T. Tembarom

Frances Hodgson BurnettJul 2015

3.8

Word count: 217K words
Chapters: 41

Summary

Frances Hodgson Burnett (1849-1924) was an English-American playwright and author, best known for her children's stories, in particular The Secret Garden (1911) and Little Lord Fauntleroy (1886). Her first story was published in Godey's Lady's Book in 1868. Her main writing talent was combining realistic detail of working-class life with a romantic plot. Her first novel was published in 1877: That Lass o' Lowrie's, a story of Lancashire life. After moving to Washington, D.C., Burnett wrote the novels Haworth's (1879), Louisiana (1880), A Fair Barbarian (1881), and Through One Administration (1883), as well as a play, Esmeralda (1881), written with William Gillette. Her later works include Sara Crewe, or, What Happened at Miss Minchin's (1888), later rewritten as A Little Princess (1905), and A Lady of Quality (1896), considered one of the best of her plays.

Editor's review

This work exemplifies Burnett's signature blend of realistic detail and romantic plotting, and more than her widely known children's literature, it reveals her skill in handling the lives of ordinary people. With her characters' everyday circumstances as the backdrop, the novel advances a warm and hopeful storyline through realistic depiction, moving at an unhurried pace and handling relationships and emotional turns with considerable naturalness. For readers familiar with The Secret Garden and Little Lord Fauntleroy, this book offers a window into the breadth of the author's work: she did not write only fairy-tale coming-of-age stories but also attended to ordinary people's choices and perseverance under the pressures of real life. There is no need to rush in search of dramatic conflict; the book is better read slowly in quiet moments, noting how the author builds emotion out of the fabric of ordinary life. As supplementary material for an author-focused unit in a foreign literature course, it can also help readers understand the narrative pleasures and moral concerns of English popular fiction from the late nineteenth to the early twentieth century.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy Burnett's work and want to explore her non-children's fiction
Readers interested in the blend of realism and romance in classic foreign popular fiction
Literature lovers who want to understand how ordinary life is depicted in late-nineteenth-century English fiction
Readers with patience for slow reading who prefer character and emotional portraiture to strong plotting

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting fast pacing, strong suspense, or abundant dramatic conflict
Readers who want only children's literature and have no interest in adult realistic fiction
Beginners unaccustomed to the pace and period setting of classic fiction

Reading tips

Read through the first few chapters to get familiar with the characters' circumstances and the narrative pace, then proceed chapter by chapter without skipping.
While reading, pay attention to the author's depiction of everyday details and how realistic technique interweaves with romantic plotting.
Read alongside other works by Burnett to observe the differences between her children's stories and her realistic fiction.
Pause at emotional turning points and look back at earlier groundwork to understand the reasons behind the characters' choices.

Copyright information
CHAPTER I
CHAPTER II
CHAPTER III
CHAPTER IV
CHAPTER V
CHAPTER VI
CHAPTER VII
CHAPTER VIII
CHAPTER IX
CHAPTER X
CHAPTER XI
CHAPTER XII
CHAPTER XIII
CHAPTER XIV
CHAPTER XV
CHAPTER XVI
CHAPTER XVII
CHAPTER XVIII
CHAPTER XIX
CHAPTER XX
CHAPTER XXI
CHAPTER XXII
CHAPTER XXIII
CHAPTER XXIV
CHAPTER XXV
CHAPTER XXVI
CHAPTER XXVII
CHAPTER XXVIII
CHAPTER XXIX
CHAPTER XXX
CHAPTER XXXI
CHAPTER XXXII
CHAPTER XXXIII
CHAPTER XXXIV
CHAPTER XXXV
CHAPTER XXXVI
CHAPTER XXXVII
CHAPTER XXXVIII
CHAPTER XXXIX
CHAPTER XL

FAQ

Is this book written in the same style as The Secret Garden?

Not entirely. The Secret Garden is children's literature, whereas this book leans toward adult fiction grounded in real life, with more realistic detail. Romantic plotting remains, but the overall tone differs from her fairy-tale works, making it suitable for readers who want to understand the breadth of the author's writing.

Can I read this directly without having read other works by Burnett?

Yes. The story stands on its own and requires no prior reading. Still, having read her better-known works first makes it easier to appreciate the shifts in her subject matter and technique, and you can read with a comparative eye.

How much historical background do I need to understand this book?

Not much preparation is necessary. The novel is set against the social environment of the late nineteenth to early twentieth century; as long as you note the characters' class circumstances and daily livelihoods, the main plot is easy to follow. Period details can be looked up as you go without disrupting the overall reading.

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About the author

Frances Hodgson Burnett Author

Frances Hodgson Burnett is a widely beloved author in the history of English children's literature. Details of her life and nationality are not recorded in the available materials, and public information is limited. The library holds eight of her works, most notably The Secret Garden, which appears in three versions and sequels, along with A Little Princess, The Land of the Blue Flower, Racketty-Packetty House and T. Tembarom. Her writing centers on children's growth, imagination and inner transformation, using gardens, estates and family upheaval to carry themes of hope and warmth. Her prose is graceful and vivid, and her books are often classed as foreign literature and inspirational coming-of-age reading. The Secret Garden and A Little Princess have long been adapted for film, television and the stage, leaving a lasting influence on later children's literature.