The Secret Garden is indisputably one of the most beloved children’s classics. Published in
1911 it has never been out of print selling millions of copies worldwide. What many readers
don’t know however is that its author Frances Hodgson Burnett was one of the most popular
and prolific writers of her time. Unsurprisingly she was also a lover of flowers and
gardens—but the path to her literary triumph was a long one beset with personal tragedy and
frequent illness. In Unearthing The Secret Garden best-selling author Marta McDowell starts by
chronicling Burnett's childhood and early life with a focus on her growing interest in gardens
and her development as a writer. McDowell also shares details of the three gardens Burnett
created in Kent Long Island and Bermuda. A guide to the plants featured in The Secret Garden
will delight gardeners. And in a unique addition McDowell transcribes the complete text of
three of Burnett’s garden-themed stories which help to deepen our appreciation of Burnett’s
love and knowledge of gardening. McDowell complements her delightful text with period
illustrations and contemporary photographs that bring Burnett’s world vividly to life for the
reader and the book’s stunning design makes it a joy to leaf through. Just as The Secret
Garden continues to enchant readers of all ages so Unearthing The Secret Garden draws us into
a richly textured account of the fascinating professional and gardening life that gave us one
of literature’s greatest treasures.
