A Little Princess is a children’s novel written by the English-American novelist Frances Hodgson Burnett. Published in 1905 as an adaptation of Burnett's serialized novel Sara Crewe, it is considered a classic of English-language children's literature. The novel tells the story of a young girl named Sara Crewe, who moves from India to England to attend boarding school. When her beloved father dies and she is seemingly left with nothing, Sara goes through a period of intense mistreatment and deprivation at the hands of her schoolmistress. However, she survives on the strength of her imagination, especially through her conviction that she can behave like a princess even in dire circumstances. Eventually, Sara is rediscovered and has her fortune restored to her. The novel explores themes of imagination, friendship, and the treatment of children. It also offers insight into mainstream attitudes towards class, race, and colonialism in turn-of-the-century Britain.
The book has largely remained popular since its publication, particularly among editors: it was ranked 56th in a 2012 survey of children's novels published by the School Library Journal. It has also been adapted on numerous occasions for the stage, film, and T.V. This includes a 1995 film directed by Alfonso Cuarón, a 1939 film starring Shirley Temple, and a 1995 London Children's Ballet adaptation.
