Frances Hodgson Burnett was an English-American playwright and author. She is best known for her children's stories, in particular "The Secret Garden, " "A Little Princess, " and "Little Lord Fauntleroy, " Following the death of her mother in 1872, eighteen-year-old Frances found herself the head of a family of four younger siblings. She turned to writing to support them all. Her main writing talent was combining realistic detail of working-class life with a romantic plot.
"The Lost Prince" features Marco Loristan, his father Stefan, and his friend, a street urchin named "The Rat, " Marco's father is working to overthrow the cruel dictatorship in the kingdom of Samavia. Marco and his father Stefan come to London where Marco becomes friends with "The Rat, " Stefan, realizing that two boys are less likely to be noticed, entrusts them with a secret mission to travel across Europe giving the secret sign: "The Lamp is lighted, " to help bring about a revolution and restore the rightful king.