Frances Hodgson Burnett

Back in August, in a post entitled Some books I listened to this summer, I mentioned the classic children's book Little Lord Fauntleroy by Frances Hodgson Burnett as one I reread by listening to it as audio book.

After that, I checked to see if perhaps there were more titles by the same author included for free in my Audible membership. I found three, and have now listened to those as well. The first two I have read before, in the past; but enjoyed getting reaquainted with them now as audio books. The third one was new to me.

The Secret Garden, narrated by Carrie Hope Fletcher

"Mary Lennox, a spoiled, ill-tempered, and unhealthy child, comes to live with her reclusive uncle in Misselthwaite Manor after the death of her parents. There, she meets a hearty housekeeper maid and her spirited brother, a dour gardener, a cheerful robin, and her willful, hysterical, and sickly cousin, Master Colin.With the help of the robin, Mary finds the door to a secret garden, neglected and hidden for years. When she decides to restore the garden in secret, the story becomes a charming journey into the places of the heart, where faith restores health, flowers refresh the spirit, and the magic of the garden, coming to life anew, brings health to Colin - and to Mary, happiness."

A Little Princess, narrated by Johanna Ward

"Sara Crewe is the brightest, richest, and most generous girl in Miss Minchin’s school for girls, and her father gives her everything she might desire. But when her beloved father dies, Sara’s friends and prized possessions are suddenly taken away, and she is banished to the attic and forced to work as a common drudge. Fed only crumbs, she still saves enough to feed her pet rat, and she tells wonderful stories to comfort Becky, the kitchen maid. Using her special ability to play make-believe, she transforms her hardships into an unforgettable adventure. And soon, even her wildest wishes begin to come true, as her real identity is revealed once and for all."

 

 

The Lost Prince, narrated by David Thorn

"Twelve-year-old Marco knows he is being trained for something, but he isn't sure what. All his life he has traveled with his father in secrecy, learning many languages and the ways of a gentleman, but forbidden to speak about their country of origin, Samavia. Samavia has been fraught with war for the last 500 years, ever since the prince mysteriously disappeared. But now, there is hope that peace may come at last, as it has been rumored that a descendant of the lost prince may have been found."

This one I can't recall having heard of until Meike mentioned it in a comment to my post in August. If you'd like to read a longer review, here's a link to hers from 2014.  

Personally, I found The Lost Prince rather different from the other three by Frances Hodgson Burnett that I've read - although when I think twice about it, they do all still have several things in common. Like children getting separated from their parents (one way or the other), having to get adjusted to different circumstances, finding new friends and learning new things; and going from rich to poor, or the other way round - or both. In some ways the settings are very different from our own time - and yet, perhaps these days the books may actually feel more relevant again than they seemed back in my own childhood. Although perhaps not as many lords and ladies and servants these days, there are undeniably still wide gaps between rich and poor in the world, and wars and catastophes of various kind are making it necessary for lots of people to flee, move and "start over" in ways they never imagined.

The Wikipedia biography on Frances Hodgson Burnett also shows that she did have some experiences of that kind in her own background to draw from. 

So I'm feeling a bit intrigued now, and may go on to read or listen to a couple more of her books that I'm not familiar with since before.