Book Review of A Little Princess
The Children’s Book Review
A Little Princess
Written by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Ages 9+ | 244 Pages
Publisher: Puffin Books (2014) | ISBN-13: 9780147513991
What to Expect: Classic Literature, Orphans, and Riches to Rags
Frances Hodgson Burnett was an incredibly talented writer who began her impressive career at a remarkably young age. As a 19-year-old, she started publishing numerous magazine stories in an effort to provide financial assistance to her family, who had unfortunately struggled after their business failed. Although she is widely renowned for her exceptional children’s books, Frances also wrote many heartfelt and sentimental romance novels for adults.
One masterpiece that has truly stood the test of time is her exquisite children’s book, A Little Princess, written in 1905. Even today, it continues to resonate with readers and is considered a classic in every sense of the word.
But don’t be mistaken, dear reader, this is not a typical princess story! With a unique storyline that deviates from the norm, the novel follows the journey of Sara Crewe, a wealthy gentleman’s daughter who experiences a tremendous upheaval in her life. When her father takes her from her luxurious life in India and enrolls her in a school for young girls in London, she could never have expected the dramatic reversal of fortune in store for her. After her father unexpectedly passes away, Sara is left an orphan, and she is forced to live in poverty, relegated to the attic, and made to work as a servant by the cruel and vindictive headmistress, Miss Minchin.
Despite all the hardships she faces, Sara remains steadfast and resolute, maintaining her poise and composure even in the most trying of circumstances. Her vivid imagination and strength of character allow her to overcome her obstacles in a way that would make any princess proud.
What truly sets this book apart is Frances Hodgson Burnett’s incredible eloquence of style and meticulous attention to detail when it comes to character development. Throughout Sara’s journey, the reader is drawn into a world of captivating storytelling that will leave a lasting impression long after the book’s happy conclusion.
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About the Author
Frances Eliza Hodgson Burnett (24 November 1849 – 29 October 1924) was an American-English novelist and playwright. She is best known for the three children’s novels Little Lord Fauntleroy (published in 1885–1886), A Little Princess (1905), and The Secret Garden (1911).
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.
What to Read Next if You Love A Little Princess
- The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett
- Matilda, by Roald Dahl
- Anne of Green Gables, by L. M. Montgomery
- Heidi, by Johanna Spyri
Bianca Schulze reviewed A Little Princess. Discover more books like A Little Princess by reading our reviews and articles tagged with princesses and classic literature.
