Illustrated by Tasha Tudor
Originally published in 1905
Source: our copy belongs to Miss H
Summary:
Set in 19th century London, a little girl goes from riches to rags and back again. Sara Crewe is delivered by her wealthy, doting father to a boarding school for young ladies in London. Raised in tropical India, she finds London a strange place. And Miss Minchin, the owner of the school, is cold and meanspirited. Sara, who is kindhearted and intelligent as well as fabulously wealthy, quickly becomes the reigning "princess" of the school. When her father suddenly dies penniless back in India, Miss Minchin forces her to work as a servant. Despite being treated cruelly, Sara retains her dignity and her kind ways, showing herself to be a true princess.
This isn't the first time I've talked about this book, it was one of my favorite books as a young girl and it will always hold a special place in my heart. In fact, when Miss H was born, it was one of the first books we gave her because she was, after all, our very own princess the minute she arrived.
I read it to her when she was a little girl but then the movie came along and the details of the book got lost in the details of the movie adaptation that came out the same year she was born. It really is a wonderful movie but, as movies do, it left out some things that were important in the book while shifting the focus to other things. Seriously, if you have a little girl, watch it. But read the book, too. 
When I was making my list for the Classics Club Challenge in 2012, I included A Little Princess because I wanted to reacquaint myself with the details of the book I grew up loving. You know what? I still love it. I love the story, I love the writing, and I love Sara Crewe. Most of all, I love the lessons it teaches young girls - it's okay to be smart, attitude is everything, dreams make life better, be grateful for what you have, and, above all, always behave as if you are a princess. Not in an entitled, everyone-should-do-what-I-want way. For Sara, being a princess means being proud not haughty, being at all times civil, being polite not rude or malicious no matter what those around you do or say. Sara never let her circumstances drag her down to the level of those who would belittle or demean her and she never forgot that there were others who were worse off than she was.
Interesting. I wonder if I too would love it reading it now as an adult!
ReplyDeleteI think I've read this one (and Little Women) enough times that a reread could never change my opinion. Although, I did read it this time thinking there was a part of it that could have been left out and the story wouldn't have suffered.
DeleteI reread The Secret Garden not to long ago and found I enjoyed it as much as an adult as I did as a child. I'm so glad that A Little Princess didn't let you down. Somehow, despite loving The Secret Garden so much, I never read this book even though it's by the same author. Since it sounds like it translates well to an adult I'm definitely going to give it a try!
ReplyDeleteI had never read The Secret Garden until a couple of years ago despite loving A Little Princess almost all of my life. I found it enchanting!
DeleteI've never read this but have enjoyed the author's writing (The Secret Garden and Little Lord Fauntleroy). I'll have to add The Little Princess to my TBR list!
ReplyDeleteI've never read Lord Fauntleroy - since I just read The Secret Garden a couple of years ago and enjoyed it, I'm going to have to read Lord Fauntleroy soon!
DeleteI've only seen the film version, which I just loved to bits. I definitely need to read the book! What a lovely story - just thinking about the movie makes me smile :) I bought a DVD of it for my mom - she loves it, too. Great post!
ReplyDeleteThe movie is so lovely - I loved the acting and the set and costumes were fantastic, especially considering they made the movie on a tight budget.
DeleteI love this book! Haven't read it in so long. Perhaps the next read-aloud book with the little girl. Have also been wanting to read to her The Secret Garden.
ReplyDeleteI loved reading the longer books to my daughter when she was little!
DeleteI have only seen the Shirley Temple movie version, and it has been ages since I have read the book. I think this may be one I need to try to read with my daughter.
ReplyDeleteWhen the two of you have some spare time!
DeleteIt's always a good feeling when you love a book just as much as a re-read as you did the first time. :-) I feel that way about Jane Eyre. I read this book ages ago and probably should revisit it again. I remember so little of it, I'm afraid.
ReplyDeleteYes - same as with Jane Eyre!
DeleteI read and loved The Secret Garden more than I thought I would. I may have to remember this one as well.
ReplyDeleteI think I always wished I were as strong as Sara when I was young but I definitely came away thinking I could be a princess if I wanted to be!
DeleteI loved this as a child too, and loved rereading it aloud to my kids. Not sure they felt about it the way I did, but Harry Potter put up very tough competition!
ReplyDeleteI miss reading to my kids - curling up with them and spending that quiet time together falling into the pages of a book.
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