THE IMAGE OF GARDEN AS PARADISE IN ENGLISH CHILDREN’S LITERATURE OF THE 20TH CENTURY
The article discusses the image of garden in English children’s literature of the 20th century. The analysis of poetry by Cecily Mary Barker and the novels «The Secret Garden» by Frances Burnett and «Tom’s Midnight Garden» by Philippa Pearce reveals historical and cultural trends which shaped the perception of garden as a reflection of biblical Eden. The author focuses on the concept of «Secret Garden» developed by Humphrey Carpenter. The analysis of this concept includes a number of observations on cultural connotations which traditionally accompany the image of garden in Western Europe.