Degerfors Bibliotek

As if it wasn’t enough that he was born with a hump, Zia is forced to beg on the streets of old Bethlehem. Everything he earns is taken away from him by the wicked woman who keeps him, and in return she beats him daily.

Being a hunchback in biblical times is far from easy. Especially if you happen to be cursed with a gentle soul and a kind heart, like Zia. When the people see him in the streets they shout "Unclean, unclean!" until he hurries away.

‘The Little Hunchback Zia’ is a heartbreaking story of a small boy, born with deformity and orphaned, who must overcome many obstacles to change his life.

The novel has the length of a fairytale and the depth of a classic work of fiction. Perfect as a bedtime story but brings to mind other classic titles such as ‘The Hunchback of Notre-Dame' by Victor Hugo and ‘Oliver Twist’ by Charles Dickens.

Frances Hodgson Burnett was an English American playwright and author. Born in the UK in Manchester to a family of ironmongers, she later migrated to the United States where she would go on to write some of her most famous plays and novels.

During the span of her career, Frances Hodgson Burnett wrote and published more than 53 novels, most of them for adults. However, she is perhaps best known for her work in children’s literature, including famous titles such as ‘The Little Princess’ (1905), ‘The Secret Garden’ (1911), and ‘Little Lord Fauntleroy’ (1886).

Frances Hodgson Burnett is also known for her historical fiction, including acclaimed titles such as 'The Head of the House of Coombe' (1922) and its sequel, 'Robin' (1922).

Burnett’s work has been adapted for film many times. The latest movie adaptation of ‘The Secret Garden’ was released in 2020, starring Colin Firth and Julie Walters.