The Secret Garden

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (1911)

Spoiled, unloved Mary Lennox is sent to live at her uncle's gloomy Yorkshire manor, where she discovers a hidden, neglected garden — and in nurturing it back to life, heals herself and everyone around her. One of the most beloved children's novels ever written.

Historical Significance:
Frances Hodgson Burnett, already famous for Little Lord Fauntleroy, wrote The Secret Garden while living at Great Maytham Hall in Kent, which had its own walled garden. Serialized in The American Magazine from November 1910 to August 1911, the novel was not initially considered her best work. It was only after her death in 1924 that it gradually surpassed her other books in popularity, becoming one of the most treasured children's classics of the 20th century.

The novel's themes of healing through nature, the power of positive thinking, and the resilience of children were ahead of their time. Modern horticultural therapy programs cite it as an early articulation of their principles.

This public domain classic was originally published in 1911. Free to read and share.