The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett is a classic children's novel.  Mary, a disagreeable child, must move to England to live with her uncle whom she has never met.  While there she discovers a walled garden, locked away and overgrown from years of neglect.  Mary also discovers her cousin Colin, a sickly child who has been shut away from the world.  As Mary and Colin work in the secret garden, not only do the roses come back to life, but so does the entire household.

Set during Queen Victoria's reign over the British Empire, the story is a reflection of the customs and culture of this time period.  To better understand The Secret Garden, readers must be aware of the historical, economical, and social context in which the story takes place.