The Secret Garden (Macmillan Collector's Library)

Decided to read again 40 years later. Still a wonderful read. You feel like you are walking/seeing/smelling the garden as the Author’s writing is so descriptive.

As I neared to to the very end, I found a childlike kinship evolving maybe from the groups'being around each other and the unity and astonishment of it all.

I bought this book to read aloud to my daughter after she had surgery on her eyes last year. Though she was only six at the time, I’m sure she will never forget this book, and I saw her flipping through it on her own just yesterday.She adored the interactive elements so much that she would often persuade me to keep going until the next one…and the next one. As a graphic designer focused primarily on book publishing, I was truly astonished by the detail, the beauty, and the intricacies of the book itself. The work that must have gone into this book to ready it for press is mind-boggling!

It was a fabulous experience. We all loved it. Surprisingly for such an old fashioned book, it kept two 8-year olds riveted and entertained.

An incredible story of love and acceptance

Despite being a voracious reader, there are some books considered "children's classics" that I have never read. I decided to rectify this recently by picking up "The Secret Garden." I was somewhat familiar with the story, as I'd watched a film adaptation of the story at one point, but am fully aware that books and their movies can often be vastly different. So though I could predict certain things about the story as I read, I still found it an enjoyable read... even if it isn't my favorite book, and certain elements felt strange in their inclusion, especially towards the end."The Secret Garden" follows Mary, a spoiled and unlikable young girl and the daughter of a British officer living in India. When her parents die of a terrible sickness, she's shuttled off to England to live with a reclusive uncle, and finds herself lost and alone in the gloomy manor. But as she sets out to explore her new home and make sense of this strange new land, she discovers the titular secret garden -- a garden that has been locked up since her aunt died in a tragic accident ten years ago. Enchanted by the garden, Mary sets out to tend it and bring it back to life, aided by a grouchy gardener, a soft-hearted animal-loving boy named Dickon... and Colin, a cousin who has been locked inside all his life and treated like an invalid. The garden turns out to be just the thing both Mary and Colin need to revitalize themselves... and it just may finally bring healing to a family long broken by tragedy..."The Secret Garden" is an enchanting novel, told with an almost fairy-tale-like language that evokes the sights, sounds, and smells of the English moors and gardens and their inhabitants. The writing style is lovely, and paints clear pictures in the mind. The heavy Yorkshire accents of certain characters can be tricky at times, but I managed anyhow. And while Dickon as a character feels a little too good to be true, almost straying into Mary-Sue territory, it's nice to see Mary and Colin develop as the book goes in, gaining confidence in themselves and shedding some of the selfishness and bad temper their sheltered lives have given them.The biggest flaw, in my opinion, is that the book strays into a weird fantasy/magical-realism realm toward the end, which I feel wasn't foreshadowed very well. I love fantasy and don't mind magical realism, but it felt out of place here, especially with Colin going on about studying "magic" while at the same time declaring he wants to be a scientist. It just felt odd to me, and while it might be a product of its time (this book IS over a century old), it did taint my enjoyment somewhat.Still, complaints aside, I can easily see why "The Secret Garden" enjoys a reputation as a children's classic. It's not the best children's novel I've ever read, but I enjoyed it, and am glad I gave it a chance. Perhaps I'll pick up the author's other classic, "A Little Princess," sometime in the near future...

A cute story with dialect coming thru very nicely.

Wonderful book in amazing condition. FantasticBuy!! Great Seller, will buy from again. Thank You so much!!!!

The Author could have avoided cultural and racial remarks about India. It seems like author hates anything about India. Not only the people, weather but Indian birds as well. The hate seems deep rooted. It actually made me wonder if such attitude was there towards Indian people back in the day. And if author hated so much about India then he/she should have questioned their own British people to why go there if you hate every bit of it, We did not call you for sure.

This novel got me me into thinking, if it was possible for a child of unfavourable disposition and health to get any better and live life so willingly in a forthright manner, I would plant a thousand Secret Gardens in every corner of the world. There would be no sickness, or suffering ever!But on a second note I think maybe there really are a thousand Secret Gardens already and only because it must be a secret, no one can tell. All we need is to believe in 'magic' to uncover them and make them burst forth with energy and spirit that it will become so hard not to live.This book makes me believe there is magic, even as an adult - not of fairylands or elves but of a kind which can be made quite possible in today's world. There's no better way to end this decade. Cheers Frances H. Brunett!

This kindle edition is a disappointment. Sentences which don’t make sense - for example ‘You have to have long past to the hills weeks in the past.” and The infant ate a few fruit and biscuits, and being thirsty she drank a pitcher of wine which stood almost crammed. It become sweet, and he or she did not realize how sturdy it was.“ and similar are found in every page so it’s impossible to make any sense of the book. I’m surprised something so badly edited is allowed to be sold.I would like to have my money back.

A warning for those in hopes of obtaining this particular 1956 edition by The Reprint Society London with its dust cover illustrated by Ernest H Shepard. I read this book during the 1950's as a child & wanted to replace my very scruffy copy with this copy as shown with its dust jacket. Sadly the image of this book may not be delivered by one of the sellers despite being specified as this 1956 copy. I was sent another format 1986 Octopus books ltd which I had not wanted. (I've been extremely fortunate to recently secure an exact copy with its dust jacket from an antiquarian bookseller for a price far more that this one advertise!)However despite my original disappointment I would urge you to obtain a copy that appeals to you for there are some editions with very nice illustrations too for this classic story is a wonderful read of a nostalgic world that has long disappeared. With the strong elements of children bonding with each other through animals & nature, the transformation of a hidden garden & the endearing company of the robin Frances Hodgson Burnett's story will appeal to any generation.

My one star is for this version of the kindle edition of the book and NOT the story itself. I purchased the actual book but as i struggle at night to read such small print, i decided to download the free version on to my kindle to read in bed. I shouldn't have bothered! whoever edited into kindle form wants sacking, my 10 yr old could have done a better job. Half the book is just text with no spaces.Marysaid, thegardener, whereis, Marthawent ect... the text is a little muddle also with sentences back to front.If you are after the kindle edition, pay for it and swerve the amazon classic version at all costs.