fox-Seton. What happens to her is inevitable once we know the kind of woman she is and HB strives hard and long to explain to us what that is. Melodrama and the gothic are both well-represented but the book is a good example of its type - the romantic novel.

Good but not outstanding - that's why it's a 4-star not a 5-star book.

There are better but it is worth a read. I'm sure I've come across the scene where the heroine walks over the moors to pick up some shopping before - just can't remember where....

Genteel spinster's fairytale ...., 28 Jul 2008
I was really looking forward to reading this and saved it up for a long afternoon on the sofa with a cup of tea. But somehow, I was a teeny bit disappointed. I loved The Secret Garden and A Little Princess, but hadn't read any of the prolific Frances HB's work for adults as so much of it is out of print.
The book is very oddly-structured. The first part is a very charming fairytale, as well as a caustic comment on the plight of unmarried women in Victorian society. Emily is bowled over by gratitude and relief when she receives a proposal from a stodgy marquis who doesn't love her, because he has rescued her from a terrifying descent into middle-age as a distressed gentlewoman. But the second part, which is high Victorian melodrama, seems to have been tagged on as something of an afterthought. (The author admitted that she hadn't thought it through as a whole.) Though I suppose it is also a caustic comment on the plight of heirs presumptive whose great expectations (and those of their wives) can so cruelly be blighted!
I'm sure Frances HB had great fun writing it but it reads as though she knocked it off in something of a hurry!

Sharp-edged romance, 19 Jul 2006
I first read this story many years ago in an ancient Nelsons Classics edition with a nice woodcut at the front. I have reread it so often that the old book is falling apart, so I looked for a new copy and found to my surprise that what I had thought to be a private enthusiasm was widely shared-a great pleasure.
As many have said the story is melodramatic. Burnett was a more than competent writer and a marvellous observer of people and society. She makes her heroine frankly and explicitly stupid,but keeps our sympathy for her. (Incidently, contrary to what some reviewers state Emily Fox-Seton is handsome going on beautiful, as the woodcut illustrates.)
What makes the booke for me is her observation of society and people--from a middle-aged marquis to a lower-middle-class servant to a whole rural village. These are not saccharine portraits, but sharp and witty comments on the society of late 19th century Britain. You could write a useful social history of that time from this book.

The description of the plight of poor but genteel women before employment as other than servants was available is extremely touching. The disintegration of an aging aristocratic lady as she finds herself subject to ordinary human feelings for the first time for many years is very funny--and very moving.

Definitely a keeper!

JW

An unlikely couple, 13 Feb 2004
I first read this book in my teens and owned a very old out of print copy. To see that Persephone had reprinted it was a glorious surprise and I read it once more as an adult and found that my enjoyment was still the same. A more unlikely couple of lovers you could not meet - a dull, prosaic Marquis bored by being pursued by society women, and Miss Emily Fox-Seton, who cannot be described in any way as young or beautiful or even interesting. She is however a good woman, living by her own endeavours and in similar circumstances to Miss Pettigrew Lives for a day, another Persephone gem, in that she is facing a frightening future on her own. I adore all of Frances Hodgson Burnett's children's stories with their happy endings and alls well that ends well - yes, this is sentimental, yes it is Victorian, but it is delightful and each time I read it I am sorry that I have come to the end. The Indian ayah portrayed in this book is, of course, politically incorrect in today's climate, but the attitudes prevelant at the time must be borne in mind when reading in the 21st century. Some of the situations are contrived, but it is a lovely book and calling it a 'good read' though not an intellectual recommendation, sums it up beautifully.

Splendid story, 11 Apr 2002
One can only say "Aaaahhh" when this book is over. It is a gloriously readable book with well-rounded characters but very little story. There is no "darker side" in the first third, up until the Marchioness in question gets her proposal.

The major part of the book has a dark side which is easily dealt with (by packing them off to India) and true love wins out in the end!

Of course, as one would expect from the author, the novel is sentimental and (occasionally) over-simplified, but if you let all of the trials of the 20th (and 21st) century glide off you, you have a rather pretty tale from an idealised 19th and it is rather fun.

Worth reading for its 'Cinderella' start and its 'Snow White' ending.

The Little Princess, 30 Nov 2002
I read this book many times as a child and loved it every time. This adaptation for audio cassette is excellent. The narrator captures the mood wonderfully. The story concerns a strange, thoughtful, loving little girl whose father sends her to boarding school after she has spent her first few years in India. She remains a "little princess" in spite of extreme hardship and heartache. Even though this is a fairy story in many ways, the characters are superbly drawn. It is very moving but not sentimental. My 7 year old son has very much enjoyed listening to this story.

Mary Mary Quite Contrary......, 04 Nov 2007
So this is where the nursery rhyme came from! Thus starts this well known and beloved tale as young Mary Lennox, raised in India by indifferent parents, is a most spoiled and disagreeable child. After she is orphaned she is sent to live with her recluse uncle Archibald Craven in a large mysterious mansion set amidst the dark moors of England. This story is too well known and beloved by all to rehash the plot all over again. Suffice it to say that this was a lovely tale of two bitter and unhappy young children who were able to find the "secret gardens" within themselves and used that magic to heal their tortured souls, and become healthy, happy children.

I very much enjoyed the author's characterizations of the children, along with the glorious descriptions of the gardens and the animals. All in all a lovely tale, both for the very young and the still young at heart. Five stars.

A marvelous children's story., 05 Jul 2007
We bought this lovely story for my daughter, after being fed up with the constant diet of Captain Underpants et al, that she always seemed to bring home from school. The idea was that I would read some classic literature to her each day before she went to bed. The first chapters brought forth constant grumbles and complaints (they are rather boring), but once the story got going, my daughter and I were hooked. She absolutely loved it and listened in rapt attention to every word. I don't know why the story is so magical, but somehow, it certainly is.

Unusually, the central character changes from one character to another, quite an interesting concept that actually works seamlessly, without the reader actually realising that the focus has changed.

As the garden works it's charm on the children, they slowly change from their normal selfish demeanor to care for one another and share in each other's joy.

A really lovely story. After we had finished, my daughter wanted more of the same. Captain Underpants was thankfully, relegated.

The Secret Garden ('She' Children's Classics) Cassette, 10 Nov 2005
This is a wonderful dramatisation of The Secret Garden which we have listened to many times. I am interested to find more 'She' Children's Classics.

classic children's book comes to life, 21 Oct 1999
I have listened to many different audio versions of this great book and found that this is by far the best in its presentation of the story. It really brings the story to life

For Teenagers & Adults, 14 Sep 2008
This is a real good book, however the old english can sometimes be confusing especially for younger readers but it is understandable once you get into it. Sara Crewe loses all her money and has nothing left and you just can't wait to find out what happen's next, the author of the book descibes evrything in very good detail that you can imagine the things that go on in the story. The ending was a bit obvious to me (hence the 4 stars) but the good thing is I kept wanting to know what was going to happen next which is why I kept reading this book.

For princesses of all ages, 28 Aug 2008
This must surely be one of the sweetest, loveliest books a girl could read in childhood. It's been a long time but reading it again all these years down the line (aged 21), it still holds such charm, wonder and profound messages about class, poverty and happiness that I know it'll be returning to my shelf to read again and pass on to my own children.

It tells the story of Sara Crewe, a rich little girl brought up in India by her beloved father, who moves to England to go to boarding school at the gloomy seminary belonging to the formidable Miss Minchin. She is the star pupil, dressed in finery and always happy to share her good fortune and vivid imagination with her classmates. But when a tragic twist of fate strips her of everything, Sara ends up a poor orphan working as a drudge in the seminary where once she was idolised by her fellow pupils. Miss Minchin uses this as a fine opportunity to take a sort of revenge on this strange little girl, who she has never understood but has always indulged thanks to her wealth. But no matter how hard her life becomes, she remains generous and polite to those around her, rich and poor alike, pretending that she is a princess in order to keep her morals and spirits strong. Finally, just as even her fiery spirit is at breaking point, an English gentleman who has been living in India moves into the house next door and magical things start to happen as their interest in each other grows. Of course everything will come right in the end, but I won't give away any more because it deserves to be read and enjoyed...

This is a beautiful, moving, and inspiring novel, whether you're 6 or 60! It is well written, with highly individual and well-rounded characters, and a wealth of description which makes it very atmospheric and allows even a child to see Sara's London in vivid detail. There are images in the book which I could still remember clearly and recognise years after I read it as a little girl, and even now I was holding my breath and waiting for everything to fall into place! In today's selfish modern society it also provides a reminder of how a little generosity and kindness goes a long way, and is a perfect fairy tale for littler princesses too. I'd also recommend 'The Secret Garden' for a slightly less girlie but equally sweet, timeless and beautiful story.

A truly brill story, 31 Mar 2003
A Little Princess is a very good book. It tells of Sara Crewe, the daughter of a very rich man, who goes to work far away from Sara's boarding school. Miss Minchin, Sara's teacher,didn't think too much of little Sara, even thouh she was obviously talented in nearly all the aspects of her work, especially french. When her father dies, poor Sara has no-one to pay for her schooling or room, so, Miss Minchin, makes Sara a servant, and she is moved up to the attic, where rats scuttle around her bed. Miss Minchin also sells all of her extravagant items of clothing and toys, which her father had sent before he died. This book is very good and you can really get into it.

BRILLIANT, 08 Dec 2001
This book is soooo excellent and you can relate to it really easily. I've never been into playing 'pretend' but now I've tried it and I don't think I could get through life without! I can't explain how much I love it!

my favourite childhood book., 16 Sep 2001
When i read this book at 10 years old i was caught up in the magical world of sara crew. i loved her at the beginning of the book for believing that herself and everyone else was a princess and even more so that even when all the terrible things where happening to her she still managed to retain this view. The book managed to keep me entertained throughout I shared her joy and cried at several points during the book. I was so relieved with the ending when everything turned out fine. even though I am now 15 i still love this book and I would suggest that no girl (and maybe even boy) grows up without reading this book.

lovely, 11 Apr 2007
This is a lovely little story. I find it quite uplifting reading about the children developing their personallites and becoming quite different people. I have always loved this story, and also the film. Would recomend as a classic, a childrens story and for adults reading!

A little manual for self-growth, 23 Nov 2006

Delightful children's tale - for adults too. An unhappy and miserable little girl Mary starts to transform when she moves to England and lives on the Yorkshire moors, and when - within the grounds of the huge mansion she occupies - she discovers and begins to care for a secret garden. Her growth affects the son and heir Colin who is also puny and weak initially. The son's father is also transformed. The novel is quite weird, somehow frozen in time, with bizarre fantasy ideas of endless corridors in an endless mansion, a fantasy boy figure Dickon who communes perfectly with nature and is followed by animals (at one stage he and his entourage all ludicrously troop into the house); Dickon's mother is over-worshipped. Words and ideas are repeated endlessly - thus Mary is described over and over again as getting 'fatter' (meaning healthier actually). Burnett also dangerously moves the focus gradually from Mary to Dickon and finally to Colin; the gradual abandoning of Mary as Burnett moves on is somewhat disconcerting to the reader. Servants figure everywhere in this novel rooted in the early 1900's. The opening chapter taking place in India contains a scene of horror that, like the awful scene in Jude the Obscure, shocks and distresses the adult reader. There are strengths and weaknesses, but overall it's a great book, trying and succeeding in showing how adversity can be turned to understanding and growth.




The Secret Garden by Francis Hodgson Burnett, 08 Oct 2003
The secret garden is a brillant book as I felt in some ways sorry for Mary and Colin, but the way that the garden brings them to life again and the way the book makes you feel when you read about them coming to life is absolutely amazing. I have read this book plenty of times and seen both movies but the book doesn't even compare to either movies. A most for anyone who has ever wished they could go find a secret garden to go to when they were a child.

one of the best books ever written, 16 Jul 2001
The secret garden is a brillant book as I felt in some ways sorry for Mary and Colin, but the way that the garden brings them to life again and the way the book makes you feel when you read about them coming to life is absolutely amazing. I have read this book plenty of times and seen both movies but the book doesn't even compare to either movies. A most for anyone who has ever wished they could go find a secret garden to go to when they were a child.

always a classic, 16 Aug 2008
The brilliant thing about this story is how the two main characters grow on you. They are such brats at the beginning, but slowly, together, they begin to thaw into nice people. And, of course, the secret garden blossoms alongside them.

It is great , 15 Mar 2008
The Secret Garden, written by Frances Hodgson Burnett, is a very popular well-known tale - now a great classic! I have had the pleasure of reading it and it was fantastic. It is about Mary whose parents both and she has to leave India to live with her uncle as an unwanted child. She is very lonely and miserable there until she finds the door to the secret garden which has been locked and hidden for ten years...
I really enjoyed this book and I would rate it 7/ 10; I would recommend it to anyone who likes reading - young and old, dim and intelligent, nasty and nice, etc.

What a sweet Story, 24 Jan 2008

This book will bring nothing but a smile to the face of the reader. It is an incredibly well-written story that captivates one to the fullest. The characters are so well-described that you get a very clear and vivid picture of who they are and of course the surroundings. The author masterfully paints such a wonderful picture of the spring, the world waking up from its deep sleep, the blooming trees, the singing birds and the flowers. With spring the garden comes to life and with it, melts the ice from the hearts of the little Mistress and the little Rajah.
The story itself is an incredibly beautiful tale of a little girl, who has been cast aside by her own mother since the day of her birth, left to be raised by the help. Always lonely, unwanted, forgotten and incredibly spoiled the girl takes a long journey to learning how to appreciate the simple beauties in life, such as the sun, the flowers, the birds and the spring. She makes friends and learns to care for others.
An incredibly beautiful story which will warm your heart. Get this book and enjoy it !!!

A Great Classic, 16 Aug 2007
I remember loving this book as a child and as an adult I enjoyed it just as much. Amazingly, this book was writte