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Classic Remarks: Why is The Secret Garden more popular than Little Lord Fauntleroy?

Yes, we’re back for another Classic Remarks, hosted by Pages Unbound! I’ve been preparing for this since June, when I reread both The Secret Garden and Little Lord Fauntleroy.

This week’s prompt:

During her life, Frances Hodgson Burnett received more acclaim for Little Lord Fauntleroy than for The Secret Garden.  Today the reverse is true.  What do you think prompted the change?

While I enjoy both The Secret Garden and Little Lord Fauntleroy, I have mentioned during my rereading that I prefer The Secret Garden. Why? Because:

  1. Cedric E. Fauntleroy is too good as a character. If this was a fanfiction OC, I would call him a Gary-Stu. Basically everyone loves Fauntelroy, from his friends in America to his grumpy granddad who didn’t even like his sons that much! I don’t think the book mentions any negative traits associated with him!
  2. Cedric doesn’t actually go through any trials. Terrifying granddad? Melts in the first meeting. Imposter? Uncovered before Cedric even gets disinherited. Separation from beloved mother? With minimal pain thanks to mother and grandfather actually working together.

These two aspects of Little Lord Fauntleroy make it a saccharine novel that doesn’t appeal as much as The Secret Garden. Let’s look at Mary:

  1. Mary is a spoiled and rude girl who has to learn how to be less spoiled and rude if she wants to be happy. Furthermore, her being in a bad temper makes sense! All her parents died and even when they were alive, they never loved her!
  2. Mary goes through actual trials – losing her parents, having to move to a different country, and finding out she’s related to a whiny hypochondriac.

Mary is a flawed character who has to go through actual trials. Through these trials, she learns, she grows, and she makes friends. It’s extremely easy to identify with, and root for her (who of us hasn’t had bad days or been in a new, scary environment?).

I’m not sure why Little Lord Fauntleroy was initially more popular than The Secret Garden – perhaps the readers of that time needed pure escapism? – but I know why I like Mary better than Cedric. Sometimes, a character can be too good.

11 thoughts on “Classic Remarks: Why is The Secret Garden more popular than Little Lord Fauntleroy?

    1. If you liked The Secret Garden, I highly recommend The Painted Garden! It’s about a contrary girl who stars in a movie version of The Secret Garden! Very fun read

    1. Definitely! The ending is pretty optimistic, in my opinion! The only thing is that Mary (and the rest) hold some pretty racist opinions about Indians – it’s a sad result of the time period it was written it, but if you can ignore that, it’s a charming novel.

  1. I reread The Secret Garden recently, and I liked how Mary’s personality compared and contrasted to Colin and Dickon, and how they help each other throughout the story! I haven’t read Little Lord Fauntleroy, but it does sound like he has had a lot handed to him on a silver plate! This is an interesting view! It tempts me to read Little Lord Fauntleroy to find out more, but then again I’m not a fan of Mary Sues or Gary Stus so that could be a little annoying.

    1. The nice thing is that Little Lord Fauntleroy is pretty short! At least, it was to me. But yeah, if you don’t like Gary Stus, I wouldn’t recommend Little Lord Fauntleroy (plus it’s very saccharine!)

      1. I see, thanks for clarifying it (and helping me make my decision)! I’m sure I won’t be reading it anytime soon, but it’s a book to take note of in the future should I suspiciously feel the need to read about a Gary Stu or two!

  2. You make a really great point about Cedric not facing any difficulties. Even the ones he does face don’t seem to bother him very much. You would think, for instance, that not seeing his mother as much would affect a seven-year-old more than it does. Or that meeting his grandfather would scare him more. But the grandfather decides on sight that he’s going to change, so that solves that problem. And then when Cedric’s identity is questioned, he, of course, being angelic, doesn’t mind so long as he can still be with his grandfather. Cedric just goes through an apparently charmed life.

What do you think?