This has been my least favorite entry so far on my epic Frances Hodgson Burnett marathon. That isn't to say that the book is terrible, just that it is problematic and clumsy in contrast with the rest of FHB's work. FHB's works -- including this one -- both show and tell that good people are primarily the result of good nurture rather than good nature, and have many characters of high social standing who are as strictly principled as they are because they are so aware of both their power and their visibility; all well and good. The creepiness in The Lost Prince is much less due to the main characters or story, as to the essentially religious reverence with which Marco, his father, and the "Lost Prince" Ivor are treated. The Rat was my favorite character, but the way he acted towards Marco went, in my mind at least, from "defeat equals friendship" to "boy crush on his father" to "actual crush on Marco" to "...and also really wants to be dominated. Okay then."I understand that it's a Ruritanian Romance written for 9-12 boys (and to be fair, there is a lot of off screen political maneuvering that is alluded to, but not written); I love inexplicably incredibly charismatic characters; but for pity's sake, Jesus Christ as written in the actual Bible was received with more variation and nuance! The "Secret Party" may have been working towards the return of the "true kings" since they were deposed, but majority of peasantry seems to have been doing nothing but wait. Seriously? This country is in basically constant civil war for 500 years and never once does another country step in to curb stomp them or a completely different group take over or...anything? 500 years and the descendants of Prince Ivor never had a chance to step in?Even putting that aside, it's not that great as an adventure novel. The tension builds for the first 2/3rds of the book, but then just kind of fizzles out. There's very little action. And another thing -- the female spy only shows up twice, both breaking the Rule of Threes. Not that it's a strict writing rule, but she and her partner were the only human antagonists, and the points at which they showed up led me to expect them again -- especially considering the way that Marco escaped in their second appearance. I was really expecting them to show up in Vienna and throw another hurdle at the boys -- the biggest yet -- possibly even giving The Rat a chance to shine. (He was woefully underused once they started traveling.)I would have considered this to be an early, clumsy attempt by FHB to espouse her personal moral philosophy in fictional form, except that it's actually one of the last things she published. There's a reason this one has been largely forgotten: it's among the best of neither the author, nor the genre. A Little Princess, The Secret Garden, and A Lady of Quality and His Grace of Osmonde are really much better.
This was a beautiful and powerful book. This book has earned a place of honor on my bookshelves. I want all my children to read it! It is a classic of the first class! This book is heavy duty on the reading and vocabulary, many youngters of today would have a hard time getting into it at first, but once they understand where the story is going, I bet they won't be able to put it down! So many things to learn from studying this story: What it means to be a man, the influence of a good Father on a young boy, what an education is, how to prepare for your future mission while still young, how to keep a child unspoiled, honest, & good, how to be a true friend, the meaning of loyalty, the power of a purpose, the true face of greatness, etc, etc...I could keep going. This book is very Romantic & idealistic, so sweet & innocent. It reminds me of Gene Stratton-Porter's works. The story swept me up. I stayed up to read this book till midnight...just a few hours before I gave birth to baby #6!My absolute favorite thing about this book was the tender relationship between the son and his father, and how they welcomed a stranger into their home and successfully made him a part of their family. It was so inspiring to see how "The Rat" changed from a homeless ruffian into a refined, loyal, courageous companion.I also love that this book embraces the concepts known to today's modern society as "The Secret" or the "Law of Attraction". I was completely fascinated that Frances Hodgson Burnett was so familiar with the life changing principles of the magic of positive thinking. But I guess that is also the main theme in "The Secret Garden" and "A Little Princess". I wish this story of hers was as well known as the previous two. What those two famous books have done for girls for the last century, The Lost Prince can do for young boys. Read it first...then give it to your sons to read! You'll be so glad you did!
What do You think about The Lost Prince (1997)?
Marco is a 12 year old boy raised by his father and his father's devoted servant. They live in dingy little rented rooms that are visited by secretive gentlemen. They travel constantly, and Marco has been trained since birth to pass as a native of any of the countries in Europe. When a crisis hits, Marco needs all of his training and devotion to his father.This is a romantic tale, not in the sense of love but in the sense that it's a fantasy of how European feudalism works, a bit like The Prisoner of Zenda crossed with the Scarlet Pimpernell. The men are all Real Men, women are Real Women, and all the classes instinctively know and hold to Their Place. The lower classes feel an innate, uncontrollable devotion to those who should justly rule them. The upper classes are natural leaders, who always know the right thing to do. Marco's every word and movement betrays him as someone who should be obeyed. Supposedly, people's eyes follow him down the street and they exclaim in wonder at his regal bearing. (His lower class friend, by the way, literally begs to be allowed to polish his boots.) This is basically the boy's version of The Little Princess, except that Marco is macho where Sarah is girly. In both, they are big-eyed children with thick dark hair who are devoted to their papas. They are characterized by their imaginations, high intelligence, bravery, and innate poise. After a childhood spent accepting service as their natural due, cruel and foolish people force them into isolation and poverty. And yet, their inborn abilities allow them to rise above those who would destroy them, and they triumph in the end by being richer and more powerful than before. Even complete strangers are excited by their triumph, because they so obviously, naturally deserve wealth and power. I found it all revolting. I'm used to the gender essentialism in Burnett, but she really goes all out in her classism. It's such an obvious, contrived fantasy, and I really lost all patience for it early on. I probably could have borne it better if Marco hadn't been so perfect (even Sarah Crewe gets a moment of frustration--but Marco always thinks and does the right thing), if the big plot twist (view spoiler)[Marco is the lost prince! surprise! wasn't so obvious, or if the spiritualist subplot hadn't been so dreadful. As it was, I forced my way through only by reading the worst passages aloud to my roommates so we could cackle at them together. (hide spoiler)]
—Wealhtheow
I have conflicting feelings about this story. I began reading it because of the upcoming 100 year anniversary of the start of WWI. I knew it was written before the Great War and there would be a lot of Victorian baggage, that it was a kids book and there would be important lessons for the reader to learn. Knowing all this I was not terribly surprised by the blatant class divisions, of people who knew their place by instinct and saw nothing wrong with the system. Although i liked The Rat (I don't think his real name is given) his obsequiouness made me wince a few times. However as a simple adventure story it works well, history and politics aside. In an ideal world Marco and his father would live in a peaceful Samavia untouched by international politics.
—Sherri
Has not aged wellWhile I have read and loved the little princess and forgiven any classism a and imperialists because of the time it was written in , I find that the list prince does not carry enough enduring qualities to remain a book lived and still read. It is the story of a boy and later his best friend, who , along with his father want to free a small European country from a cruel despot. And science this was written before WWI the way they want to do so is to restore the rightful king to his throne. There is much talk of patriotism and being soldiers and being of the upper class though now poor. And because I could never really care I couldn't feel much tension. The protagonist gets endanger perhaps twice. So if you love the little princess don't pick this up thinking this might be the male version of this. Read the secret garden instead. .
—Laura
