The Writer's Almanac tells me that today is Frances Hodgson Burnett's birthday. There was an essay about her life at the beginning of the Annotated Secret Garden and I learned what an incredibly interesting woman she was. Aside from being a Scorpio (like myself) she also published her first story at 18 and thereafter never had a rejection slip. She was incredibly popular and though we know her most for The Secret Garden--although my favorite is The Little Princess--she primarily wrote novels for adults.
She suffered tragedy in her life but she just kept going. Many of the discussions about "Magic" in Secret Garden reflect her life attitude which I would summarize as one part "power of positive thinking," one part hard work, and one part mysticism.
Ooooh I am going to add her books to my childhood favorites on Goodreads Of course I especially love the Little Princess because the main character is a Sarah (and this one time I don't mind the incorrect spelling! -S
ReplyDeleteI double checked and she is a Sara - the very correct spelling. My old-aged memory failed me. -S
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