The Secret Garden

The Secret Garden is a 1911 children's novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett, first published in book form after serialization in 1910–1911.

The Secret Garden is a 1911 children's novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett, first published in book form after serialization in 1910–1911. Set in England, it is a classic of children's literature and follows Mary Lennox as she discovers a neglected walled garden and forms new relationships that change her life.

Plot

The story centers on Mary Lennox, an orphaned girl who is sent to live at her uncle's Yorkshire estate, Misselthwaite Manor, after the death of her parents. There she discovers a neglected walled garden and, with help from new friends, helps restore it, transforming herself in the process.

Publication

The novel was first serialized in The American Magazine from November 1910 to August 1911 before being issued in book form in 1911. The American edition was published by Frederick A. Stokes Company, and the British edition by William Heinemann. The novel is in the public domain in the United States and, in most other countries, entered the public domain in 1995.

Adaptations

The Secret Garden has been adapted into stage plays, television programs, and films. Notable film versions include adaptations released in 1919, 1949, 1993, and 2020.

Literary significance

The book is considered a major work of children's literature and has remained popular for its themes of renewal, friendship, and nature. Its long-term readership has been supported by its public-domain status in many countries. In Canada, the novel is part of the broader English-language children's literature canon and public-domain editions are accessible depending on local copyright status.