The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. cover art

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

By: AudioBooks
Listen for free

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.
First published in 1911, The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett has become a beloved classic of children's literature. This enchanting novel tells the story of Mary Lennox, a sour and neglected child who discovers a hidden garden on her uncle's estate in Yorkshire, England. Through tending to the garden and befriending her sickly cousin Colin, Mary undergoes a transformation and helps bring new life to her grieving family. With its timeless coming-of-age narrative and celebration of nature's restorative qualities, The Secret Garden continues to captivate readers young and old over a century after its initial publication.
Plot.
Mary Lennox is a sickly, neglected 10-year-old girl born in India to wealthy British parents. After her parents die in a cholera outbreak, she is sent to live with her uncle, Archibald Craven, at his isolated manor in Yorkshire, England. At first, Mary is as sour and rude as ever, disliking her new home and its inhabitants. However, she soon becomes curious about the manor's grounds, particularly a walled garden that has been locked for years.
With the help of a friendly robin, Mary discovers the key to the secret garden and begins tending to it in secret. She befriends Dickon, the brother of a housemaid, who has a way with animals and plants. Mary also meets her cousin Colin, a sickly boy who has been confined to bed, convinced he will become a hunchback like his father. Mary shares her secret of the garden with Colin and Dickon, and the three children begin spending time there together.
As spring arrives, the garden flourishes under their care. Colin's health improves dramatically as he spends time outdoors in the fresh air. He learns to stand and walk, keeping his recovery a secret from the household staff. Meanwhile, Mary also grows stronger and happier. Archibald Craven, who has been traveling abroad to escape painful memories of his deceased wife, has a dream that calls him back home.
Upon his return, Archibald is amazed to find the once-secret garden in full bloom and his son Colin healthy and able to walk. The children reveal how they restored the garden and helped Colin recover. Archibald is overjoyed at the transformation in both the garden and his son. The story ends with the family reunited and the once-gloomy Misselthwaite Manor filled with new life and hope.


Copyright AudioBooks Art Literary History & Criticism
Episodes
  • 27 - In The Garden. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

    27 - In The Garden. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.
    Jun 23 2026
    27 - In The Garden. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.
    Mary Lennox is a spoiled, middle-class, self-centered child who has been recently orphaned. She is accepted into the quiet and remote country house of an uncle, who has almost completely withdrawn into himself after the death of his wife. Mary gradually becomes drawn into the hidden side of the house: why does she hear the crying of a unseen child? Why is there an overgrown, walled garden, its door long locked?


    Show More Show Less
    35 mins
  • 26 - “It’s Mother!” The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

    26 - “It’s Mother!” The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.
    Jun 23 2026
    26 - “It’s Mother!” The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.
    Mary Lennox is a spoiled, middle-class, self-centered child who has been recently orphaned. She is accepted into the quiet and remote country house of an uncle, who has almost completely withdrawn into himself after the death of his wife. Mary gradually becomes drawn into the hidden side of the house: why does she hear the crying of a unseen child? Why is there an overgrown, walled garden, its door long locked?


    Show More Show Less
    21 mins
  • 25 - The Curtain. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

    25 - The Curtain. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.
    Jun 23 2026
    25 - The Curtain. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.
    Mary Lennox is a spoiled, middle-class, self-centered child who has been recently orphaned. She is accepted into the quiet and remote country house of an uncle, who has almost completely withdrawn into himself after the death of his wife. Mary gradually becomes drawn into the hidden side of the house: why does she hear the crying of a unseen child? Why is there an overgrown, walled garden, its door long locked?


    Show More Show Less
    16 mins
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
No reviews yet