Favourite Tales from Beatrix Potter

by Beatrix Potter

The hardbound two-volume set containing "Peter Rabbitt Tales" and "Tom Kitten Tales".

Genres: Fantasy, Childrens

192 pages, Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Helen Beatrix Potter was an English author, illustrator, mycologist, and conservationist who is best known for her children's books, which featured animal characters such as Peter Rabbit.

Born into a wealthy household, Potter was educated by governesses and grew up isolated from other children. She had numerous pets, and through holidays in Scotland and the Lake District, developed a love of landscape, flora, and fauna, all of which she closely observed and painted. Because she was a woman, her parents discouraged intellectual development, but her study and paintings of fungi led her to be widely respected in the field of mycology.

In her thirties, Potter published the highly successful children's book The Tale of Peter Rabbit and became secretly engaged to her publisher, Norman Warne, causing a breach with her parents, who disapproved of his social status. Warne died before the wedding.

Potter eventually published 24 children's books, the most recent being The Tale of Kitty-in-Boots (2016), and having become financially independent of her parents, was able to buy a farm in the Lake District, which she extended with other purchases over time.

In her forties, she married a local solicitor, William Heelis. She became a sheep breeder and farmer while continuing to write and illustrate children's books. Potter died in 1943 and left almost all of her property to The National Trust in order to preserve the beauty of the Lake District as she had known it, protecting it from developers.

Potter's books continue to sell well throughout the world, in multiple languages. Her stories have been retold in various formats, including a ballet, films, and in animation.

Reviews

[Camile Doubtfire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read Beatrix Potter since I was very little, but have always felt I have a strong attachment to the books and illustrations so re-experiencing a handful of the stories as an adult felt both nostalgic and new. I listened to the audiobook which I thought was read very well by Emily Watson especially, she had just right amount of warmth in her voice to smooth over the quite sinister story lines, most of which I didn't remember (I was quite shocked) but of course I enjoyed, I just wish there was more! Always the down side to the audiobook is that there are no illustrations which for me play just as big a part of the book as the words. I will be collecting the Beatrix Potter books again as an adult !

[Alyssa Haverfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic tales with class illustrations to accompany them. The pictures are beautiful (minus the humans, maybe). Otherwise, the tales have no surprises. Sometimes the wording is awkward, but an enjoyable and easy read.

[Nocturnally Tacit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and well read audiobook.

[Linda Klager · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a beautifully illustrated book. The stories are so whimsical!

Children of all ages would love this book.

[Jules · Rating 4 out of 5]

sweet!

[Kiddo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The copy we borrowed from the library has only the Tale of Peter Rabbit and The Tale of Jemima Puddle Duck. This is supposed to also have Two Bad Mice and Mr. Jeremy Fisher.