The Secret Garden

The Secret Garden is a children's novel written by Frances Hodgson Burnett and published initially in installments between 1910 and 1911, and as a book in 1911.

Ten-year-old Mary Lennox lives in India with her parents until they die during a cholera outbreak that sweeps through their household. Mary then travels to England to live with her uncle at Misselthwaite Manor.

Lonely and with little to occupy her, Mary explores the house and its grounds.

One day, during one of her walks, she discovers a strange garden locked behind ivy-covered walls. The discovery gives her a new sense of purpose. With the help of Dickon and her hidden cousin Colin, she begins to restore the neglected garden. Their work outdoors transforms the children’s health, friendships, and sense of belonging.

The novel has been adapted several times for film and television and has become one of Burnett's most popular works of children's literature.

The novel has remained popular across generations for its accessible language and its themes of friendship, renewal, and the restorative power of nature. Its “magic” is the children’s name for hope, growth, and their changing understanding of themselves rather than a conventional fantasy element.