Book Review: The Secret Garden

The secret garden was authored by Frances Hodgson Burnett and published in entirety in 1911. It was apparently not very popular in the author's lifetime, but that may be because it was ahead of its time.

I read this book a couple of years ago now, but find my thoughts coming back to Mary Lennox and especially Dickon. I like to think that while I'm more Mary, that there is a Dickon inside me, showing me the way to be with and of nature. As orphaned Mary followed the Robin and found the key to the secret garden, I like to think that I'm now finding my way into a secret world. A world of nature that not everyone sees. And I like to think that the Dickon inside me, happily surviving on a couple of lumps of bread a day, is leading the way to bring to life what has died, not just in the garden or nature, but inside of me. I like to think that he's showing me how to tread more lightly on this wonderful world, not just in terms of carbon footprint, but literally more lighty - as if to show to the birds that I'm no threat and come as a friend to join in with their lives rather than interrupt or destroy them.

Mary comes alive via Dickon in the secret garden. So much so, that she then brings to life her cousin, who has been sickly for most of his life. Trapped in his bed because his father, while still mourning for his wife, is terrified that Colin will have a hunchback like himself. The garden has a very real power not to only regenerate itself, but to regenerate the people within them. And that is why I'm not surprised at the eventual popularity of this book. And that is why this book inspires my love of nature.

The book is one of those books that you may have not considered reading, especially if you didn't as a child. But it's definitely a book that once read, won't let go - in a very good way.


I wrote this book review as part of a meme created by The Sage Butterfly for the Easth Day Reading Project. To take part write a blog post about a book that:
- inspired you to live or garden more sustainably - or -
- is one you would recommend to others for living or gardening more sustainably - or -
- inspires your love of nature.



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Own or Loan:         Own
Read Again:          Yes
Recommend:         Yes
Overall out of Five:3