The Secret Garden

The Secret Garden, written by Frances Hodgson Burnett, has remained one of the most popular children’s books since its publication in The American Magazine in 1910. The story tells of childhood emotions and experiences while keeping the central theme - if something is cared for, it will thrive. 

The Secret Garden introduces us to a sour little girl, Mary Lennox, who is NOT a pleasure to be around. In fact, she yells like a little princess, can't make friends, and simply despises everything.

She remains quite contrary until she helps her garden grow - and finds someone worse off than herself to bring along for the ride. 

Burnett was a British American novelist and playwright, best known for her novels Little Lord Fauntleroy, A Little Princess, and The Secret Garden. She regularly found inspiration through her observations of nature and the walled gardens at Maytham Hall in Kent England.

The American Magazine published the first edition of The Secret Garden in 1910

The book was first published by Heinemann in London in 1911 with illustrations by Charles Heath Robinson as a British edition.  The first American edition was published by Fredrick A Stokes and Company with illustration by Maria Louise Kirk. 

The original British edition features green cloth with gilt titles & decoration to the upperboard and spine. This can be identified by a publication date on the front panel.

The First American released two editions simultaneously, one featuring the publisher’s green cloth with illustration only on the upper board and gilt lettering to the spine. The other in blue cloth without illustrations.

The Secret Garden (Penguins Designer Classics) was released in 2010. Designed by illustrator Lauren Child, only 1,000 copies were released. This volume was published to mark the 70th anniversary of the Puffin imprint.