Beatrix Potter grew up in a wealthy home, where she had the opportunity to pursue her love of nature — she and her brother delighted in sketching the plants and animals they saw around them, and even kept many of them as pets! Her scientific observations and illustrations of fungi should have earned her respect as a mycologist, but instead she was disdained because she was female. Then, in 1893, she improvised a story about four little rabbits for a friend's son... and The Tale of Peter Rabbit was born. Potter's creations would delight generations of children — and enable her to protect the natural world that she loved.
In this illustrated biography, Sarah Gristwood explores the twists and turns of Beatrix Potter’s extraordinary life and its key turning points and contradictions, following her shift from a sheltered Victorian daughter to an astute modern businesswoman, a talented artist who became a scientific expert, and a famous author who gave it all up to become a farmer, then a pioneering conservationist. The book traces the creation of Beatrix’s most famous characters — including the naughty Peter Rabbit, confused Jemima Puddle-Duck, and cheeky Squirrel Nutkin — revealing how Beatrix drew on her unusual childhood pets and stunning locations in her beloved Lake District. It's a beautiful and personal look at one of the English language's most beloved authors.
Recommended Age | Adults |
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Author | Sarah Gristwood |
ISBN | 1911657402 |
Publication Date | Feb 1, 2022 |
Publisher | National Trust |
Language | English |