Let us recall the plot of "Little Lord Fauntleroy." A boy named Cedric and his mother live in America, living modestly and peacefully. Suddenly, due to a turn of events, his wealthy aristocratic grandfather summons them to England. Cedric is faced with a radical life change, having to master new habits and skills and also learn how to be a true aristocrat. The grandfather turns out to be prickly, arrogant, and even cruel, while the boy is infinitely kind. The story is driven by this contrast.
Little Lord Fauntleroy is not the protagonist of this novel: Cedric is 100% static and predictable. The protagonist is the grandfather, as it is he who changes and unfolds, with his grandson merely helping him do so.
Despite the fact that this book now seems somewhat archaic and very naive, it still deserves attention. Let us not forget that Frances Burnett was, in fact, one of the first authors to write specifically for children and gain worldwide recognition, which is why her works are at least of historical interest. As practice shows, children do not really notice the lack of character depth or the artlessness of the plot: they are simply touched by kind stories and pleased by an absolutely happy ending.
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