The Secret Garden

By: Frances Hodgson Burnett

Narrated by: Josephine Bailey

Length: 7 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

When Mary Lennox's parents die from cholera in India, the spoiled orphan is transplanted to her uncle's 600-year-old gloomy and secretive estate in England. She is certain that she is destined for misery at Misselthwaite Manor. When Mary meets the old groundskeeper, he is the first to tell her what he thinks of her: "We was wove out of th' same cloth. We're neither of us good lookin' an' we're both of us as sour as we look. We've got the same nasty tempers, both of us, I'll warrant."

However, she soon discovers an arched doorway into an overgrown garden, locked shut since the death of her aunt 10 years earlier. Fate grants Mary access to the secret garden and she begins transforming it into a thing of beauty, unaware that she too is changing.

Public Domain ©2003 Tantor Media, Inc. Originally published 1911.

The Secret Garden

I was looking for a simple story to listen to before bed. Remembering my mother reading this to me 50 years ago I chose it. I guess I had forgotten most of the story or as a child I could not appreciate the spiritual aspects of this novel because it seemed like more than a story about a garden reclaimed. It truly is magical. The reader fascinated me with her Yorkshire dialect. Also I learn a thing or two about gardening. It failed to help me fall asleep. Highly recommend this magical book.

Excellent recording, beautiful story

This is one of my favorite books from childhood which has also become a favorite of my daughter's. We loved this recording to which we have listened several times as the narrator is terrific, reads at a perfect speed with excellent expression and really captures the beauty of the story and the characters. For anyone trying to interest a child in reading there are few authors who have remained as enchanting through so many generations as Frances Hodgson Burnett!

Enjoyed it even more as an adult

This was one of my favorite stories growing up and I found a new level of enjoyment listening to it as an adult with my children. It's a beautiful story and sure to enthrall any child with its unusual characters and emphasis on nature. The reader is superb and we loved her Yorkshire accent. I found the book to be funnier than I remembered as a child - in part because it's read so well. When the book ended there was silence and misty-eyes all around.

Excellent Reader

One of my favorite books, read by someone who seemingly lives the story as much as I do.

Fantastic

I loved listen to this book it was like I was there in the garden with the characters, this was my very 1st audible so it was fantastic !

cried so many times in my car

all happy tears. such a simple but deep story. narrative were calming and warm. one of the best audiobooks.

Worth The Read

I very much enjoyed the reading voice. There are a couple of weird edits/cut offs, but nothing that ruins the overall experience.

Excellent Classic that is enjoyable for children and adults alike.

Good job!

Great book. I absolute love it. The narrator did miss a few words though.

very well written

A very good kids good... Enjoyed it from the very beginning to the very end

Very good

Both of my boys and I enjoyed this version of the story. The narrator had good voices for the characters and spoke the Yorkshire portions well.