Little Lord Fauntleroy (The World's Classics) [Paperback]

Frances Hodgson Burnett (Author), Dennis Butts (Editor)

Book Description

Series: The World's Classics | Publication Date: April 8, 1993

Little Lord Fauntleroy, which sold one million copies on its first publication in 1886, is the engaging, amusing, and moving story of a boy living on the edge of poverty in New York who suddenly learns that he is the heir to an English lord with vast lands and wealth. The text includes significant variations from the first serialization of the story and the first American edition.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-7–Transformation and redemption of a curmudgeonly Earl comes through the innocence of a poor boy living in New York City during the late 1800's. Devoted to his American mother, who has never been recognized by her aristocratic British father-in-law, Cedric Fauntleroy is summoned to England to assume the mantle of future Lord of the manor. Beguiling all he meets with his selflessness and goodness, he becomes the vehicle for reconciliation between his mother and grandfather, while rekindling the true meaning of "noblesse oblige" in his lineage. Opening with a brief biography of Frances Hodgson Burnett gives a sense of history to this moralistic Victorian tale. Donada Peters offers an admirable narration of this lengthy production. Her diction is clear and crisp, and the reading is well-paced and sensitive to the characters' inflections, bringing mood and meaning through this technique. She portrays Mr. Hobbs, the grocer, using gruff, yet personable tones, and Mary, the Irish servant, with a musical, lilting brogue. Her strength lies with the traditional voices that have more story line dimensions, such as the Earl, Mr. Haversham, and Dick. The voices for "dearest" and Cedric, the main characters, are not as striking. She fails to give a solid American accent throughout, and oftentimes Cedric's voice becomes too saccharine in order to portray his innate "goodness." During some transitions, the voices of narrator and characters blend into one. At intervals, there are split second pauses, quite often at the end of sentences during the narration. This might reflect splicing or editing and are a constant distraction The use of music or sound effects to add vitality to this antiquated tale would have enhanced it for those who are not familiar with classic British stories. Fans of Burnett and those who like a rich vocabulary would be the most receptive audience.–Tina Hudak, St. Bernadette School, Silver Spring, MD
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Review

Check out these other great works (hundreds of volumes):

Ultimate Handheld
Bible Library
(121 volumes, 1 Million + Links)

Ultimate Handheld
Classic Library
(more than 1000 works)

Ultimate Bible
Study Suite
(8 volumes, 1 Million + Links)

Click here to see Hundreds of titles available from Packard Technologies

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (April 8, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0192829610
• ISBN-13: 978-0192829610
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 4.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,255,643 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well done!, April 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Little Lord Fauntleroy (Hardcover)

Little Lord Fauntleroy stirred my emotions. Would I have let my seven-year-old live with his ill-tempered grandfather who despised me? Probably not! Yet as the story unfolded, I admired the wise words and kind ways of Fauntleroy's mother, Dearest. I empathized with the mother's caring for her only child and her concern for the poor and less fortunate. This book renewed my faith in goodness and kindness. It made me reflect on all that I have.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A charming story about a young boy and his gruff grandfather, August 5, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Little Lord Fauntleroy (Puffin Classics) (Mass Market Paperback)

When the Earl of Fauntleroy decides to bring his favourite son's son to England from America, young Cedric's life is dramatically changed forever. With an ever-innocent and trusting perspective on life he manages to turn his bitter grandfather into a loving, generous man while also endearing himself to every other person he comes in contact with.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Right up there with "A Little Princess" and "The Secret Garden", March 20, 2007

By 

K. Gilligan "grad student & literature lover" (Haddon Heights, NJ) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Little Lord Fauntleroy (Everyman's Library Children's Classics) (Hardcover)

When I was little, two of my favorite books were A Little Princess and The Secret Garden (HarperClassics) by Frances Hodgson Burnett. When I grew up, they were still favorites. So a year ago when I was buying them for my little cousin, and I noticed "Little Lord Fauntleroy", I was astounded. How did I miss such a gem?

The story of little Cedric who warms his old grandfather's heart is beautifully written and quite touching. There is also a lesson to be learned, as we watch what Cedric does with his newfound wealth. What would you do if you were suddenly gifted with such a fortune? This story is perfect for anyone who enjoyed "A Little Princess" or "The Secret Garden"!