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The Real Beatrix Potter
| Title | The Real Beatrix Potter |
| Writer | |
| Date | 2025-07-01 16:26:09 |
| Type | |
| Link | Listen Read |
Desciption
The Real Beatrix Potter is a fascinating and revealing biography of one of the world's most cherished children's authors. Beatrix Potter's famous little white books have enchanted generations of young readers who adored the characters she created and of course her own distinctive illustrations. Born into a typically repressed Victorian family it was assumed that Beatrix would achieve little more than finding herself a rich husband, and so there was no point in bothering to educate her. But the Potters underestimated their daughter. Stifled by the lack of stimulation, she educated herself in art, science, and of course a great love of the natural world. The success of Peter Rabbit proved her to be creative genius who could have become the toast of the London literary scene, but when her fiancé tragically died Beatrix retreated to the Lake District where she reinvented herself as a successful farmer, a canny businesswoman and an early environmental pioneer. Passionately campaigning to save the area from development she helped establish the National Trust, and despite her great wealth Beatrix lived out her days in humble anonymity.
Review
This is a biography of children’s author and illustrator Beatrix Potter by English biographer Nadia Cohen. Beatrix grew up the wealthy daughter of a controlling Victorian family, desperate for occupation and independence, whereas her parents’ only plan for her was a good marriage. Beatrix was highly intelligent but not given formal education. She trained herself in botany and natural sciences but was rejected by the scientific community due to her gender. She then began creating the classic illustrated children’s stories she is famous for. Again she was rejected by the publishing houses, only being taken on after her own self-published efforts became a success. She suffered heartbreak when her fiancé died and retreated to the Lake District where she set herself up as a farmer, conservationist, writer and businesswoman. Beatrix married late in life and spent much effort acquiring land in the Lakes that she could leave to the National Trust which she was instrumental in establishing. Beatrix was an amazing woman and I enjoyed reading about her life. There were times I felt I was straying into the author’s opinion rather than Potter’s but overall an easy, informative read. 3.5 stars for me.
