The Secret Garden

 

The Secret Garden

The Secret Garden is a novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It was published in 1911. It is one of Burnett's most popular novels, and is considered to be a classic of English children's literature.
Plot

A 10-year-old girl born and raised in India loses her wealthy British parents because of a cholera. Her parents didn't want her and she was looked after by Indian servants. Her name is Mary and she is angry, rude and obstinate. When her neglectful parents die she is returned to England to live at her uncle's castle. Her uncle, Mr Craven, is very distant due to the loss of his wife ten years before. Neglected once again, Mary begins exploring the estate and discovers a garden that has been locked . Soon she begins to lose her disposition and gradually comes to enjoy the company of Martha, one of the servants, of Ben Weatherstaff the gardener, and also that of a friendly boy who loves animals and flowers. She begins restoring the secret garden, and eventually discovers some other secrets of the manor. In fact she finds a small boy of her age, Colin, living in a hidden bedroom of the manor. They discover they are cousins: he is the son of Mr Craven; his mother died in childbirth, and he suffers from a problem with his spine.

Mary decides he needs fresh air and puts him into his wheelchair and brings him outside into the garden, the first time he's been outdoors in years.

Colin stands up out of his chair and finds that his legs are fine, though weak from disuse.He spends every day in the garden, becoming stronger.

One day Mr Craven hears voices inside the secret garden, finds the door unlocked and is shocked to see the garden in full bloom with children in it, and his son running.