Novels and Novelettes for Adults
by Frances Hodgson Burnett
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A Fair Barbarian (1881) - A modern young American woman goes to live with her aunt, creating a stir in a quiet English village.
This story was originally serialized in Peterson's Magazine beginning in February 1881. Free HTML - Read now |
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A Lady of Quality (1896) - A mistreated young spitfire with an unjust upbringing transforms into a Lady through the care of her sister and patient love from an older Duke in the early 1700s.
This second-best-selling novel of 1896 was adapted for theater and two silent films, both of which have unfortunately been lost. This book is followed by His Grace of Osmonde, which is the parallel story told from the perspective of the heroine's husband. Free HTML - Read now |
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A Woman's Will (1879) - see Miss Defarge
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Emily Fox-Seton (1901) - A demure young woman works as an assistant for members of the upper class, impressing an older Marquis who makes her a marchioness. She gives birth to an important heir, and faces abuse from vengeful in-laws.
This book was originally published as two separate volumes: The Making of a Marchioness, which focuses on the events leading up to Miss Fox-Seton's marriage to the Marquess, and The Methods of Lady Walderhurst, which recounts the details of her life after marriage and motherhood. Mrs. Burnett dramatized the story for theater under the title Glenpeffer in 1904. The series was adapted for film and released on ITV as The Making of a Lady in 2012. Free HTML - Read now Movie - Watch now |
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Haworth's (1879) - A brilliant and inventive foundry owner, a young self-made worker, a wealthy investor, and his high-society daughter, vie for love and professional success in an English manufacturing town.
This novel was originally serialized in Scribner's Monthly beginning in November 1878. Free HTML - Read now |
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His Grace of Osmonde (1897) - A Duke loves a mistreated young spitfire and helps her mature into a Lady through his patient devotion and virtuous protection.
The full title of this work is His Grace of Osmonde: Being the Portions of That Nobleman's Life Omitted In the Relation of His Lady's Story Presented to the World of Fashion Under the Title of 'A Lady of Quality'. It is a companion and parallel to A Lady of Quality, approaching the same timeline from the perspective of the Duke. Read A Lady of Quality first for the necessary background context. Free HTML - Read now |
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In Connection With the De Willoughby Claim (1899) - A bighearted but lonely bachelor, cast away by his aristocratic family, raises an abandoned girl in the rural South and finds both happiness and fortune.
This novel was later dramatized as the play That Man and I. Be advised that the book contains racial language and stereotypes from the Civil War era. Free HTML - Read now |
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Kathleen's Love-Story (1870)
This novelette was originally serialized in Peterson's Magazine beginning in September 1870. It was later published under the book titles Kathleen Mavourneen and Kathleen: A Love Story. Free PDF - Read now |
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Lindsay’s Luck (1872)
This novelette was originally serialized in Peterson's Magazine beginning in October 1872. Free PDF - Read now |
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Louisiana (1880) - A trusting young woman, made to feel ashamed of her simple country upbringing by a scheming New York socialite, returns to her father's home with renewed humbleness and devotion.
This novelette was originally serialized in Scribner's Monthly, beginning in February 1880. Free PDF - Read now |
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Miss Crespigny's Absurd Flirtation (1876)
This novelette was originally serialized in Peterson's Magazine beginning in September 1876. Mrs. Burnett later republished it under the title Miss Crespigny, as part of a book that included several of her early works. Free HTML - Read now |
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Miss Defarge (1879)
This novelette was originally serialized in Peterson's Magazine beginning in July 1879. It was published under the title A Woman's Will in England. Thank you to Kim N. Jensen for compiling and providing the file. Free PDF - Read now |
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Pretty Polly Pemberton (1874)
This novelette was originally serialized in Peterson's Magazine beginning in September 1874. Free PDF - Read now |
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Robin (1922) - A young woman's husband is sent away to war, while she remains devoted and hard-working in his absence.
This book is the sequel to The Head of the House of Coombe, following Robin's journey after marriage. This title is not to be confused with My Robin, Mrs. Burnett's article for young people describing her real interactions with a beloved robin. Free HTML - Read now |
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T. Tembarom (1913) - A bright, good-natured young American journalist is sent to live in England after he discovers that he is heir to a wealthy Lord.
This is an absolutely delightful tale; an adult variation on the theme and style of Fauntleroy. Free HTML - Read now |
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That Lass o’ Lowrie’s (1876)
This novel was originally serialized in Scribner's Monthly beginning in October 1876. It was the first novel written by Mrs. Burnett. The idea for the main character was inspired by a working-class girl whom Mrs. Burnett saw as a child. The story was produced as a silent film titled The Flame of Life in 1923. Free HTML - Read now |
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The Dawn of A To-morrow (1906) - An uneducated street girl saves a wealthy man from suicide and teaches him to find meaning and dignity in life.
This short novella is one of Mrs. Burnett's most powerful works. It was serialized in Scribner's Monthly beginning in December 1905. It was performed as a stage play in 1909, as a silent film starring Mary Pickford in 1915, and as another silent film in 1924. The 1915 film is archived in Stockholm but has not been made available to the public; the 1924 film is considered to be lost. Free HTML - Read now |
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The Fortunes of Philippa Fairfax (1877)
This novelette was originally serialized in Peterson's Magazine beginning in August 1877. It was later dramatized as a play with the title Phyllis. Free PDF - Read now |
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The Head of the House of Coombe (1922) - A girl suffering mistreatment from her high-society mother and cruel nurse finds a surprising benefactor in a cold Lord and his elderly Duchess friend.
This book was the fourth-highest-selling novel in 1922. It is followed by the sequel Robin, tracing the life of the main character as she grows into an adult. Free HTML - Read now |
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The Making of a Marchioness (1901) - see Emily Fox-Seton
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The Methods of Lady Walderhurst (1901) - see Emily Fox-Seton
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The One I Knew the Best of All: A Memory of the Mind of a Child (1893)
This is Mrs. Burnett's autobiography of her childhood, told from the perspective of viewing her younger self as a character in a story. Free HTML - Read now |
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The Pretty Sister of Jose (1889) - A vain, contemptuous young woman wounds the heart of a celebrated matador, and finally experiences the sufferings of unrequited love when he ends his pursuit.
This novelette was also dramatized as a play in 1903, and produced as a silent film in 1915. The film is now considered to be lost. Free HTML - Read now |
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The Shuttle (1907) - A courageous and composed young American woman travels to England to restore her sister's health from an abusive marriage to a disgraced British noble.
The Shuttle was the fourth-best-selling novel in 1907, and the fifth-best-selling in 1908. Its title refers to the passage of ships between America and England, weaving relationships and alliances like the weaving of a shuttle. The story was produced as a silent film in 1918. Free HTML - Read now |
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The Tide on the Moaning Bar (1875)
This novelette was originally serialized in Peterson's Magazine beginning in July 1875. It was later republished without Mrs. Burnett's permission as part of a book titled A Quiet Life. Free PDF - Read now |
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The Tragedy of a Quiet Life (1871)
This novelette was originally serialized in Peterson's Magazine beginning in September 1871. It was later republished as part of a book without Mrs. Burnett's permission, under the title A Quiet Life. Free PDF - Read now |
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The White People (1917) - An orphaned Scottish chieftainess has the ability to see those who have passed into the afterlife; her knowledge of their peace provides comfort to an ailing author and his mother.
This short novella was written after the death of Frances' son Lionel, presumably to help her process the tragedy and maintain faith that he was happy. This story is unique among Mrs. Burnett's work in that it is written in first-person point of view. Free HTML - Read now |
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Theo (1873)
This novelette was originally serialized in Peterson's Magazine beginning in September 1873. Free HTML - Read now |
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Through One Administration (1883) - A society woman in Washington, D.C. navigates an unhappy marriage, a friendship with a former beau, political life, and women's roles in the 1880s.
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Vagabondia (1884) - Free-spirited artists enjoy a bohemian lifestyle in London.
This is a story with several name changes. Originally serialized in Peterson's Magazine beginning in January 1873 under the title Dorothea, the story was later released as a book entitled Dolly. When Mrs. Burnett re-obtained control of the copyright, she published the novel with the name she originally intended: Vagabondia. In this story, the character of Dolly represents the real-life Mrs. Burnett, and the character of Griffith represents her first husband, Swan. Free HTML - Read now |