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Theo
Frances Hodgson Burnett (1849-1924) was an English- American playwright and author. She was best known for her children's stories, in particular The Secret Garden (1911) and Little Lord Fauntleroy (1886). Her first story was published in Godey's Lady's Book in 1868. Her main writing talent was combining realistic detail of workingclass life with a romantic plot. Her first novel was published in 1877; That Lass o' Lowrie's was a story of Lancashire life. After moving to Washington, D.C., Burnett wrote the novels Haworth's (1879), Louisiana (1880), A Fair Barbarian (1881), and Through One Administration (1883), as well as a play, Esmeralda (1881), written with William Gillette. Her later works include Sara Crewe, or, What Happened at Miss Minchin's (1888) - later rewritten as A Little Princess (1905); and A Lady of Quality (1896) - considered one of the best of her plays. The Lost Prince was published in 1915, and The Head of the House of Coombe was published in Canada in 1922. During World War I, Burnett put her beliefs about what happens after death into writing with her novella The White People (1917).
292 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1877
About the author
Frances Hodgson Burnett
1,906 books5,252 followersFrances Eliza Hodgson Burnett was a British-American novelist and playwright. She is best known for the three children's novels Little Lord Fauntleroy (1886), A Little Princess (1905), and The Secret Garden (1911).
Frances Eliza Hodgson was born in Cheetham, Manchester, England. After her father died in 1853, when Frances was 4 years old, the family fell on straitened circumstances and in 1865 emigrated to the United States, settling in New Market, Tennessee. Frances began her writing career there at age 19 to help earn money for the family, publishing stories in magazines. In 1870, her mother died. In Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1873 she married Swan M. Burnett, who became a medical doctor. Their first son Lionel was born a year later. The Burnetts lived for two years in Paris, where their second son Vivian was born, before returning to the United States to live in Washington, D.C. Burnett then began to write novels, the first of which (That Lass o' Lowrie's), was published to good reviews. Little Lord Fauntleroy was published in 1886 and made her a popular writer of children's fiction, although her romantic adult novels written in the 1890s were also popular. She wrote and helped to produce stage versions of Little Lord Fauntleroy and A Little Princess.
Beginning in the 1880s, Burnett began to travel to England frequently and in the 1890s bought a home there, where she wrote The Secret Garden. Her elder son, Lionel, died of tuberculosis in 1890, which caused a relapse of the depression she had struggled with for much of her life. She divorced Swan Burnett in 1898, married Stephen Townesend in 1900, and divorced him in 1902. A few years later she settled in Nassau County, New York, where she died in 1924 and is buried in Roslyn Cemetery.
In 1936, a memorial sculpture by Bessie Potter Vonnoh was erected in her honor in Central Park's Conservatory Garden. The statue depicts her two famous Secret Garden characters, Mary and Dickon.
Frances Eliza Hodgson was born in Cheetham, Manchester, England. After her father died in 1853, when Frances was 4 years old, the family fell on straitened circumstances and in 1865 emigrated to the United States, settling in New Market, Tennessee. Frances began her writing career there at age 19 to help earn money for the family, publishing stories in magazines. In 1870, her mother died. In Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1873 she married Swan M. Burnett, who became a medical doctor. Their first son Lionel was born a year later. The Burnetts lived for two years in Paris, where their second son Vivian was born, before returning to the United States to live in Washington, D.C. Burnett then began to write novels, the first of which (That Lass o' Lowrie's), was published to good reviews. Little Lord Fauntleroy was published in 1886 and made her a popular writer of children's fiction, although her romantic adult novels written in the 1890s were also popular. She wrote and helped to produce stage versions of Little Lord Fauntleroy and A Little Princess.
Beginning in the 1880s, Burnett began to travel to England frequently and in the 1890s bought a home there, where she wrote The Secret Garden. Her elder son, Lionel, died of tuberculosis in 1890, which caused a relapse of the depression she had struggled with for much of her life. She divorced Swan Burnett in 1898, married Stephen Townesend in 1900, and divorced him in 1902. A few years later she settled in Nassau County, New York, where she died in 1924 and is buried in Roslyn Cemetery.
In 1936, a memorial sculpture by Bessie Potter Vonnoh was erected in her honor in Central Park's Conservatory Garden. The statue depicts her two famous Secret Garden characters, Mary and Dickon.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 26, 2019
More of a melodrama than a sprightly love story.
A young lady, only nearly a woman goes to London upon invitation by her aunt. As her family is poor, she is only able to go because her sister loans her dresses from when she had gone to her aunt some years before, the visit which was ended tragically when her husband to be died the week before their wedding.
In London, Theodora becomes her aunt’s favourite. She also becomes friendly with another favourite, Denis Ogilby. She learns Mr Ogilby has been engaged to Pricilla Gower. Theo makes Priscilla’s acquaintance. But the friendship with Denis grows, and, on his part, deepens. He realises he is in a dilemma and goes to the continent, admitting his cowardice. His absence makes her realise she has feelings, too. But she determines not to be the cause of him being dishonourable.
When Mrs Throckmorton decides she must go with Theodora to Paris, Theo becomes the fame of the season.
From there, fate moves swiftly; involving sacrifice, distress, and consternation to Denis, Pricilla and Theodora.
A young lady, only nearly a woman goes to London upon invitation by her aunt. As her family is poor, she is only able to go because her sister loans her dresses from when she had gone to her aunt some years before, the visit which was ended tragically when her husband to be died the week before their wedding.
In London, Theodora becomes her aunt’s favourite. She also becomes friendly with another favourite, Denis Ogilby. She learns Mr Ogilby has been engaged to Pricilla Gower. Theo makes Priscilla’s acquaintance. But the friendship with Denis grows, and, on his part, deepens. He realises he is in a dilemma and goes to the continent, admitting his cowardice. His absence makes her realise she has feelings, too. But she determines not to be the cause of him being dishonourable.
When Mrs Throckmorton decides she must go with Theodora to Paris, Theo becomes the fame of the season.
From there, fate moves swiftly; involving sacrifice, distress, and consternation to Denis, Pricilla and Theodora.
March 26, 2016
As beautiful as Theo undoubtedly was, I do wish as a heroine she had had more substance. A strong female character in the likes of Sara Crewe or Mary Lennox would have been a better match for intelligent Denis, the intrepid journalist. Theo's sister Pamela and Denis's fiancee Priscilla were much more complex and attractive characters. The romance was far fetched as they did not seem like equals, more of infatuation and hero-worship in their parts.
July 20, 2012
"Sprightly" it was not. It was a fairly forgettable, sentimental story about a 16-year-old girl who falls in love with a young man who is engaged, and they both try to be all noble and self-sacrificing about it, only partly succeeding. The outcome hinges, not on them, but on the fiancee. Ultimately both of the main characters just seem a little too victim-like, although it's a happy ending.
December 29, 2020
Frances Hodgson Burnett was writing for her time, and her readers must have loved her books, but it's easy to see why this one hasn't held up. An overly romanticized story of a poor girl taken in by a wealthy aunt, presumably because of her beauty and her innocence, it would have appealed to teenaged and young women of the 1870's but it's a little too predictable for modern tastes. The contrived problem that keeps the lovers apart is one of "honor," and is too easily resolved.
February 25, 2017
In realtà, due stelle e mezza: la Burnett pesca in questo caso nei luoghi comuni più scontati, e la sua bella e ingenua eroina non se ne avvantaggia. La storia è gradevole, ha qualche spunto originale, e la scrittura è sempre di alto livello; ma non considererei questo il suo miglior romanzo.
August 27, 2010
I didn't realize how many books Burnett had written - it's a long list! I had an inkling what this one would be like, and my fears were fully realized. "Theo" was a cumulus cloud of romantic cliches. It was hard to stomach. Honestly. I love "The Secret Garden", but this will be my last FHB novel. It helped to kill a few hours of housecleaning, but I found myself making lists of all the fantastic ways I could do away with the characters. In a word, Blech! I'm off to find a book with some testosterone.
Want to Read
September 3, 2014Read this book for free through Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/27990/...
October 17, 2014
2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
This novella wasn't bad, but it wasn't as memorable or interesting as FHB's other romances.
Multiple readers, but all did an excellent job.
This novella wasn't bad, but it wasn't as memorable or interesting as FHB's other romances.
Multiple readers, but all did an excellent job.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews