Last night I sat up late reading
My first Folio Society edition,
having boards and spine decorated by the artist comes in
a slip case bearing one of her drawings.
This delightful book, in fluent descriptive prose, charts the journey of Mary Lennox, born to an ex-pat English couple in India, until the age of ten when she was transported to Yorkshire. It is a tale of her transition of cultures and the consequent adaptations.
There is a touch mystery apart from that of the eponymous garden.
The prose contains many similes and metaphors, yet is itself a metaphor to the resurgence of neglected yet apparently pampered lives upon the introduction of loving kindness.
We learn how Mary encounters a kindred spirit with similar experience and emotional deprivation in the midst of wealth; and how this is balanced by a loving family with very slender means, but with a generous maternal mother who really knows children and their needs. Two of her children in particular are instrumental in Mary’s gradual learning to love.
We learn how crushingly destructive grief can be, but how it is possible to be helped to rise from despair.
I often find attempts at reproducing vernacular accents in speech, but Burnett uses it as a method of bridging cultures and engaging her characters. As Mary becomes closer to the Yorkshire people she learns their language. The dialogue in this book is faithfully rendered with the author’s perfect control.
The garden of the story, largely neglected for ten years, through the changing seasons, the gradual resurgence of plant life, and the lives of small living creatures, is the metaphor for life.
The robin, a particularly significant character threading a link through the story, first became imprinted on Ben Weatherstaff as a fledgling. Masterman’s drawings, although including many of the robin do not include a fledgeling. I am therefore taking the advantage to feature my
3rd August 2019 drawing of Nugget, who, still with blueish feathers and lacking his adult red breast, first arrived in our garden a short time before. Longer term readers will remember the many photographs in those earlier posts featuring him.
I have not included my usual quotations from the text, because there are many examples of the author’s prose alongside this selection of Dodie Masterman’s drawings. Those not taken from within the text are smaller tailpieces from most of the chapters except for the final one which might give too much away. I recommend enlarging these pages in the gallery.
It boggles my mind that I have still not read this book.
You are talented, Derrick. I love your drawing.
Thank you very much, Dale Read it 🙂
Oh, I will!!
Your review and Nugget drawing are as exquisite as the delightful illustrations. Very talented, Mr. Knight.🤓👍❣️
I enjoy your drawing too 🙂 I thoroughly enjoyed the novel too.
Thank you very much, Anne
I remember Nugget well, and miss him.
The illustrations are beautiful and delicate. I never read The Secret Garden, but it is on my list now.
Thank you very much, Lavinia
What a lovely review.
Thank you very much, Jacqui
I have been eagerly waiting for your review of a book that was very dear to me as a child. I really enjoyed your review and especially liked your comments about how Mary had to learn to love. So true! Even though initially Mary’s little heart was hard, she did learn to love. You might even say she bloomed like the plants in the secret garden. Your review makes me want to reread the book.
Thank you so much, Laurie
I loved both the book and your great review, dear Derrick!
Thank you very much, Luisa
My pleasure!
That looks a beautiful edition of a favourite read of mine.
And I loved your drawing 💜
A very endearing story that I enjoyed reading in my youth. Thanks for the revisit 🙂 I remember Nugget well 🙂
Thank you so much, Rosaliene
Such a beautiful, thoughtful review, Derrick. Now I want to reread it.
I was remembering Nugget for some reason not too long ago. I love your drawing of him as a fledgling.
Thank you so much, Merril
Oh! Such a lovely review of a fave book! A book I’ve loved since childhood! Thank you for sharing your review, Derrick! And those illustrations by Dodie Masterman are just perfection. 🙂
Oh! Oh! I remember Nugget! I’ve thought of him so often through the years! 🙂 Your drawing of him is beautiful! I always hoped he had great adventures and a happy life! 🙂
(((HUGS))) ❤️❤️
PS…“If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden.”
– Frances Hodgson Burnett 🙂
Thank you so much, Carolyn XX
Your drawing here is beautiful, Derrick, and your review is captivating. You are incredibly talented.
Thank you so much, Donna
Your review intrigued me, and the book’s now on the list. It was even more delightful to find your drawing. I became rather fond of Nugget; it’s nice to see him again, and so well rendered.
Thank you so much, Linda
I never read this book but have always been curious about it and will add it to my list. Thank you for including your colorful sketch of nugget bringing back sweet memories.
Much appreciated, JoAnna
A delightful book. I don’t know how many times I have read it over the years and never got bored with it.
Thank you very much, Lakshmi
Your drawing of Nugget is lovely. I remember him well. 🙂
Thank you very much, Sue
Didn’t expect your drawing! Nice one!
Thank you so much Ilze
Such a delightful read. Beautiful artwork Derrick.
Thank you very much, Holly
One of my favorite books as a child. I identified with the story deeply. I never fit in well because I was moved from the US to London when I was 6. I had no friends. Books were my companions. These illustrations look familiar.
Thank you very much, Sherry
I have a quiet Saturday, and I am going to read this today. No time like the present.
It was fun to be reminded of Nugget again
Thank you very much, Rose
Hi Derrick, as I mentioned previously, this is my favourite children’s book and my copy is well worn. I read it to my oldest son and it is his favourite children’s book too. It is a most wonderful story.
Indeed. Thank you very much, Robbie
Thank you for this review Derrick.
Much appreciated, Sylvie
I pulled out my copy to see if I could remember when I last read it. But it is sans illustrations so I am now green with envy. But please don’t feel guilty.
Thank you very much, John
Oh my goodness. You are a man of so many talents. That drawing is really lovely.
And the book too, beautiful, I hope I can read it someday.
Thank you very much, Mimi
This is such a delightful book, and your edition featuring marvelous illustrations is a gem, Derrick. Lovely drawing of young Mr Nugget. I wonder whatever happened to him and his progeny?
Unless the magpies got them we still have progeny (one followed Martin about), but we think Nugget himself didn’t make it back from the forest two or three winters ago. Thanks very much, Dolly
I remember Nugget’s disappearance, but I also recall Nugget Jr. and was wondering about him. You are very welcome, Derrick.
Thank you very much, Dolly
You are very welcome, Derrick.
As soon as you mentioned a robin, I thought of Nuggett
Thanks very much, Sheree
A lovely reminder of Nugget.
Thanks very much, Lindsey
Loved this book, Derrick. We had a library program about it this summer 🙂
Thank you very much, Barbara
Excellent review! I’m pretty sure I read The Secret Garden years ago, but I should read it again.
Thank you very much, Liz. It is worth it
You’re welcome, Derrick.