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The Secret Garden
The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett, first published in 1911, was one of my three favourite books as a child (the others were Alice in Wonderland and The Little Grey Men). It is a very, very long time since I last read it, and yet I'm amazed how well my very young self resonated with the life experiences described in the book. There is not a single mention of trauma, post-traumatic stress or emotional neglect in the whole book, and yet the story is brimming not only with all three, but with their wonderful antidotes - friendship, hope, faith and the healing power of natural spaces.
A big thank you to my Dad for buying it for me one Christmas. He knew what he was doing. Imagine my delight on finding out that there is a new screen adaptation, starring Colin Firth and Julie Walters. Sigh!
