Böcker av Frances Hodgson Burnett

CONTENTS I. The twenty-fourth day of November 1690, Page 1 II. In which Sir Jeoffry encounters his offspring, Page 4 III. Wherein Sir Jeoffry's boon companions drink a toast, Page 9 ... XXIV. The doves sate upon the window-ledge and lowly cooed and cooed, Page 115 I. THE TWENTY-FOURTH DAY OF NOVEMBER 1690 On a wintry morning at the close of 1690, the sun shining faint and red through a light fog, there was a great noise of baying dogs, loud voices, and trampling of horses in the courtyard at Wildairs Hall; Sir Jeoffry being about to go forth a-hunting, and being a man with a choleric temper and big, loud voice, and given to oaths and noise even when in good-humour, his riding forth with his friends at any time was attended with boisterous commotion. This morning it was more so than usual, for he had guests with him who had come to his house the day before, and had supped late and drunk deeply, whereby the day found them, some with headaches, some with a nausea at their stomachs, and some only in an evil humour which made them curse at their horses when they were restless, and break into loud surly laughs when a coarse joke was made. There were many such jokes, Sir Jeoffry and his boon companions being renowned throughout the county for the freedom of their conversation as for the scandal of their pastimes, and this day 'twas well indeed, as their loud-voiced, oath-besprinkled jests rang out on the cold air, that there were no ladies about to ride forth with them. 'Twas Sir Jeoffry who was louder than any other, he having drunk even deeper than the rest, and though 'twas his boast that he could carry a bottle more than any man, and see all his guests under the table, his last night's bout had left him in ill-humour and boisterous. He strode about, casting oaths at the dogs and rating the servants, and when he mounted his big black horse 'twas amid such a clamour of voices and baying hounds that the place was like Pandemonium. He was a large man of florid good looks, black eyes, and full habit of body, and had been much renowned in his youth for his great strength, which was indeed almost that of a giant, and for his deeds of prowess in the saddle and at the table when the bottle went round. There were many evil stories of his roysterings, but it was not his way to think of them as evil, but rather to his credit as a man of the world, for, when he heard that they were gossiped about, he greeted the information with a loud triumphant laugh. He had married, when she was fifteen, the blooming toast of the county, for whom his passion had long died out, having indeed departed with the honeymoon, which had been of the briefest, and afterwards he having borne her a grudge for what he chose to consider her undutiful conduct. This grudge was founded on the fact that, though she had presented him each year since their marriage with a child, after nine years had passed none had yet been sons, and, as he was bitterly at odds with his next of kin, he considered each of his offspring an ill turn done him. He spent but little time in her society, for she was a poor, gentle creature of no spirit, who found little happiness in her lot, since her lord treated her with scant civility, and her children one after another sickened and died in their infancy until but two were left. He scarce remembered her existence when he did not see her face, and he was certainly not thinking of her this morning, having other things in view, and yet it so fell out that, while a groom was shortening a stirrup and being sworn at for his awkwardness, he by accident cast his eye upward to a chamber window peering out of the thick ivy on the stone.

"Where you tend a rose, my lad, a thistle cannot grow." Rising from the ashes of tragedy and depression, Frances Hodgson Burnett penned some of her best works, including The Secret Garden (1911), for which she is fondly remembered to this day.Mary Lennox, an orphan, is a discourteous child is sent to live with her uncle, Archibald Craven, in the Yorkshire Moors. There she learns of a secret garden Archibald had locked after his wife's death. Mary is determined on her quest and will not stop till the mystery of the garden is solved. Set in contrast to the dull moors, the garden becomes a symbol of revitalisation, bringing opportunities for renewed strength, compassion and kindness.

As Mary is exploring her uncle's gardens, a robin draws her attention to an area of turned-over soil. Mary finds the key to a locked garden, and begins an adventure that will change her life forever.

When the newly orphaned Mary Lennox leaves her native India and arrives at her uncle's mansion in Yorkshire, everything seems strange to her. Then Mary hears of a mysterious, neglected garden. With the help of some new friends, she plans to uncover its secrets . . . and make it blossom once again.

That Lass o' Lowrie's is set in Lankashire and recounts the life of Joan Lowrie, a young woman raised in the impoverished mining town. Joan tries to rise herself above the grim background and move up socially, as she falls in love with a man of a higher social status.

Cedric Errol and his mother had been living in poverty on the streets of New York City when they receive news that Cedric has inherited the title Lord Fauntleroy and is heir to the earldom and a huge estate.Plucked from the streets and taken to join the English elite the Earl sets about teaching young Cedric how to be part of the aristocracy. Will Cedric's good nature dull in this new environment, or will his goodness help to change those around him?Called the Harry Potter of its day due to the excitement of children waiting to read the next chapters this story has influenced plays, film, and television for over 100 years. This edition is complete and unabridged and contains all twenty-six original illustrations by Reginald B. Birch which set fashion trends at the time the novel was released.

"The Secret Garden should be on every child's bookshelf." - The Times"It has magic, darkness, whimsy, and truth, and the fact that it was first published in 1909 yet still managed to enthral my 21st century daughter is a testament to its greatness." - Kirsty Young"This book is a classic that your parents have probably read, but don't let that put you off!" - The Guardian ***Everyone wants somewhere to belong. Mary Lennox is a spoiled solitary child raised in India who, after her parents' death, is sent across the world to her uncle's Yorkshire manor, which she soon discovers has more mysteries than the exotic land she left. Join Mary as she discovers the secrets of a mysteriously locked garden, a boy's cry in the middle of the night, and sign upon sign of the magic she had always heard of in her Indian Ayah's stories. And as she unlocks secret after secret, she might just unlock the greatest secret of all…happiness, friendship and finding a place to belong. This is the perfect gift for girls and young women as they try to discover who they are and who they want to be!The Secret Garden is one of Burnett's most popular novels and has become a classic in English children's literature. Imbued with the heart of English culture, it describes the transformation that can come from opening oneself up to the simple magic that is around us. From an unpleasant selfish child, a happy loving one is produced, capable of nursing a sickly disabled boy into a healthy walking one.About the AuthorFrances Hodgson Burnett (1849-1924) was an English-American author and playwright, best known for her best-selling children's novels, including A Little Princess , The Secret Garden, and Little Lord Fauntleroy. She was born in Manchester but after her father's death when she was just 3 years old, the family emigrated to America. When the family's fortunes declined as they lived in post-Civil-War Tennessee, she began writing professionally, having her stories published in magazines at the age of 19. Her first taste of success was with the novel That Lass O' Lowries which earnt public and critical popularity and was followed by a succession of other popular novels and plays. She became an American citizen in 1905 and lived in Long Island until her death in 1924.

When her mother dies, Sara Crewe is sent from India, where she was born, to a private school in London. She is banished to the garret when news arrives of her fathers loss of fortune and his disappearance. With a creative imagination and spirited optimism, Sara survives to become an inspiration for girls and boys everywhere. Featuring musical underscoring and two songs, this is a perfect show for the entire family. It is ideal for holiday presentations. Originally produced by the New York State Theatre Institute.