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Editha's Burglar
A rediscovered classic. In 1888, Frances Hodgson Burnett, author of The Secret Garden, created a moving little story for the Jordan Marsh stores in Boston. This charming book is a little gem about innocence, parental love, and social class.
64 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1888
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178 people want to read
About the author
Frances Hodgson Burnett
1,815 books4,957 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 - 26 of 26 reviews
October 15, 2025
The two-word title pretty much gives away the story, especially when considering the author, F.H. Burnett who wrote children's literature. The story may be a tad simplistic, but nonetheless profound. The moral is generally important when writing stories for kids and Burnett was always clear about the resonance of what her characters were attempting to communicate.
Editha's Burglar was found in a Burnett collection of "The Greatest Children's Classics." I believed that the compilation only contained books and book-length stories; however, with Editha's Burglar that idea went out the window. Burnett usually tells stories about either exceptional children that are especially precocious or horrible children that are unrepentant. She does the same with adults.
Here, Editha is a child that has searched the newspapers for entertainment. She finds that some of the tales told in the newspapers include articles about burglars -- men who break into peoples' homes with the intent to carry away nice things that belong to the people that live there. Although the articles cause trepidation at the thought that she is left home alone many a night by a busy father, she also feels sorry for the thieves because they were obviously never taught right.
This is a wonderful little story, in the vein of many other Burnett stories. Profound, clearly of an advanced intellect, and higher moral framework, Editha is operating on a much more sophisticated level than the man who eventually breaks into her house. If you love Burnett's better-known work, then you will love this one. Her typical tropes are repeated here. Good read, but don't expect any surprises.
Editha's Burglar was found in a Burnett collection of "The Greatest Children's Classics." I believed that the compilation only contained books and book-length stories; however, with Editha's Burglar that idea went out the window. Burnett usually tells stories about either exceptional children that are especially precocious or horrible children that are unrepentant. She does the same with adults.
Here, Editha is a child that has searched the newspapers for entertainment. She finds that some of the tales told in the newspapers include articles about burglars -- men who break into peoples' homes with the intent to carry away nice things that belong to the people that live there. Although the articles cause trepidation at the thought that she is left home alone many a night by a busy father, she also feels sorry for the thieves because they were obviously never taught right.
This is a wonderful little story, in the vein of many other Burnett stories. Profound, clearly of an advanced intellect, and higher moral framework, Editha is operating on a much more sophisticated level than the man who eventually breaks into her house. If you love Burnett's better-known work, then you will love this one. Her typical tropes are repeated here. Good read, but don't expect any surprises.
March 26, 2018
A sweet little story about a bookish seven-year-old who doesn't want any burglars to hurt her mother. It was a quick read (twenty minutes for me) and an enjoyable one. What happens when her resolve to protect her mother is put to the test?
Free ebook available on Project Gutenburg.
Free ebook available on Project Gutenburg.
February 6, 2019
She’ll always be my favorite author. So much hope and innocence between these old pages ❤️
August 3, 2024
Lovely!! The more books I read by Frances Hodgson Burnett, the more I loved them! This slim volume was so sweet!
It's about a little girl and her experience with a burglar in her house. I don't want to spoil this short story with too much explanation, plus it's better to read it without knowing much about it.
Surprisingly, my edition of the book was published by Jordan Marsh in 1888 and has an inscription on the flyleaf that reads, "Mary Caldwell from Aunt Dusie December 25th, 1911" I had no idea that the Jordan Marsh Company published a set of books called the 'Young Folks Library', featuring classic books of that era for children. There seem to be many subsequent editions, but this blue and gold cloth bound edition was one of the first.
If you love uplifting and charming children's books, I highly recommend that you give this one a try. I absolutely loved it. It will be a reread for years to come!
It's about a little girl and her experience with a burglar in her house. I don't want to spoil this short story with too much explanation, plus it's better to read it without knowing much about it.
Surprisingly, my edition of the book was published by Jordan Marsh in 1888 and has an inscription on the flyleaf that reads, "Mary Caldwell from Aunt Dusie December 25th, 1911" I had no idea that the Jordan Marsh Company published a set of books called the 'Young Folks Library', featuring classic books of that era for children. There seem to be many subsequent editions, but this blue and gold cloth bound edition was one of the first.
If you love uplifting and charming children's books, I highly recommend that you give this one a try. I absolutely loved it. It will be a reread for years to come!
not-read
April 29, 2016Just realized that this book that was passed on to me is a first edition from 1888, given to my great-grandmother for Christmas in 1906.
August 26, 2019
This is a very good short story by Hodgson Burnett. It is shorter than many of her short stories which are more like novellas. I picked it up off of Google Books and was able to get it with the illustrations which are great - don't miss those. I wrote a review of it (pairing it with a 1924 film it inspired) and discovered that there had also been one act plays based on it - the plays and film add a lot of complications to the plot. There's some interesting stuff there however.
I am usually more on the beat of Hodgson Burnett's adult works - this one sits the line. It's a pretty quick read and worth it. If you want to read my more detailed account it can be found at Pams-Pictorama.com or https://pams-pictorama.com/2019/08/25...
I have reviewed a pile of her other adult novels in several other posts. Lots and lots of good reading there so enjoy. I've spent a delightful summer with her!
I am usually more on the beat of Hodgson Burnett's adult works - this one sits the line. It's a pretty quick read and worth it. If you want to read my more detailed account it can be found at Pams-Pictorama.com or https://pams-pictorama.com/2019/08/25...
I have reviewed a pile of her other adult novels in several other posts. Lots and lots of good reading there so enjoy. I've spent a delightful summer with her!
January 10, 2024
I found an 1888 edition along with several other obscure titles by Mrs Burnett. This one, though, is one of my favorites so far! It's a lovely tale about sixty pages long about a loving little girl who has a strange interaction with a burglar. Definitely something children will want read repeatedly to them... evokes deep chuckles!
November 25, 2023
Lovely story, not quite sure what she's getting at.
December 1, 2015
A funny little story, with a heroine definitely the younger sibling of Sara Crewe, with her magnanimity, innocence, and love of books.
Like Mary Lennox, Editha has a silly, frivolous mother who spends more time at parties, and a distracted father busy with his work.
Editha, whom her father calls "Nixie," takes him very seriously one day when he tells her to watch her mother. He has to go to Glasgow on business. A recent burglary nearby has upset her mother, who begs Francis to stay. What happens when the burglar does visit might remind the gentle reader of "Cindy Loo-Hoo" in "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."
This is a vein of stories that continued well into the twentieth century, in Damon Runyon stories and Shirley Temple movies. A little saccharine, like holiday candy, but brief enough not to become bitter in the mouth.
~I borrowed a copy of this book from the university library where I work. It had not been checked out in years and did not even have a barcode assigned. "Burnett" appears in white letters on the red school binding, and is also handwritten inside in pencil. On another page, in pen, is written "Dec. 7, 1899." Apart from these, there is no copyright or publishing information.
Like Mary Lennox, Editha has a silly, frivolous mother who spends more time at parties, and a distracted father busy with his work.
Editha, whom her father calls "Nixie," takes him very seriously one day when he tells her to watch her mother. He has to go to Glasgow on business. A recent burglary nearby has upset her mother, who begs Francis to stay. What happens when the burglar does visit might remind the gentle reader of "Cindy Loo-Hoo" in "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."
This is a vein of stories that continued well into the twentieth century, in Damon Runyon stories and Shirley Temple movies. A little saccharine, like holiday candy, but brief enough not to become bitter in the mouth.
~I borrowed a copy of this book from the university library where I work. It had not been checked out in years and did not even have a barcode assigned. "Burnett" appears in white letters on the red school binding, and is also handwritten inside in pencil. On another page, in pen, is written "Dec. 7, 1899." Apart from these, there is no copyright or publishing information.
September 14, 2009
This is a sweet story about a very unselfish little girl who does all that she can to prevent a burglar from inconveniencing her parents.
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June 26, 2024I found the 1888 edition of this book at a used bookstore hidden on an island accessible only by way of ferry. For $8.50, I was able to call it my own.
A Little Princess has been dear to my heart since childhood, along with The Secret Garden, so finding this story, which I was unfamiliar with, was a delight. It was a sweet little tale. The illustrations were my favorite part of it - just stunning.
A Little Princess has been dear to my heart since childhood, along with The Secret Garden, so finding this story, which I was unfamiliar with, was a delight. It was a sweet little tale. The illustrations were my favorite part of it - just stunning.
December 27, 2021
A very nice story of an extremely thoughtful and caring child. Set in late 19th century London, it is a children's story about a little girl who has quite a unique encounter with an old fashioned burglar. It made me smile.
August 5, 2022
I'd read this before in a short story anthology. I found an 1888 edition (handwriting inside the cover from 1890) at a thrift shop last week and tenderly re-read it. The story still made me laugh at the sweet little girl's absurd decisions.
January 9, 2021
Amusing moral tale. A little girl decides she wants to meet a burglar, and that very night she runs into one.
January 9, 2021
Written in 1888 by the author of The Secret Garden.
Nicely illustrated
A period piece
Nicely illustrated
A period piece
April 4, 2021
It’s a cute kids story. Very short, and beautifully illustrated, the story is basically a feel good story. Any kid would love it.
August 20, 2021
A sweet story, full of innocence, in which a naive but gentle girl considers all others before herself, including the burglar.
April 1, 2023
Perfect little story. So sweet and charming.
March 20, 2017
Absolutely delightful short story - silly & sentimental but the dialogue was great & funny & the heroine was so unusual for the time, written much more as if she were a boy which was wonderful. Editha just jumps into action no matter the possible danger to herself which just isn't how roles were written for girl characters then - I wonder how she was received at the time
January 4, 2015
This short story was written primarily for children, but adults might enjoy it as well, as there is plenty to read "between the lines". The story shows how a trusting, naive little girl can win over even a hardened street criminal! It's also a charming portrait of a late Victorian middle class family.
June 28, 2013
Good children's book. Simple, short, and pleasant.
June 3, 2015
Not my favorite of her stories. It doesn't have the depth and beauty of "The Secret Garden". It was a cute short story.
April 8, 2016
A really sweet and heartwarming little short story.
January 18, 2024
Carinissimo 💕
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews