We all know the story of Peter Rabbit – he’s one of the first literary characters we’re introduced to as children. And even though he was created years ago, he is timeless; you can still find nursery accessories with a Peter Rabbit theme nearly everywhere you look. Who is the woman behind the story?
Beatrix Potter was born in London in 1866. Her brother was sent away to school, but her own education was conducted at home with a governess, and her childhood was rather isolated. She was shy and withdrawn around other people, but she kept a diary, written in a secret code, where she recorded her thoughts and felt free to express herself.
The family often vacationed in the Lake District, and made good friends with a Reverend Rawnsley of that area. He took a special interest in the little drawings Beatrix liked to do, and encouraged her to keep up with her art. She especially loved to draw animals and would often punctuate her letters with sketches of rabbits, dogs, and other creatures she saw around her. Motivated by Rawnsley’s interest, Beatrix began drawing greeting cards, and then a book. In 1902, “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” was picked up by Frederick Warne. It sold roughly fifty thousand copies in its first year, which was unheard of. She continued with other books along the same lines, including “The Tale of Benjamin Bunny” and “Squirrel Nutkin.”
Beatrix was secretly engaged to be married to her publisher, Norman Warne, but her parents had issues about her marrying someone who had to “work” for his living. This caused a rift between herself and her parents, and then Norman died before they were able to wed, adding to the sorrow of the situation. She remained unmarried until 1913, when she and solicitor William Heelis were wed. She purchased land in the Lake District, the area she loved, and began breeding Herdwick sheep. This started quite a career in real estate for her, and by the time of her death in 1943, she had amassed fourteen farms and four thousand acres of land. Her main purpose in gathering this land was preservation and conservation of our natural resources, and she donated this land to the National Trust for safekeeping. You can learn more about this from the Beatrix Potter Society.
She left behind a legacy that will not soon be forgotten, not only in her ecological pursuits but in her literature. Her books are shared with generation after generation. They are sweet, innocent stories, the characters are engaging and delightful, and the drawings are so sweet. I even call my son Benjamin, “Benjamin Bunny.” She ended her career due to failing eyesight, the author of twenty-three books.
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