Little Lord Fauntleroy

Name: Little Lord Fauntleroy
Author: Frances Hodgson Burnett

Little Lord Fauntleroy centers on Cedric Errol, a small boy living modestly in New York with his widowed mother, "Dearest," whose husband Captain Cedric Errol had been disowned by his father, the Earl of Dorincourt, for marrying an American. Cedric's happiest hours are spent with his mother and with his friends Mr. Hobbs the grocer, Dick the bootblack, and an old apple-woman. The family's fortunes change when Cedric's grandfather, having outlived his other sons, sends the lawyer Mr. Havisham to bring Cedric to England as the new Lord Fauntleroy and heir to Dorincourt. Before leaving, Cedric uses money from his grandfather to help Bridget and Michael, and generously helps set up Dick in business by buying out his dishonest partner Jake. In England, the fierce, selfish old Earl arranges for Mrs. Errol to live nearby at Court Lodge but forbids her from the castle itself, not wanting Cedric to know the true reason. Mrs. Errol asks that Cedric not be told of the Earl's dislike for her, so as not to poison the boy's feelings toward his grandfather. Cedric, utterly unaware of any of this, meets the Earl with open, fearless affection, winning over the old man despite himself. The Earl, long unloved and universally disliked, finds himself unexpectedly charmed and proud of his handsome, good-natured grandson. Cedric settles into castle life, gaining a pony, lavish rooms, and the companionship of the dog Dougal, all while remaining unspoiled and thinking constantly of the poor around him—Higgins, whose farm the Earl spares from eviction at Cedric's urging, and the wretched cottages of Earl's Court, which the Earl agrees to rebuild because of Cedric's plea (relayed through his mother). Village and tenant opinion of the once-hated Earl begins to soften because of the boy's influence, though the Earl himself insists credit for these kindnesses belongs to Cedric. The Earl's sister, Lady Lorridaile, visits and is charmed by both Cedric and Mrs. Errol, whom she resolves to befriend despite her brother's coldness toward her. A grand dinner party is held to show off the young heir, during which Cedric charms the guests, including the beautiful Miss Vivian Herbert, and falls asleep on a sofa. That same evening, Mr. Havisham arrives with devastating news: a woman claims she was secretly married to the Earl's late son Bevis six years earlier and that her five-year-old son is the true Lord Fauntleroy and heir to the earldom—meaning Cedric may not be the heir after all. The Earl, shaken and enraged, nonetheless reflects bitterly on his own past cruelty toward Mrs. Errol and expresses genuine attachment to Cedric before having the sleeping boy carried to bed, unaware of what has just occurred. The text provided ends here, with the succession crisis unresolved.

By Frances Hodgson Burnett · First published 1886 · Genre: Children's Literature, Coming-of-Age, Family Saga · 15 chapters · 70,606 words

First lines

Cedric himself knew nothing whatever about it. It had never been even mentioned to him. He knew that his papa had been an Englishman, because his mamma had told him so; but then his papa had died when he was so little a boy that he could not remember very much about him, except that he was big, and had blue eyes and a long mustache, and that it was a splendid thing to be carried around the room on his shoulder. Since his papa's death, Cedric had found out that it was best not to talk to his mamma about him. When his father was ill, Cedric had been sent away, and when he had returned, everything was over; and his mother, who had been very ill, too, was only just beginning to sit in her chair by the window. She was pale and thin, and all the dimples had gone from her pretty face, and her eyes looked large and mournful, and she was dressed in black.

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Little Lord Fauntleroy is listed on Textopian as a novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett, dated 1886 CE.

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Work type: Novel
Author: Frances Hodgson Burnett
Date: 1886 CE
Language: English
Genres: Children's Literature, Coming-of-Age, Family Saga, Social Commentary, Historical Fiction
Length: 70,606 words
Structure: 15 chapters, 1,294 paragraphs
Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)

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Genres

Children's Literature — The book is primarily aimed at a young audience, featuring a child protagonist and themes suitable for children.
Coming-of-Age — The story follows Cedric's journey from childhood innocence to understanding his identity and responsibilities as a young lord.
Family Saga — The narrative explores family dynamics, heritage, and the impact of familial relationships on personal growth.
Social Commentary — The book critiques social class distinctions and the aristocracy, reflecting on wealth and privilege.