Frances Hodgson Burnett manuscripts

189-?

Frances Hodgson Burnett was an author whose children's books including Sarah Crewe and The Secret Garden have endured as classics of children's literature. Frances Hodgson was born in England and came to America in 1865. In 1873 she married Dr. Swan Moses Burnett. Her earliest works were published in "Godey's Lady's Book", "Peterson's" and "Scribner's". Among her most popular works were That Lass O'Lowries (published as a book in 1877) which marked the beginning of her success, Little Lord Fauntleroy (published as a book in 1886), Sarah Crewe (1888), Little Saint Elizabeth (1899) and The Secret Garden (1911). Her plays included Esmerelda (1881) written in collaboraation with William Gillette, The First Gentleman of Europe (1897) and The Lady of Quality (1896). In 1898 Burnett was divorced and in 1900 she married Stephen Townsend. During their short marriage they resided in England. After they separated Burnett returned to the United States and lived on Long Island in New York. Collection consists of four manuscripts by Frances Hodgson Burnett: 1) "The Land of the Blue Flower," holograph, 26 pages; 2) "The Dawn of Tomorrow," typescript, 26 pages (incomplete); 3) "A Splendid Day," holograph, 68 pages, entire text of the book as published with the title The Dawn of Tomorrow (Charles Scribner's Sons, 1896; and 4) "Giovanni and the Other," holograph, 63 pages.