The book "The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett is a true classic of children's and young adult literature. It is beloved not only by young readers worldwide but also by adults. It is a social novel that demonstrates the influence of nature on human beings and their health.
The main character is Mary Lennox, who loses her parents to a cholera epidemic. Mary is an ill-behaved and unpleasant girl who often falls sick. After her parents' death, she is taken in by her uncle Archibald Craven, who lives in England. Initially, Mary struggles to get along with her new surroundings, being unkind and demanding special treatment from her uncle's servants. Over time, she begins to befriend Martha, a simple and kind-hearted maid. Having many siblings herself, Martha understands children's needs well.
Mary begins to discover that her uncle's house holds many secrets, including the titular garden surrounded by high walls. The girl often hears crying at night that she cannot identify. Will Mary manage to uncover the mysteries hidden within her uncle's house and grounds?
Burnett Frances Hodgson
**Frances Hodgson Burnett** (1849–1924) est une romancière et dramaturge anglo-américaine, célèbre pour ses récits d’apprentissage et son exploration des thèmes de la résilience et de la transformation sociale. Née à Manchester, elle émigre aux États-Unis dans son adolescence et connaît un succès précoce avec *Little Lord Fauntleroy* (1886), avant de s’imposer comme une figure majeure de la littérature jeunesse avec *A Little Princess* (1905) et *The Secret Garden* (1911). Son œuvre, à la fois tendre et critique, reflète les contradictions de l’ère victorienne et continue d’inspirer lecteurs et cinéastes.
