As Roderick McGillis eloquently argues in this comprehensive reading of Frances Hodgson Burnett's classic children's story, many of the issues the author raises in A Little Princess are still worth debating: What kind of education should women have? How does a woman fit into the economic and social structure? Just how are women and girls constructed by our society? How do women relate to one another across class lines?

In tracing Sara Crewe's social odyssey at Miss Minchin's school for girls, McGillis discusses various areas in which Burnett's conceptions of gender and empire come into play: his engaging introduction provides valuable insights not only into Burnett's art but also into the effects of Victorian mores and culture on individual lives.