TEHRAN- A new Persian translation of “The Secret Garden” by British-American novelist and playwright Frances Hodgson Burnett has recently been published by Now Publications in Tehran.

Originally published in 1911, the book has been translated into Persian by Shahla Arjang.

A classic children's novel, “The Secret Garden”, follows Mary Lennox, a spoiled and lonely 10-year-old girl who is sent to live with her reclusive uncle, Archibald Craven, at Misselthwaite Manor in Yorkshire, England.

Mary's parents, who were her only relatives, have died of a cholera epidemic in India, and Mary is left alone and without a home. She is sent to England to live with her uncle, whom she has never met, because she has no other living relatives.

At the manor, Mary discovers a neglected and hidden garden that has been locked away for 10 years since her uncle's wife, Mary's aunt, died. The garden had been her aunt's sanctuary, and Mary's uncle has been unable to bear the thought of entering the garden since her death.

Mary decides to restore the garden to its former beauty, with the help of Dickon, a kind and gentle boy who lives on the moors, and Colin, her sickly and wheelchair-bound cousin. Through their friendship and the process of gardening, Mary learns about friendship, hard work, and the healing power of nature.

As Mary and her friends work together to restore the garden, they also help Colin to recover from his illness and overcome his fear of death. The novel ends with a sense of hope and renewal, as Mary and Colin find new happiness and purpose in their lives.

“The Secret Garden” has been adapted into numerous forms of media, including film, television, stage, and radio. One of the earliest adaptations was the 1949 film, starring Margaret O'Brien as Mary Lennox and Maurice Evans as Archibald Craven. This black-and-white film is considered a classic adaptation and is still widely regarded as a faithful interpretation of the novel.

In the 1970s, “The Secret Garden” was adapted into a made-for-TV movie, starring Amelia Shankley as Mary Lennox and Johnathan Kahn as Archibald Craven. This adaptation was followed by a 1993 film, starring Kate Maberly as Mary Lennox and Andrew Knott as Dickon. 

The novel has also been adapted into numerous television series, including a 1952 BBC series starring Mollie Maureen as Mary Lennox, a 1968 Australian series starring Susannah York as Mary Lennox, and a 1987 ITV series starring Nicola Stapleton as Mary Lennox. More recent adaptations include a 1996 BBC series starring Emily Hamilton as Mary Lennox and a 2020 film, starring Dixie Egerickx as Mary Lennox and Edan Hayhurst as Dickon.

“The Secret Garden” has also been adapted into several stage productions, including a 1924 play, which was adapted by Frances Hodgson Burnett herself. This play opened on Broadway in February 1924. In the 1990s, a musical adaptation was premiered at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon, with music by Rachel Portman and lyrics by Carlisle Floyd. More recently, a new musical adaptation was premiered at the Royal Albert Hall in London in 2019, with music by David H. Bell and lyrics by Marsha Norman.

“The Secret Garden” has received widespread acclaim and has been a beloved classic since its publication in 1911. The novel's reception was immediate and enthusiastic, with critics praising its beautiful prose, well-developed characters, and timeless themes. The novel's portrayal of the strict social hierarchy of the time, as well as the struggles faced by women in a patriarchal society, is thought-provoking and nuanced. The novel has been recognized for its literary merit, with many considering it to be one of the greatest children's books of all time.

SAB/