Beatrix Potter at Amazon.co.uk

Beatrix Potter at Amazon.com

 

 

 

 

Biography Beatrix Potter.

Early Life - Beatrix Potter

Born to a comfortable middle class family, Beatrix Potter became one of the best selling children’s author of all time. Devoted to her beloved lake district, she also donated over 4,000 acres of Lake farmland to the National Trust.

She spent much of her early life in her own company; she rarely saw her brother Ewan, who was sent to boarding school. Having little social contact with children of her own age, Beatrix began to be drawn into her own world of creating her own stories, based on animals. Beatrix was a naturally gifted artist, and with some art lessons she also learnt the technical side of drawing. During her childhood, and especially in the Lake District, she looked after many animals, such as; rabbits, frogs, and even bats. She drew these animals throughout her childhood, gradually improving the standard of her drawings. Beatrix was also interested in natural history; she would spend many hours drawing wildlife such as fungi and flowers. At one time she had aspirations to develop this scientific interest. An uncle tried to help her become a student at the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, but she was rejected because of her gender. Nevertheless, she became respected for her contribution to mycology -the study of fungi

potterIn her early 20s, Beatrix’s parents tried to arrange a suitable partner for Beatrix to marry. Many suitable suitors were found, however for each prospective marriage partnership Beatrix turned them down. She was a fiercely independent woman, and she disliked the idea of being tied down to an uneventful domestic life of staying at home and bringing up children. Thus, unusually for the late Victorian time period, Beatrix remained single and stayed at home.

 

source: Image Wikipedia

Publication of Peter Rabbit Books

In her 20s that she sought to try and get her children’s book and drawings published. Her initial attempts proved unsuccessful, but she persevered and eventually it was taken on by Frederick Warne & Company. The book was published in 1902, when Beatrix was 36. The publishers did not have much hope it would sell many copies; they actually gave the project to their youngest brother, Norman, as a kind of test for his first project. However, Norman proved to be a good choice. He warmed to both the book and Beatrix. He was determined to make a success of the book and developed a good working relationship with Beatrix as they pored over the individual details of the book. It was Norman who insisted that each drawing of Peter Rabbit would be in colour. Beatrix insisted that the book remain small, so that it would be easy for children to hold. By the end of the year, 28,000 copies were in print.

Relationship with Norman Warne

The relationship between Norman and Beatrix blossomed, and eventually they became engaged. However, Beatrix’s parents disapproved. They felt it wrong for Beatrix to marry a tradesman. However, they eventually relented, but insisted Beatrix live apart for 6 months; giving her time to change her mind. Tragically, before the wedding could take place, Norman passed away, dyeing of pernicious anaemia. Beatrix was devastated, she wrote a letter to his sister, Millie, saying; "He did not live long, but he fulfilled a useful happy life. I must try to make a fresh beginning next year."

After his death, Beatrix moved to the Lakeland. In 1905, she bought Hill Top farm, in Sawry, Cumbria. She lived here for the remainder of her life. Due to failing eyesight, Beatrix later stopped writing her children books; instead, she devoted her time to the breading of sheep and helping the conservation of Lakeland farms.

Beatrix Potter - Conservation in Lake District

Due to proceeds from her very successful books and later her inheritance, Beatrix was able to buy many working farms. On her death she left over 4,000 acres to the National Trust. It is one of the biggest legacy’s ever made.

 

Potter wrote 23 books. Some of her best know titles include:

· The Tale of Peter Rabbit (1902)
· The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin (1903)
· The Tailor of Gloucester (1903)
· The Tale of Benjamin Bunny (1904)
· The Tale of Two Bad Mice (1904)
· The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle (1905)
· The Tale of the Pie and the Patty-Pan (1905)
· The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher (1906)
· The Story of A Fierce Bad Rabbit (1906)

Miss Potter – Film

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In 2007 a film Miss Potter was released, starring Renée Zellwege. It focused mainly on the events surrounding her early publications, and romance with Norman Warne.


Citation : Pettinger, Tejvan. "Biography of Beatrix Potter", Oxford, www.biographyonline.net 6 April. 2007