A Little Princess

A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett (1905)

Sara Crewe, a wealthy boarding school student, loses everything when her father dies penniless — yet maintains her dignity, imagination, and kindness through poverty and cruelty. A story about the true meaning of being a princess.

Historical Significance:
Originally a short story called "Sara Crewe" (1888), Burnett expanded it into a play (1902) and then this novel (1905). The story was partly autobiographical — Burnett herself experienced dramatic reversals of fortune, going from poverty to wealth to poverty again. Sara's philosophy — "Whatever comes cannot alter one thing. If I am a princess in rags and tatters, I can be a princess inside" — has inspired children for over a century. The 1995 Alfonso Cuarón film is considered one of the finest children's films ever made.

This public domain classic was originally published in 1905. Free to read and share.