Little Lord Fauntleroy, a 1886 novel, transformed the trajectory of Frances Hodgson Burnett, cementing her position as a prolific writer of children's fiction. Born in Manchester, England, she eventually maintained citizenship in both the United Kingdom and the United States, crafting a career that spanned various literary formats from romantic adult novels to plays.
Early Life and Emigration
Born in 1849, Burnett spent her formative years in Manchester. Following the death of her father in 1853, the family experienced significant financial strain. In 1865, at the age of 16, she emigrated to the United States with her family, settling in New Market, Tennessee. To support her relatives, she began her writing career at age 19, contributing stories to various magazines.
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Burnett became a versatile author, writing as a novelist, playwright, and short story writer. Her debut novel, That Lass o' Lowrie's, received positive reviews. She achieved widespread recognition through popular children's books, including A Little Princess and The Secret Garden. Beyond her prose, she worked as a dramaturge, actively participating in the production of stage adaptations of her work.
Personal Life and Later Years
Burnett married Swan Burnett in Knoxville, Tennessee. The couple resided in Paris for two years, where their son Vivian was born, before moving to Washington, D.C. A member of the Literary Society of Washington and a practitioner of Christian Science, she eventually settled in Plandome Manor, New York. She died in 1924 and is interred at Roslyn Cemetery.
Fast facts
- Born: 1849, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Died: 1924, Plandome Manor, United States
- Primary Occupations: Novelist, Playwright, Children's Writer
- Notable Works: Little Lord Fauntleroy, The Secret Garden, A Little Princess
- Burial Site: Roslyn Cemetery
- Citizenship: United Kingdom, United States
Questions readers ask
What was the inspiration for the characters in The Secret Garden?
The material does not provide information regarding the specific inspiration for the characters in The Secret Garden.
Did Burnett write for the stage?
Yes, she was a playwright and dramaturge who wrote and helped produce stage versions of Little Lord Fauntleroy and A Little Princess.
Achievements
- Notable work: Little Lord Fauntleroy
- Notable work: A Little Princess
- Notable work: The Secret Garden
- Notable work: A Lady of Quality
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