Customer Reviews

A Little Princess (Wordsworth Children's Classics)

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This has to be my favourite book in the world. I just love it. I've read it at least six times in the past few months, and yet I never grow bored.

It's a lovely story. A young, rich, kind and intelligent girl, called Sara, is sent away to a boarding school. She has a vivid imagination and is always making up stories.
When Sara's father dies, she is left with no relations in the world, and ends up in poverty - she has to work at the school for no pay and little food.
However, she is determinded that no matter how hunger, cold or tired she is, she won't give in.
With the help of her firends and her "pretending" stories, she overcomes the hardships and proves that anyone can be a princess inside.

It's so wonderful to see a new edition of this timeless book. An avid reader when small, I devoured this book time and time again so my copy definitely needs replacing. I really hope that this new look will mean that millions more little girls will grow up with Sara Crewe like I did!

This must surely be one of the sweetest, loveliest books a girl could read in childhood. It's been a long time but reading it again all these years down the line (aged 21), it still holds such charm, wonder and profound messages about class, poverty and happiness that I know it'll be returning to my shelf to read again and pass on to my own children.

It tells the story of Sara Crewe, a rich little girl brought up in India by her beloved father, who moves to England to go to boarding school at the gloomy seminary belonging to the formidable Miss Minchin. She is the star pupil, dressed in finery and always happy to share her good fortune and vivid imagination with her classmates. But when a tragic twist of fate strips her of everything, Sara ends up a poor orphan working as a drudge in the seminary where once she was idolised by her fellow pupils. Miss Minchin uses this as a fine opportunity to take a sort of revenge on this strange little girl, who she has never understood but has always indulged thanks to her wealth. But no matter how hard her life becomes, she remains generous and polite to those around her, rich and poor alike, pretending that she is a princess in order to keep her morals and spirits strong. Finally, just as even her fiery spirit is at breaking point, an English gentleman who has been living in India moves into the house next door and magical things start to happen as their interest in each other grows. Of course everything will come right in the end, but I won't give away any more because it deserves to be read and enjoyed...

This is a beautiful, moving, and inspiring novel, whether you're 6 or 60! It is well written, with highly individual and well-rounded characters, and a wealth of description which makes it very atmospheric and allows even a child to see Sara's London in vivid detail. There are images in the book which I could still remember clearly and recognise years after I read it as a little girl, and even now I was holding my breath and waiting for everything to fall into place! In today's selfish modern society it also provides a reminder of how a little generosity and kindness goes a long way, and is a perfect fairy tale for littler princesses too. I'd also recommend 'The Secret Garden' for a slightly less girlie but equally sweet, timeless and beautiful story.

I can't believe that there are not more reviews for this terrific book. It's by the same author who wrote the more famous The Secret Garden (Wordsworth's Children's Classics) but this is a much more digestible story, and a little shorter I think. Still, you have to accept some slightly flowery language. I am reading it to my 10-year old, she says she feels like she is inside the story, it feels like it is happening to her. I think that shows what a high quality piece of writing it is. When tragic or emotional moments happen to our heroine, a lump comes to our throats. Very effective. Oh, it's not too awfully sad and there is a happy ending. The character development is top notch, you really get to know everyone swiftly, and in this respect it is certainly better than The Secret Garden. Highly recommended.

I will not review the content of this book as there are so many reviews over the internet that one can easily find them. For all Sara Crewe's story lovers I will say something about this particular edition instead.
It is the original version, no abridgement hence it is just perfect.
This book has a bit odd cover but very nice lay out inside. Letters are just the right size, very good quality paper and it is a real pleasure to read. Highly recommended.

I ordered this as a birthday present for my grown up daughter who simply loved the story as a child. I wanted to get a special edition and spent a long time looking at all the alternatives before choosing this one. And I am so glad that i did choose this one! It is simply beautiful and my daughter was delighted with it.

Excellent service as well - it arrived ahead of time and was excellently packed. Thank you so much.

I read the book before, when a friend lend me an old paprback copy. I liked it very much, therefore I wanted to buy a copy for myself, but was looking to buy it in hardcover.
When I saw this on Amazon, I liked the cover-picture, and since it was in hardcover as well, I bought it.
I must say, that I was a bit taken aback, when I received it, and saw not only how small the book was, but that the script was absolutely tiny. I have problems with my vision, and now need magnifying glasses, to read the tiny script of this too small for my liking book, although is is beautifully made, especially with the thin and gold-rimmed pages.
The story itself is of course timeless, and as I said above, that's the reason I wanted to buy it to begin with.

This is a particularly good copy of the book. It was well bound, the print was a good size, there was a prologue, and endpiece, details of further books by the same author, some biographical detail of the author and the circumstances under which is was written, and the illustrations were appropriate.
Great story. Very well presented.
The story of a rich Victorian child, brought to boarding school in England from India by her father after the death of her mother, is a little sentimental by modern standards, but the lessons of triumphing over hardship, and integrity rewarded are still relevant today. The book is saved from mawkishness by the sad, but realistic, death of her father, unlike the totally infuriating changes made in the American film version of this story.
Stick with the written version - it is a great deal more rewarding. Great read.

This an enchanting story,although I have to say I don't much like the illustrations by Margery Gill in this edition,as I feel they're too stark and modern.However,I love the story of Sara Crewe,who always behaves like a kind princess no matter what happens to her.If you haven't read this before,don't be too upset when things go wrong for Sara,because the end is fantastic!

This book is soooo excellent and you can relate to it really easily. I've never been into playing 'pretend' but now I've tried it and I don't think I could get through life without! I can't explain how much I love it!