The Secret Garden

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett, is a novel. It was first published in serial format beginning in the autumn of 1910, and was first published in full in 1911. It is now one of the most popular novels by Burnett, and is considered a masterpiece of English literature for children. Mary Lennox is a very troubled, sick and unloved 10-year-old girl who was born in India to greedy, rich British parents who never wanted her and who were too wrapped up to love or care about her in their own lives. Ms. Craven fell to her death when she sat on a branch of the tree that snapped under her weight, and Mr. Craven locked the garden and buried the key. Mary is inspired by this story and despite herself begins to soften her ill manner. Soon she starts losing her disposition and eventually begins to enjoy Martha 's company, Ben Weatherstaff the gardener.