Summary
First published in 1911, The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett has become a beloved classic of children's literature. This enchanting novel tells the story of Mary Lennox, a sour and neglected child who discovers a hidden garden on her uncle's estate in Yorkshire, England. Through tending to the garden and befriending her sickly cousin Colin, Mary undergoes a transformation and helps bring new life to her grieving family. With its timeless coming-of-age narrative and celebration of nature's restorative qualities, The Secret Garden continues to captivate readers young and old over a century after its initial publication.
Plot
Mary Lennox is a sickly, neglected 10-year-old girl born in India to wealthy British parents. After her parents die in a cholera outbreak, she is sent to live with her uncle, Archibald Craven, at his isolated manor in Yorkshire, England. At first, Mary is as sour and rude as ever, disliking her new home and its inhabitants. However, she soon becomes curious about the manor's grounds, particularly a walled garden that has been locked for years.
With the help of a friendly robin, Mary discovers the key to the secret garden and begins tending to it in secret. She befriends Dickon, the brother of a housemaid, who has a way with animals and plants. Mary also meets her cousin Colin, a sickly boy who has been confined to bed, convinced he will become a hunchback like his father. Mary shares her secret of the garden with Colin and Dickon, and the three children begin spending time there together.
As spring arrives, the garden flourishes under their care. Colin's health improves dramatically as he spends time outdoors in the fresh air. He learns to stand and walk, keeping his recovery a secret from the household staff. Meanwhile, Mary also grows stronger and happier. Archibald Craven, who has been traveling abroad to escape painful memories of his deceased wife, has a dream that calls him back home.
Upon his return, Archibald is amazed to find the once-secret garden in full bloom and his son Colin healthy and able to walk. The children reveal how they restored the garden and helped Colin recover. Archibald is overjoyed at the transformation in both the garden and his son. The story ends with the family reunited and the once-gloomy Misselthwaite Manor filled with new life and hope.
Themes
Healing power of nature
Transformation and personal growth
The importance of friendship and human connection
Overcoming neglect and isolation
The restorative effects of positive thinking
Class and cultural differences in Victorian England
The ongoing cycle of life
Setting
The Secret Garden takes place in early 20th-century England, primarily on the Yorkshire moors. The story begins in British-controlled India but quickly shifts to Yorkshire after the protagonist Mary Lennox is orphaned and sent to live with her uncle.
The main setting is Misselthwaite Manor, a sprawling English country estate located on the bleak Yorkshire moors. The manor is described as a large, imposing stone building with a hundred rooms, most of which are locked and unused. The expansive grounds contain several walled gardens, including the titular secret garden that has been locked and neglected for a decade.
The harsh but beautiful Yorkshire moor—a vast expanse of wild grassland and heath beyond the manor grounds—plays an important role in the story, contrasting with the cultivated gardens and representing freedom and healing for the characters. Key locations on the moor include the cottage of the Sowerby family and the surrounding wilderness where Dickon roams with his animal companions.
Characters
Mary Lennox: The protagonist, a 10-year-old girl who is orphaned in India and sent to live with her uncle in England. Initially spoiled and disagreeable, Mary gradually becomes kinder and more empathetic as she discovers the secret garden and makes friends. She takes charge of reviving the garden and helps restore Colin's health.
Colin Craven: Mary's sickly cousin who has been confined to bed for years. He is initially pessimistic and temperamental but regains his health and spirits with Mary's help and time spent in the secret garden.
Dickon Sowerby: A 12-year-old local boy who befriends Mary. He has a special way with animals and plants, helping Mary bring the secret garden back to life. Dickon's cheerful nature and knowledge of nature are instrumental in Colin's recovery.
Archibald Craven: Mary's uncle and Colin's father, a hunchbacked man who has been in deep mourning since his wife's death and travels constantly to escape his grief. His homecoming and transformation end the story on a note of hope.
Martha Sowerby: A young maid at Misselthwaite Manor who becomes Mary's first friend. She tells Mary about the secret garden and helps her adjust to her new life.
Ben Weatherstaff: The elderly gardener at Misselthwaite Manor. He secretly tends to the garden and becomes an ally to the children.
Mrs. Medlock: The stern housekeeper at Misselthwaite Manor. She is initially wary of Mary but softens towards her over time.
Susan Sowerby: Martha and Dickon's mother, a wise and nurturing figure who provides guidance to the children. She helps keep the secret of Colin's improving health.
Quick facts
Frances Hodgson Burnett, the author of numerous books for young readers, considered The Secret Garden to be her favorite of all her novels.
The Secret Garden was first published in book form in 1911.
It was originally serialized in The American Magazine from 1910 to 1911.
The garden at Maytham Hall in Kent, England, where Burnett lived for a time, inspired the secret garden in the book.
The character of Dickon was originally written as physically disabled in early drafts.
The Secret Garden has never been out of print over the century since its debut.
The Secret Garden has been adapted into several films, TV series, stage plays, and even an opera.
The 1949 film adaptation was filmed partly in black-and-white and partly in Technicolor.
The 1993 film adaptation. directed by Agnieszka Holland and starring Kate Maberly, was widely praised for capturing the magic and emotion of Burnett's story.
A musical based on the book premiered on Broadway in 1991, won three Tony Awards, and was revived two decades later for a national tour.
An anime television adaptation called Anime Himitsu no Hanazono aired in Japan in the early 1990s.
In 2003, The Secret Garden ranked #51 in the BBC's survey of the UK's Best-loved Novel.
About the Author
Frances Hodgson Burnett (1849-1924) was a prolific British-American author best known for her children's novels. Born in Manchester, England, Burnett emigrated to Tennessee with her family as a teenager following her father's death. She began writing to support her family at age 19, publishing stories in popular magazines. Her career as a novelist took off in 1886 with the publication of Little Lord Fauntleroy, which became a literary sensation on both sides of the Atlantic. The success of A Little Princess in 1905 secured her reputation.
Continuing to write novels, short stories, and plays over the next several decades, Burnett divided her time between homes in England and America. She drew inspiration from the gardens at her English country estate for The Secret Garden. First published in 1911, this widely beloved novel has never been out of print.
Though best remembered today for her children's stories, Burnett was also a successful writer of adult fiction. Her novels often featured rags-to-riches stories and explored themes of class and social mobility. Burnett faced personal tragedies, including the death of her elder son and two divorces, but continued writing prolifically until the end of her life. Her enduring literary legacy is evident in the continued popularity of The Secret Garden and A Little Princess, which have been adapted many times for stage and screen. A memorial sculpture depicting characters from The Secret Garden was erected in New York's Central Park in 1936, celebrating Burnett's contributions to children's literature.
