The Secret Garden

By: Frances Hodgson Burnett

Narrated by: Pearl Hewitt

Length: 8 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

When Mary Lennox was sent to Misselthwaite Manor to live with her uncle, everybody said she was the most disagreeable-looking child ever seen. But this lonely girl's life is transformed when she finds the key to the secret garden.

Public Domain (P)2016 Essential Audiobooks LLC

Outstanding Update to Beloved Classic!

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The audiobook of the Secret Garden narrated by Pearl Hewitt is an outstanding and much needed update to the children’s classic. Written by Frances Hodgson Burnett in 1911, it tells the tale of Mary who is orphaned after her parents are both killed by cholera in India. She travels to Yorkshire to live at her much absent uncle's estate. Always thought of as a troublesome and sickly girl, Mary thrives in the Yorkshire Moors and surrounding gardens, with the help of a grouchy gardener, a robin, and one of the servant’s younger brothers.

Listening to this again after reading it about 30 years ago, I’m reminded how gothic it feels in parts. For example, Mary frequently hears the sound of crying down one of the long corridors. Is this a ghost, her uncle, or just the sound of the wind rolling through the Moors? [I couldn’t help but remember the mysterious sounds that Jane Eyre hears in Thornfield]. About half-way through the book, we discover the sound is from Mary’s invalid cousin, Collin. Obviously spoiled like a prince with frequent temper-tantrums, Collin orders everyone about and staff walk on pins and needles around him. Mary takes none of it and puts him in his place. She challenges him to go outside with her and let the magic of the gardens and nature heal his soul (and body). The ending is one of the best written ever!

Pearl Hewitt did an absolutely outstanding job narrating this book. She provided distinct and consistent voices for all characters, young and old. She has a spunk and sassiness in her readings that make listening very enjoyable. Brava!

Wonderfully Narrated Classic

The Secret Garden is the story of Mary Lennox, a disagreeable child orphaned when her parents die of cholera. She's sent to Yorkshire to live with her uncle in a house with a hundred locked rooms and a mysterious locked garden.

This timeless classic really needs no introduction, it's a wonderful story that has been enjoyed by generations. It has something for everyone, a bit of gothic mystery, a coming of age journey, descriptive passages for a poet's soul, and the charming characters that make it such a classic children's tale. It even spells out the power of positive thinking like any best-selling self help book.

I think what I love best about this book is watching the two neglected little children, starved for love and attention, find happiness in their garden. One of my favorite scenes is when Martha buys Mary the skipping rope. The fact that someone thought of her, remembered her, and bought her something is just so foreign to Mary. It's a subtle scene that really shows how unloved she's been all her life, and how much such tiny things matter to a child.

I don't remember the first time I read The Secret Garden, but I do remember receiving my first hardback copy. I refused to open my other Christmas presents and just sat there looking at the beautiful illustrated pages. Listening to this version brought back that feeling. There's just something special about audiobooks, the narration, if well done, can bring the book to life. Pearl Hewitt manages to do just that. She has the perfect accent for the book, and her regular speaking voice is so pleasant. She performs the Yorkshire accents well and gives each speaker a distinct voice. In the beginning, Mary is unpleasant, and her speaking voice reflects that, but it becomes more warm as Mary herself changes. It was really skillfully done. I received a copy of the audiobook and I'm voluntarily leaving a review. I will definitely be listening to this one again.

Excellent all around, except for...

One of my favorite childhood books! And this performance is quite excellent, getting the accents just right, which is important for a story set in Yorkshire.

However, the quality of the recording was subpar. There were many long pauses in the middle of paragraphs, and often the audio would jump and repeat itself. This throws the listener out of the spell of the story.

In all other respects, I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook.

Glad I chose this book

My 7 year old son could not step listening to it. At first I found the storyline a bit too dark and complicated for a young mind, but as it progresses it told stories about love, life and hope. It is written so well that even as adult I enjoyed it very much. Will definitely listen again and again.

Completely mesmerized by the narrators character voices.

What a beautiful classic but this narrator completely captivated me by the use of her character voices - so uniquely innocent and sweet! I was swept up in the story like none other I've heard. I will definitely listen to this one over and over and will look for more from Pearl Hewitt!

Superb Narration of a Classic!

I first read the Secret Garden when I was a child and my childhood bedroom actually has a tapestry with the rhyme "Mary, Mary quite contrary" (yes my name is Mary). I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this audiobook as an adult. The story has this whimsical, magical quality and the narration by Pearl Hewitt was perfect.
Highly recommended!!

Delightful

Wonderful story of overcoming obstacles. Loved the focus on plants, animals, and relationships enriching lives. This is now on my list of favorites.

A masterpiece

A timeless story of redemption told by a masterful narrator. Pure delight for the young and the ever young at heart, open to the magic of nature.

Beautifully done!

The narrator really made this story come alive! If you love this book already, definitely give this version a try.

Feel good story, better than I thought

started out slow, but gradually got more interesting until I enjoyed it , was over too soon

Unabridged

The story is of course beautiful! Our family children aged, 4,6&8 thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book.

We enjoyed the narrator, her Yorkshire accent was a lovely bonus. We would have given it five stars if it wasn't for the music accompanying each chapter. We found the music both annoying and unnecessary.

Love this narrator

A classic story, in my view this is the best reading of it on audible, lovely interpretation of the Yorkshire dialect without over-egging it, just a wonderful voice to listen to, the descriptions of nature are sublime, the different characters are well defined in the narration. Bravo!

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I love it 😍

I first heard it at school but now I’m going to listen to it again and again.

This version is perfect

I loved the narration of this book - even the Yorkshire accents (and I come from Yorkshire!) A delightful escapist experience but with a moving core of truth about the natural world and the need for love and attention . A long time since I read this as a child, but if anything it is more charming as an adult.