Saturday, November 21, 2009

The Secret Garden

The Secret Garden is one of my favorite books of all time. My first introduction to it was the book illustrated by Tasha Tudor, which remains my favorite edition - although I surely wouldn't mind having a first edition to add to my collection of Frances Hodgson Burnett tomes:
I love the book so much that I wanted to collect other volumes by other illustrators, as well - like this one published in 1949 with illustrations by Nora S. Unwin:
And when Graham Rust came out with his version, it was so beautiful that I felt I "needed" it, as well:
I thoroughly enjoy the film versions of the story, too. My favorite is this one from 1949 with the wonderful Margaret O'Brien:
And since I'm such a die-hard fan, I had to have copies of the "remakes". This one from Hallmark is from 1992:
Warner Brothers, from 1993:
I can't quite even explain why I bought this one (1994). I don't even like the IDEA of animating this story. I've never watched it, and I doubt I will. I guess it was just my quest for all versions (which I have not yet accomplished, by the way):
Lastly, I have the Original Broadway Cast Album from the musical:
We actually did go see the musical stage version when they were in Sacramento. I really didn't enjoy it very much. We had bad seats, and I was not familiar with the score at the time. We could not tell what they were singing (the lyrics) at all, which made for a less-than-enjoyable experience. I'm not interested in seeing it again, either. I'll stick with my classic book, and the film versions. Those, I can enjoy over and over again.

4 comments:

  1. It was rather interesting for me to read that blog. Thanks for it. I like such themes and everything connected to this matter. I would like to read more soon.

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  2. I am reading a lovely book called "Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert. Just last night I read this from the book: "The word paradise, by the way, which comes to us from the Persian, means literally "a walled garden". The Secret Garden was the children's little paradise. Great post. Love T

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  3. I loved that book too! In fact, you're making me want to read it again! Twyla

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