A Little Princess

By Frances Hodgson Burnett

"A Little Princess" is a children's novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett.
Seven-year-old Sara Crewe, a pupil at Miss Minchin’s London school, is left in poverty when her father dies.
Miss Minchin turns Sara into a servant, requiring her to work without pay in exchange for food and a place to live.
Far from being spoiled, Sara is a bright, imaginative, and empathetic child who loves books and storytelling. In short order she befriends even the most outcast of her fellow pupils, as well as the scullery maid Becky.
For the next three years, Sara is overworked and half-starved. In her loneliness, she uses her imagination to comfort herself, turning her attic room into the Bastille and Becky into a fellow prisoner.
The novella has been inspired in part by Charlotte Brontë's unfinished novel, Emma.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Classic eBooks
• Release date: Sep 10, 2012
• ISBN: 9788866611219

Frances Hodgson Burnett

Frances Hodgson Burnett (1849–1924) was an English-American author and playwright. She is best known for her incredibly popular novels for children, including Little Lord Fauntleroy, A Little Princess, and The Secret Garden.

Book preview

A Little Princess

Frances Hodgson Burnett

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First edition 2012

Cover art: Portrait of Marie-Loise Pailleron, John Singer Sargent, 1881

Text and images are in public domain or Creative Commons

Chapter 1

Sara

Once on a dark winter’s day, when the yellow fog hung so thick and heavy in the streets of London that the lamps were lighted and the shop windows blazed with gas as they do at night, an odd-looking little girl sat in a cab with her father and was driven rather slowly through the big thoroughfares.

She sat with her feet tucked under her, and leaned against her father, who held her in his arm, as she stared out of the window at the passing people with a queer old-fashioned thoughtfulness in her big eyes.

She was such a little girl that one did not expect to see such a look on her small face. It would have been an old look for a child of twelve, and Sara Crewe was only seven. The fact was, however, that she was always dreaming and thinking odd things and could not herself remember any time when she had not been thinking things about grown-up people and the world they belonged to. She felt as if she had lived a long, long time.

At this moment she was remembering the voyage she had just made from Bombay with her father, Captain Crewe. She was thinking of the big ship, of the Lascars passing silently to and fro on it, of the children playing about on the hot deck, and of some young officers’ wives who used to try to make her talk to them and laugh at the things she said.

Principally, she was thinking of what a queer thing it was that at one time one was in India in the blazing sun, and then in the middle of the ocean, and then driving in a strange vehicle through strange streets where the day was as dark as the night. She found this so puzzling that she moved closer to her father.

Papa, she said in a low, mysterious little voice which was almost a whisper, papa.

What is it, darling? Captain Crewe answered, holding her closer and looking down into her face. What is Sara thinking of?

Is this the place? Sara whispered, cuddling still closer to him. Is it, papa?

Yes, little Sara, it is. We have reached it at last. And though she was only seven years old, she knew that he felt sad when he said it.

It seemed to her many years since he had begun to prepare her mind for the place, as she always called it. Her mother had died when she was born, so she had never known or missed her. Her young, handsome, rich, petting father seemed to be the only relation she had in the world. They had always played together and been fond of each other. She only knew he was rich because she had heard people say so when they thought she was not listening, and she had also heard them say that when she grew up she would be rich, too. She did not know all that being rich meant. She had always lived in a beautiful bungalow, and had been used to seeing many servants who made salaams to her and called her Missee Sahib, and gave her her own way in everything. She had had toys and pets and an ayah who worshipped her, and she had gradually learned that people who were rich had these things. That, however, was all she knew about it.

During her short life only one thing had troubled her, and that thing was the place she was to be taken to some day. The climate of India was very bad for children, and as soon as possible they were sent away from it – generally to England and to school. She had seen other children go away, and had heard their fathers and mothers talk about the letters they received from them. She had known that she would be obliged to go also, and though sometimes her father’s stories of the voyage and the new country had attracted her, she had been troubled by the thought that he could not stay with her.

Couldn’t you go to that place with me, papa? she had asked when she was five years old. Couldn’t you go to school, too? I would help you with your lessons.

But you will not have to stay for a very long time, little Sara, he had always said. You will go to a nice house where there will be a lot of little girls, and you will play together, and I will send you plenty of books, and you will grow so fast that it will seem scarcely a year before you are big enough and clever enough to come back and take care of papa.

She had liked to think of that. To keep the house for her father; to ride with him, and sit at the head of his table when he had dinner parties; to talk to him and read his books – that would be what she would like most in the world, and if one must go away to the place in England to attain it, she must make up her mind to go. She did not care very much for other little girls, but if she had plenty of books she could console herself. She liked books more than anything else, and was, in fact, always inventing stories of beautiful things and telling them to herself. Sometimes she had told them to her father, and he had liked them as much as she did.

Well, papa, she said softly, if we are here I suppose we must be resigned.

He laughed at her old-fashioned speech and kissed her. He was really not at all resigned himself, though he knew he must keep that a secret. His quaint little Sara had been a great companion to him, and he felt he should be a lonely fellow when, on his return to India, he went into his bungalow knowing he need not expect to see the small figure in its white frock come forward to meet him. So he held her very closely in his arms as the cab rolled into the big, dull square in which stood the house which was their destination.

It was a big, dull, brick house, exactly like all the others in its row, but that on the front door there shone a brass plate on which was engraved in black letters:

MISS MINCHIN,

Select Seminary for Young Ladies.

Here we are, Sara, said Captain Crewe, making his voice sound as cheerful as possible. Then he lifted her out of the cab and they mounted the steps and rang the bell. Sara often thought afterward that the house was somehow exactly like Miss Minchin. It was respectable and well furnished, but everything in it was ugly; and the very armchairs seemed to have hard bones in them. In the hall everything was hard and polished – even the red cheeks of the moon face on the tall clock in the corner had a severe varnished look. The drawing room into which they were ushered was covered by a carpet with a square pattern upon it, the chairs were square, and a heavy marble timepiece stood upon the heavy marble mantel.

As she sat down in one of the stiff mahogany chairs, Sara cast one of her quick looks about her.

I don’t like it, papa, she said. "But then I dare say soldiers – even brave ones – don’t really like going into battle."

Captain Crewe laughed outright at this. He was young and full of fun, and he never tired of hearing Sara’s queer speeches.

Oh, little Sara, he said. What shall I do when I have no one to say solemn things to me? No one else is as solemn as you are.

But why do solemn things make you laugh so? inquired Sara.

Because you are such fun when you say them, he answered, laughing still more. And then suddenly he swept her into his arms and kissed her very hard, stopping laughing all at once and looking almost as if tears had come into his eyes.

It was just then that Miss Minchin entered the room. She was very like her house, Sara felt: tall and dull, and respectable and ugly. She had large, cold, fishy eyes, and a large, cold, fishy smile. It spread itself into a very large smile when she saw Sara and Captain Crewe. She had heard a great many desirable things of the young soldier from the lady who had recommended her school to him. Among other things, she had heard that he was a rich father who was willing to spend a great deal of money on his little daughter.

It will be a great privilege to have charge of such a beautiful and promising child, Captain Crewe, she said, taking Sara’s hand and stroking it. Lady Meredith has told me of her unusual cleverness. A clever child is a great treasure in an establishment like mine.

Sara stood quietly, with her eyes fixed upon Miss Minchin’s face. She was thinking something odd, as usual.

Why does she say I am a beautiful child? she was thinking. I am not beautiful at all. Colonel Grange’s little girl, Isobel, is beautiful. She has dimples and rose-colored cheeks, and long hair the color of gold. I have short black hair and green eyes; besides which, I am a thin child and not fair in the least. I am one of the ugliest children I ever saw. She is beginning by telling a story.

She was mistaken, however, in thinking she was an ugly child. She was not in the least like Isobel Grange, who had been the beauty of the regiment, but she had an odd charm of her own. She was a slim, supple creature, rather tall for her age, and had an intense, attractive little face. Her hair was heavy and quite black and only curled at the tips; her eyes were greenish gray, it is true, but they were big, wonderful eyes with long, black lashes, and though she herself did not like the color of them, many other people did. Still she was very firm in her belief that she was an ugly little girl, and she was not at all elated by Miss Minchin’s flattery.

I should be telling a story if I said she was beautiful, she thought; and I should know I was telling a story. I believe I am as ugly as she is – in my way. What did she say that for?

After she had known Miss Minchin longer she learned why she had said it. She discovered that she said the same thing to each papa and mamma who brought a child to her school.

Sara stood near her father and listened while he and Miss Minchin talked. She had been brought to the seminary because Lady Meredith’s two little girls had been educated there, and Captain Crewe had a great respect for Lady Meredith’s experience. Sara was to be what was known as a parlor boarder, and she was to enjoy even greater privileges than parlor boarders usually did. She was to have a pretty bedroom and sitting room of her own; she was to have a pony and a carriage, and a maid to take the place of the ayah who had been her nurse in India.

I am not in the least anxious about her education, Captain Crewe said, with his gay laugh, as he held Sara’s hand and patted it. The difficulty will be to keep her from learning too fast and too much. She is always sitting with her little nose burrowing into books. She doesn’t read them, Miss Minchin; she gobbles them up as if she were a little wolf instead of a little girl. She is always starving for new books to gobble, and she wants grown-up books – great, big, fat ones – French and German as well as English – history and biography and poets, and all sorts of things. Drag her away from her books when she reads too much. Make her ride her pony in the Row or go out and buy a new doll. She ought to play more with dolls.

Papa, said Sara, you see, if I went out and bought a new doll every few days I should have more than I could be fond of. Dolls ought to be intimate friends. Emily is going to be my intimate friend.

Captain Crewe looked at Miss Minchin and Miss Minchin looked at Captain Crewe.

Who is Emily? she inquired.

Tell her, Sara, Captain Crewe said, smiling.

Sara’s green-gray eyes looked very solemn and quite soft as she answered.

She is a doll I haven’t got yet, she said. She is a doll papa is going to buy for me. We are going out together to find her. I have called her Emily. She is going to be my friend when papa is gone. I want her to talk to about him.

Miss Minchin’s large, fishy smile became very flattering indeed.

What an original child! she said. What a darling little creature!

Yes, said Captain Crewe, drawing Sara close. She is a darling little creature. Take great care of her for me, Miss Minchin.

Sara stayed with her father at his hotel for several days; in fact, she remained with him until he sailed away again to India. They went out and visited many big shops together, and bought a great many things. They bought, indeed, a great many more things than Sara needed; but Captain Crewe was a rash, innocent young man and wanted his little girl to have everything she admired and everything he admired himself, so between them they collected a wardrobe much too grand for a child of seven. There were velvet dresses trimmed with costly furs, and lace dresses, and embroidered ones, and hats with great, soft ostrich feathers, and ermine coats and muffs, and boxes of tiny gloves and handkerchiefs and silk stockings in such abundant supplies that the polite young women behind the counters whispered to each other that the odd little girl with the big, solemn eyes must be at least some foreign princess – perhaps the little daughter of an Indian rajah.

And at last they found Emily, but they went to a number of toy shops and looked at a great many dolls before they discovered her.

I want her to look as if she wasn’t a doll really, Sara said. "I want her to look as if she listens when I talk to her. The trouble with dolls, papa – and she put her head on one side and reflected as she said it – the trouble with dolls is that they never seem to hear." So they looked at big ones and little ones – at dolls with black eyes and dolls with blue – at dolls with brown curls and dolls with golden braids, dolls dressed and dolls undressed.

You see, Sara said when they were examining one who had no clothes. If, when I find her, she has no frocks, we can take her to a dressmaker and have her things made to fit. They will fit better if they are tried on.

After a number of disappointments they decided to walk and look in at the shop windows and let the cab follow them. They had passed two or three places without even going in, when, as they were approaching a shop which was really not a very large one, Sara suddenly started and clutched her father’s arm.

Oh, papa! she cried. There is Emily!

A flush had risen to her face and there was an expression in her green-gray eyes as if she had just recognized someone she was intimate with and fond of.

She is actually waiting there for us! she said. Let us go in to her.

Dear me, said Captain Crewe, I feel as if we ought to have someone to introduce us.

You must introduce me and I will introduce you, said Sara. But I knew her the minute I saw her – so perhaps she knew me, too.

Perhaps she had known her. She had certainly a very intelligent expression in her eyes when Sara took her in her arms. She was a large doll, but not too large to carry about easily; she had naturally curling golden-brown hair, which hung like a mantle about her, and her eyes were a deep, clear, gray-blue, with soft, thick eyelashes which were real eyelashes and not mere painted lines.

Of course, said Sara, looking into her face as she held her on her knee, of course papa, this is Emily.

So Emily was bought and actually taken to a children’s outfitter’s shop and measured for a wardrobe as grand as Sara’s own. She had lace frocks, too, and velvet and muslin ones, and hats and coats and beautiful lace-trimmed underclothes, and gloves and handkerchiefs and furs.

I should like her always to look as if she was a child with a good mother, said Sara. I’m her mother, though I am going to make a companion of her.

Captain Crewe would really have enjoyed the shopping tremendously, but that a sad thought kept tugging at his heart. This all meant that he was going to be separated from his beloved, quaint little comrade.

He got out of his bed in the middle of that night and went and stood looking down at Sara, who lay asleep with Emily in her arms. Her black hair was spread out on the pillow and Emily’s golden-brown hair mingled with it, both of them had lace-ruffled nightgowns, and both had long eyelashes which lay and curled up on their cheeks. Emily looked so like a real child that Captain Crewe felt glad she was there. He drew a big sigh and pulled his mustache with a boyish expression.

Heigh-ho, little Sara! he said to himself I don’t believe you know how much your daddy will miss you.

The next day he took her to Miss Minchin’s and left her there. He was to sail away the next morning. He explained to Miss Minchin that his solicitors, Messrs. Barrow & Skipworth, had charge of his affairs in England and would give her any advice she wanted, and that they would pay the bills she sent in for Sara’s expenses. He would write to Sara twice a week, and she was to be given every pleasure she asked for.

She is a sensible little thing, and she never wants anything it isn’t safe to give her, he said.

Then he went with Sara into her little sitting room and they bade each other good-by. Sara sat on his knee and held the lapels of his coat in her small hands, and looked long and hard at his face.

Are you learning me by heart, little Sara? he said, stroking her hair.

No, she answered. I know you by heart. You are inside my heart. And they put their arms round each other and kissed as if they would never let each other go.

When the cab drove away from the door, Sara was sitting on the floor of her sitting room, with her hands under her chin and her eyes following it until it had turned the corner of the square. Emily was sitting by her, and she looked after it, too. When Miss Minchin sent her sister, Miss Amelia,

Reviews for A Little Princess

[angelab86 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of my favorite childhood books, about the daughter of a British soldier who was raised in India, but is sent to a British boarding school when her father is sent to war.

[nomnivor · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Ich habe das Buch zufällig bei Projekt Gutenberg gesehen und war leicht besorgt: Einerseits mochte ich zwar Der geheime Garten von der selben Autorin, hasste aber (und das nicht mal leidenschaftlich) den Anime Kleine Prinzessin Sara, den es früher gab. Oder vermutlich gibts ihn immer noch, zum Glück wird er aber nicht mehr gezeigt. Auf jeden Fall war meine Sorge unbegründet: Das Buch A Little Princess war toll.

Ich konnte es kaum aus der Hand legen. Es war eins dieser Bücher, die einen fühlen lassen, als wäre man gefüllt mit warmer Schokolade während man in einem Haufen Welpen und Zuckerwatte liegt.

“I liked you to listen to it,” said Sara. “If you tell stories, you like nothing so much as to tell them to peolpe who want to listen. I don’t know why it is. Would you like to hear the rest?”

Einen Kritikpunkt habe ich: Sara war zu perfekt. Wie der Prototyp einer Mary Sue. Alles was sie tat, alles, was sie sagte, alles war perfekt. In ihrer allererste Unterrichtsstunde verkündet der Lehrer, dass er ihr nichts mehr beibringen könne, weil ihr Französisch vollendet sei. Und so geht es gerade weiter. Also ja. Mir sind Charakter mit einem kleinen Fehler natürlich lieber, auch bei Kinderbüchern. Es wäre zumindest schöner gewesen, wenn es nicht auf jeder Seite 10 mal erwähnt würde, wie toll Sara ist. Nach 5 Seiten dachte ich mir dann doch: Okay, jetzt weiß ichs. Muss man mir nicht mehr sagen.

Als Sara dann jedoch zur Sklavin wurde ist das viel, viel besser geworden. Und ihr abmühen, sich weiter wie eine Prinzessin zu benehmen, obwohl sie seit 2 Tagen nichts mehr zu essen hatte, lässt sie dann doch viel menschlicher erscheinen.

Ein echter Pluspunkt ist, dass Sara ein Buch nach dem anderen verschlingt. Wie ein Buchwurm wühlt sie sich durch jedes Buch, das sie in die Finger bekommt. Sie fiebert auf Neuerscheinungen hin. Und sie wäre generell ein Buchblogger, wenn sie heute am Leben wäre.

Never did she find anything so difficult as to keep herself from losing her temper when she was suddelny disturbed while absorbed in a book. People who are fond of books know the feeling of irritation which sweeps over them at such a moment. The temtation to be unreasonable and snappish is one not easy to manage.

Von daher ist es ein echtes, flauschig-warmes, Wohlfühlbuch.

[terris-7 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Such a cute little book of Sara Crewe, whose father, stationed in India, sends her to boarding school in England. When she starts there she has lots of income which satisfies the insecure, jealous matron of the school. However, when things go downhill for Sara's father and his fortune, Sara's daily life takes a landslide downward. However, she is a very mature child and tries to act like she thinks a princess would act, with a fortune or without. And therein lays the story of her reaction to her situation and her encouragement of others. There is also an ongoing search for a mystery child which culminates at the end of the book. I enjoyed this children's book very much, and think it would be a wonderful book to read along with a child and discuss how he/she might react in a similar situation. I highly recommend this book :)

[a_reader_of_fictions · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

ara Crewe is a child gifted with a remarkable imagination, intelligence and a doting father. When her father dies, her intelligence is useful certainly, but it is her imagination that really pulls her through the tough times. She wonders in the beginning of the book whether she is actually nice or not, because she has never experienced a hardship. I really loved that when hardship came, she struggled to maintain her princess demeanor. She got angry and wanted to respond spitefully to ill treatment, but made the conscious decision to rise above. This makes Sara feel like a real girl, not like some absurd Pollyanna.

I am always happy to find another book lover, and such is Sara Crewe. One of the most trying moments of the book for her in her battle to keep her temper is when her reading is interrupted: "Never did she find anything so difficult as to keep herself from losing her temper when she was suddenly disturbed while absorbed in a book. People who are fond of books know the feeling of irritation which sweeps over them at such a moment." Delightful.

There was one element of the story that is a bit...odd...from a modern perspective. That is that the Indian servant, Ram Dass, watches Sara while she is inside and even comes into the room while she is sleeping. His intentions are entirely noble and he is doing good. Still...it's hard not to be at least a wee bit creeped out by that these days.

Although a children's book, this classic loses nothing when read by an older audience. I highly recommend this to anyone who believes in magic! Also, if you haven't seen it, definitely check out the 1995 film version, because it manages to capture the magic of the book and even improve upon the story (in my opinion)!

[benuathanasia · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoy this book despite it being completely contrary to my usual tastes. This truly is a classic for children (and unlike many classic children's books is actually appropriate for a modern child, unlike Grimm, Hans Christian Anderson, Barrie and several others that come to mind).

[sweetiegherkin · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Rags to riches stories are a common enough trope, but A Little Princess turns that narrative on its head. Little Sara Crewe, who has been given everything by her dear papa, is sent to a London board schooling, as was the custom amongst the wealthy in England at the time. There, everyone - children and adults alike - marvel at her beautiful things and declare her "a little princess." Contrary to the stereotype about rich children, Sara is not spoiled and bratty, but rather is considerate and polite. She makes friends with the other children at school, particularly with those who are overlooked by others - slow Ermengarde, tantrum-throwing little Lottie, and scullery maid Becky - instead of aligning herself with the school "mean girls" Lavinia and Jessie. Sara is also clever and imaginative, which sometimes causes others to view her as a bit peculiar, although overall she is well liked. She has a tendency to become solemn and philosophical, and sometimes wonders if she would be so nice if circumstances had been different and she had been born without wealth and privilege. Perhaps, she surmises, she is only kind because when you have everything, there is no reason to be unkind.One day, everything changes for small Sara, and she is given the opportunity to see just what sort of person she is when the tangible goods are taken from her life. On her 11th birthday, news reaches the boarding school that her beloved father has died and due to his unwise business investments, she is now not only orphaned but also penniless. The boarding school headmistress, Miss Minchin, who never really liked Sara as a person but only for her money, is apoplectic with having Sara's care foisted upon her. She responds by taking all of Sara's possessions away from her and forcing her to become a servant at the school.But all is not lost. Sara's cleverness and kindness served her well in the past and continue to do so, even in her reduced circumstances. Those who loved her for these qualities continue to do so and look out for her well-being to the best of their ability. Little Sara is indeed a model for us all with her kindness even in the face of destitution and misuse. Still, at times it becomes a tragedy of error, almost Shakespearean with mistaken identities and just missed opportunities for enlightenment, as Sara and her father's friend/business partner Mr. Carrisford are literally next door from one another but kept apart due to their ignorance of each other's significance. Meanwhile, poor Sara suffers the ill effects of poverty and misuse while Mr. Carrisford is wracked with guilt over not being able to find Sara. The narrative makes this time period seem to past relatively quickly but at the end it is noted more than once that the full time period is two years. This is hard, long time indeed for this poor little girl. In true fairy tale like fashion, Sara's fortunes eventually reverse and turn out for the better while Miss Minchin and the mean girls of the school get the chance to re-evaluate their actions. While this isn't the reality I've known, it's nice to live in this world for a little while, imagining that all good people eventually get their just desserts and those unkind people will eventually be reprimanded. It was perhaps for this reason that this book was a childhood favorite of mine. Re-reading this book as an adult, I did notice that there are some troubling depictions of people of lower classes, non-Anglo ethnic backgrounds, and less than ideal body figures. But these aren't overwhelming and you have to take the book as a product of its time. Ram Dass talking about he was always watching the child as she sleeps, peering in through her window, and knowing her every coming and going, is also a bit creepy to re-read as an adult but his intentions are the best as he does this to learn what she needs. This ends up being of great benefit to Sara during the worse of her troubles. One final note: Although I still own my hard copy of this book from childhood, I opted to re-read the book as an audio version this time. The audio narrator, Justine Eyre, was stupendous and I highly recommend this version for the audiophile.

[abigayl_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The imagination of Sarah, the princess, is what makes this book so amazing. Even though her life has been completely turned upside down, Sarah uses her imagination and the idea of 'What if she really were a princess' to keep her going through hard times. It's an incredible story with a main character that all girls can look up to. I would recommend this book to any girl, young and old.

[titaniac_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Probably the most touching book I have ever read, Frances Hodgson Burnett`s best book.

[readermom68 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of my favorite books when I was young, along with The Secret Garden.

[twileteyes · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Book downloaded from gutenberg.org

The other night I was thinking of movies and remembered loving the Shirley Temple movie about a little orpan girl and I wanted to watch it again..I couldn't for the lift of me remember the name of the movie so I spent some time googling and realized that not only was it a movie I wanted to see but a book I would probably enjoy as well. When I saw the publication date was more than 70 years ago I decided to see if gutenberg.org had a copy of it while I wait for my hardcopy to arrive. I downloaded it Sunday afternoon and have been reading it every spare moment that I can use my home computer.

The book is so much better than I remember the movie being (which isn't saying much since it's been 15 years since I last watched it), but I plan on watching both the original & the new version of the movie sometime after I finish the book.

[katietwa08 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

During a week when I was very sick, my mom read this story to me. I had chosen the big, enhanced version of this story complete with beautifully detailed pictures. This story insipred me as I watched a young girl with nothing take whatever came her way and make something beautiful out of it. The twist in the end is sure to fill a few hearts as well.

[22soccermom · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I had to read this after seen France Hodgson Burnett mentioned in The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton. It was a sweet story about a little girl whose father lived in India and sent her to school back in England. Sort of a reverse rags to riches story. Dad loses his money, then dies and the little girl is forced to become a servant. But she is apparently so sweet that almost everyone still loves her. Finally she is adopted by the dad's very rich friend. Very sweet, very predictable, but definitely one of those books you need to read.

[the_hibernator · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A Little Princess is a classic story of a rich little girl who is put under the care of a bitter, selfish schoolhouse matron. At first, the girl is treated as a star pupil; but when her father dies a ruined man, she is cruelly forced to become a servant of the schoolhouse—but her sweet, vibrant nature keeps her alive during these hard times. I have seen quite a few movie adaptations, but the book is much better than the movies. This is a good book for people of all ages to read.

[bluesalamanders · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Sara Crewe is the adored young daughter of a wealthy English officer serving in India. When he finally decides to send her to a London boarding school, it's hard on them both, but Sara is a resilient and charming child and does well there. When her father dies and she is reduced from favored student to ill-treated servant, her resilience and her talent for "pretending" become more important than ever.I've loved A Little Princess since I was young. If I read it for the first time now, I probably wouldn't care for it much; Sara is practically a paragon, Miss Minchin is a little over-the-top, and many of the minor characters are rather one-dimensional. But it's still a lovely book that I enjoy just as much every time I read it.

[kraaivrouw · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I recently bought myself a new copy of A Little Princess. My original copy is at my mother's house, boxed up with a lot of other books in the attic. As I remember it's somewhat dog-chewed. My girlhood dog, Cindy, a black standard poodle, had an unerring feel for which things to chew up for maximum effect. She'd get mad, she'd chew up your favorite stuff and leave it in the entryway. She was a great dog, though. In any event, during the time after my father's diagnosis of cancer and before it became clear that he was going to die very quickly I bought and read this book. I loved that I was able to find such a beautiful edition with the essential Tasha Tudor illustrations (it wouldn't be the same book without them in the same way that Arthur Rackham's illustrations for Wind in the Willows are the only correct ones - for me at least).I know I'm supposed to care that this book is firmly rooted in British imperialism and full of various stereotypes of Indian people and the lower classes, but I just don't. I prefer to consider it within the context of the time it was written (early 20th century) and read it for the joy of the story - I don't think a cleansing is required.I love A Secret Garden (I'm going to need a new copy of it, too), but I always liked A Little Princess more. There's something so appealing about Sara Crewe who loves to read and tell stories and uses her imagination to get her through the terrible time after her father's death when she is turned into a ward of her boarding school and horribly mistreated. She's not saccharine-sweet, either. She gets angry and has harsh words and is afraid and cries, but she embodies the notion that emotions are neutral - it's what you do with them that counts. There is an elegant nobility about her that shines throughout the book. It makes her very real and very admirable.The story is pretty standard Gothic fare - the evil headmistress, the orphaned child turned into a slave and mistreated, the father's friend recovering from illness and searching for the heroine. Burnett's addition of fairy tale imagery and Tasha Tudor's beautiful illustrations elevate the tale into a true classic.This book was a favorite of my childhood and a huge comfort to me in a time of uncertainty. It remains a favorite.

[hyzenthlay1537 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is first off beautifully written and has a wonderful ending. One thing I liked about it was that even though Sara had a lot of money in the beginning she did not act it, she didn't brag about her money or flounce her beautiful dresses, and to top it off she also gave money to the poor and was nice to all pupils even Becky the scullery maid. And when she lost all her money and had to live in the attic and run long errands in bad weather she didn't complain about it. Overall it is a fabulous book that everyone should read at least once in their lifetime.

[joririchardson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is the absolute perfect little-girl princess read. While today the "princess" idea targeted at tweens is a bratty sorority girl who gets everything she wants, this character is the exact opposite. The book is very well written, charming, and beautiful. Younger readers will love it, but most likely find themselves unable to get through it alone (the book is about 300 pages and written a bit fancily). It's a perfect read-aloud or first "big read" for a young girl.Every little girl should read this book growing up!

[ariadnearanea · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

As you may expect from any book written for children in the nineteenth century, A Little Princess is a little bit twee and a little bit sentimental - and it has the unlikely kind of fairy-tale ending that would make Dickens himself feel proud. Still, it is well-written and charming in its way, and very likeable.(Incidentally, the reason I picked up this book is that Jacqueline Wilson mentions it in her own novel, Cookie. It's probably not stretching things too far to say that Frances Hodgson Burnett was the Jacqueline Wilson of her day - at least insofar as they both write about girls surviving under difficult circumstances.)

[schatzi_5 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I first read this book when I was seven years old, and I have loved it ever since. Unfortunately, I lost my copy of the book several years ago, and I had never gotten around to buying another one. But when I saw that it was free at the Kindle store, this book became the first one that I downloaded on my new Kindle. :)This story is still one of my very favorites. Sure, the ending is a little too saccharine and unbelievable, but that's still part of its charm to me. Sara is one of the most memorable heroines I've ever read about; she has the fortitude to survive a horrible situation without losing her moral fiber or character. Even though she suffers greatly, she still thinks of others before herself. Heck, I still think of her as something of a role model, and she's only seven years old at the beginning of the book!Even though the language is definitely a bit dated, I still think that this classic is enjoyable for today's readers. Once my niece is old enough to understand the story, I plan on buying her a copy of this book to read!

[kdmdr · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Sara Crewe is a very rich girl .She lived in India.One day her father die in India. She has no money.This story made me happy.I thought friend is very important.I thought this book worth reading.

[hanayo_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Sara is very rich girl.She is ten years.She enter Miss Minchin's school.She is gave special treatment.But oneday,her father die because of disease.she has no money.her life quite change,but she lives hard.It is moving story.

[smarket_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Sara Crewe is a very rich little girl lived in India.Her father takes her to Miss Minchin's school in London.but,on her eleventh birthday,her father dies.I love this story in japanese.Sara hadn't been depressed.so whenever i read this story,this story cheers me up.

[tjsjohanna_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What I like best about this novel is that Sara has figured out, from a very young age, that what really matters is what you are inside, not what you have or do. The outside of the story - the "cinderella" story, if you will - is entertaining and somewhat colored by fantasy, but the message is what makes the story stand out. I love that Sara is so kind to those whom everyone else overlooks.

[piya2_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The girl named sara was rich girl at first.But her father died suddenly.And she became poor.She had to wark from morning till night as servant.One day she met a man.He is a very kind.And he is...This story made me happy.This book worth reading!

[molliewatts · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Sara Crew arrives at boarding school rich and pampered. She has more dresses and dolls than any of the other girls combined, yet she is more than willing to share and she shares often. She even makes friends with the scullery maid, Becky. When her father dies suddenly and Sara is left penniless, she is forced to turn over all her lovely things and live in the attic as a scullery maid. The other girls will not even talk to her anymore, and she must now rely on her imagination to see her through the long, cold days and nights. When a sickly stranger moves into the house next door, Sara's fortunes look as if they might improve and she is in for an unexpected surprise, as is everyone else.This was another favorite of mine as a child. I couldn't get enough of the "riches to rags and back again" story. It is all about making the best of one's situation and always having a bright outlook on life, no matter how bleak your situation. I think my favorite scene from the book is when Sara finds her dingy attic room made-over.

[faith42love · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I adore this novel and am so very glad I found it. Anyone that has not listened to a librivox recording of some of the mighty classics is missing something very special. I listen while doing mundane chores at home and at work. A Little Princess was a priceless tale that I hope to enjoy for years to come. Like The Secret Garden, this story holds magic, whimsy and important lessons with in it. Frances Hodgson Burnett has quickly and quietly slipped in to hold the title as my Favortie Classic Author.

[bleached_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Such a wonderful children's story about a girl who is orphaned at a boarding school and sinks from the richest girl to a servant. Not letting her sad downfall get her down, Sara Crew makes friends with the other servant girl Becky and all the other girls of the school who sneak up to the attic to hear her fantastical stories of magic in India, her previous and beloved home. When real magic starts to encompass her, Sara learns how great friendship and kindness can be with a little magic and a little hope.

[picardyrose · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I like the orginal, "Sarah Crewe," better.

[caitlinnk_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Best classic I have ever read! I usually find old books boring, and uninteresting, but this book is far from it. It lets you into the mind of Sara, who is a girl, with her heart in the right place. But, despite her efforts, she has to learn the hard way that not everyone deals well to a perfect student, daughter and most of all, a kind-hearted little girl.

[cait86 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Sara Crewe is a bright, imaginative seven-year-old when she arrives at Miss Minchen's Select Seminary for Young Ladies. Her father, Captain Crewe, is a very rich man, and he and his daughter are the best of friends. Sara has spent the first seven years of her life living in India, but now the time has come for her to attend school in London. At Miss Minchen's Sara is treated like a princess, and is given everything she could ever want; being treated as a princess does not spoil Sara, but instead causes her to be a friendly, generous little girl. Her imaginings delight her fellow pupils, and she treats the scullery-maid, Becky, with such kindness as Becky has never known. One day, tragedy strikes Sara, and she is left a penniless beggar destined to serve the cruel Miss Minchen for the rest of her life. Can Sara overcome this adversity? Can she remain a true princess at heart?A Little Princess is another book that took me down memory lane. Sara's story is one that I read over and over as a little girl, and it was a pleasure to read it again after so many years. Burnett's depiction of dreary London pulls in the reader, and Sara's hardships will make your heart break.That said, Sara is maybe a little too perfect - she is extremely intelligent, puts others before herself, refuses to be goaded into a rage, and continuously puts a positive spin on her horrid existence. Just once I would have liked to see Sara say something mean, or put herself before others - something to make her more of a real, believable character. Sara is always imagining fairy-stories, and Burnett essentially gives Sara her own fairy-story to live. Sure she has hardships, but she is just so unfailingly positive, and the general tone of the book tells the reader that a happy ending is definitely forthcoming. To be honest, it was kind of annoying after awhile.However, A Little Princess is enjoyable to read, and a great book for children. It teaches readers never to give up, and to remain positive, for life will work out in the end. This is a nice lesson to learn - but it really isn't that accurate to real life, is it?