Francis Burnett: biography and creativity

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

There are not many writers loved by different generations. The American storyteller Francis Burnett stands out among them.

Early years

Francis Eliza Hodgson was born on November 24, 1849 in Manchester (Great Britain). When she was only three years old, her father died suddenly. The girl's mother was on the verge of ruin with five children. In order to somehow improve her situation, she took up her husband's affairs herself. And she was successful at first.

Francis grew up and began to study at a small private school, where she quickly found friends and the main passion of her life - reading. Very soon, the girl realized that she could not only read other people's stories, but also invent her own. At first, fairy tales were told to friends who adored Frances for her imagination. And then the future writer began to record her ideas in a notebook.

The shady garden was the favorite place for young Frances to walk. The girl played in it, read books and was inspired by nature. She remembered this garden for the rest of her life and was immortalized in novels.

The beginning of a writing career

Despite initial successes, things were getting worse for the Hodgson family. Then it was decided to use the last chance and go to where everyone was given hope for a better life, to America. Francis' mother had a brother in this country who could help.

The United States at that time was going through hard times: the country was destroyed during a long civil war. That's why it was so hard for the Hodgsons to find work. And if the brothers could still hope for something, then there were no vacancies for girls.

Frances decided to dedicate herself to what she has always loved. She began to write and send her works to various magazines. It was first published in a ladies' edition. Then came the period of failure. To increase her chances of being published, Frances took on a male pseudonym.

Life has changed and become more difficult since my mother died. At 18, Francis had to take care of the family. Five years after the terrible event, the girl married Dr. Swan Burnett and took his last name. In this marriage, Frances gave birth to two sons. Dr. Burnett was his wife's literary agent and helped her run her business. However, the marriage was not happy. It broke up in 1898.

Years of maturity

Frances Burnett remarried two years later. But the second marriage lasted even less - two years. This partly happened because the writer began to live in two countries. The USA was her home, but she was inexorably drawn to the UK, where she spent her childhood. Frances arranged meetingswith her readers on both sides of the ocean, inspired by walking in places familiar from childhood, and reflecting the beauty of Great Britain in her novels.

A little later, Frances Burnett received US citizenship and has not left this country since. There she wrote her last works. One of the most striking was the novel The Vanished Prince, published in 1915. While the whole world was suffering from the First World War, some ray of joy and hope was needed. This is exactly what the novel for young and adult readers became.

Frances Eliza Burnett died October 29, 1924 in New York and was buried next to her family.

Secret Garden

The first parts of the novel "The Secret Garden" were published in 1910. And only a year later the fairy tale was published in full. Frances Burnett, whose best books were inspired by memories of England, showed in the novel the garden that was her childhood favorite place to play.

The main character, Mary, was born and raised in India, which at that time was a British colony. She lost her parents very early and therefore was forced to go to England to her only relative. But the uncle was not happy to see his niece. The unsociable man forgot about everything around, reveling in his grief: some time ago he lost his wife. Mary was very lonely. She didn't know how to make friends. She began to learn this in the company of her cousin Colin Craven, Martha's maid and her brother Deacon.

On the territory of the estate of Uncle Mary found a wonderful garden,which has long since been abandoned. Together with her friends, the girl set to work. But over time, it turned out that not only the garden was changing, but also the lives of all those who worked in it.

Little Lord Fauntleroy

The protagonist was based on Vivian, the youngest son of Francis Burnett. The author's books are dedicated to children. "Little Lord Fauntleroy" was no exception.

Cedric lives with his mother. His father, an Englishman who immigrated to America, died when the boy was very young. Charming and independent, Cedric easily made friends among adults, he communicates with a shoe shiner and a grocer. The little boy thinks that his life is perfect. But one day everything changes drastically.

A lawyer arrives from the UK and insists that Cedric go with him. It turns out that the boy's grandfather has no heirs left, and therefore he will have to prepare to come into his own. Cedric has to leave his loving mother and meet a stern grandfather. In addition, the boy will have to come to terms with the mores of conservative England. Or try to change them at least within your world.

Francis Burnett is rightfully considered one of the best writers of all time for children. Her books teach to be friends, to treat the world around with love and care. Therefore, more and more new generations of parents choose the fairy tales of Francis Burnett. The author's books are very popular for home reading with children.