The Secret Garden (1910)

The Secret Garden is a children's novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett and edited by Gretchen Holbrook Gerzina. It was originally written as a serial story in 1910 in a magazine. It was brought out in novel form in 1911. I believe that The Secret Garden is an intriuging, lovable, mysterious story about adventure. It is suitable for any age group, rendering great childhood feelings and memories. Mary Lennox is a ten year old who lives with her selfish, rich parents in India. Mary doesn't have friends or talk to people. She wasn't a pleasant person and she couldn't make new friends. One day a cholera epidemic breaks out and her parents die. Mary goes to live with her uncle in Archibald Craven, England. She lives in the old Misselthwaite Manor which is rather different for a child to live. It's large and empty. Mary eventually befriends with a house worker, Martha. Martha tells Mary about a secret garden. She found the key and he door to this "secret garden" with the help of a bird. Mary's character begins to change to a more amicable person. The secret garden is their little world. Dickon, Martha’s brother, and Mary normally go in together but this time, Colin Craven, Mary's disabled cousin, goes in too. Colin now goes to the secret garden with them often. The Secret Garden was a wonderful book. There were elements of mystery, such as how Colin begins to walk and why the garden was a secret. The main symbol used in The Secret Garden is the secret garden. The garden brings elents of mystery and joy. Another theme in the book is Mary's sense of home. When she left. India, she brought almost nothing with her; she didn't care for much. When she moved to England, she gained friends and a better personality. Mary's home was always the old Misselthwaite Manor. The book could be read by any age group, although it could remind one of found childlike feelings and memories. The type of reader to enjoy this book would be one who admires Children's stories with a touch of science-fiction. I do recommend this book. The Secret Garden is a wonderful book about adventure and finding oneself.

Not my cup of tea