The Tale of Mrs. William Heelis: Beatrix Potter

by John E. Heelis

One area of Beatrix Potter's life which has been neglected is her relationship with Willie Heelis, to whom she was happily married for 30 years. This work draws on anecdotes from family and friends, where the author, their great-nephew, casts a welcome look at this relationship. He also tackles controversial issues, such as whether Beatrix really ever did like children. Included are first-hand reminiscences of family and Lake District friends of the couple, including extracts from previously unpublished letters. These, along with Beatrix letters to Miss Louie Choyce in the 1920s and 1930s, paint a vivid picture of their life together in Sawrey.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography

176 pages, Paperback

First published March 25, 1999

Reviews

[Melody]

A charming little book about Beatrix Potter and her new family after she married William Heelis.

[Lisa]

The author is mostly sharing information about the family that Beatrix Potter (Mrs. Heelis) married into. But it offered a unique perspective at times and revealed a few personal details about Beatrix that were interesting that only family members would know/remember.

[Kate]

"Much has been written about Beatrix Potter but one area of her life which has been neglected is her relationship with Willie Heelis, to whom she was happily married for thirty years. Here, their great-nephew casts a welcome look at this relationship, and tackles controversial issues, such as whether Beatrix ever did like children. Included are first hand reminicences of family and friends, and extracts from previously unpublished letters. Line drawings and photographs enhance the picture of Beatrix Potter's life which this engaging book provides."
~~back cover

I was so disappointed with this book! I was all set to dive right into her life, vicariously living in Cumbria and soaking up the country atmosphere. But that was not to be!

The book is a hodge podge, and confusing with it. Letters and comments attributed to people who were related to her or him, or else neighbors or villagers. The author apparently thought we all had the family tree, complete with branches, in our heads as there were seldom, if ever, any placing references given. Her aunt? His sister? I should have drawn it all out before I plunged in, but who would have thought?

Family pictures in the middle of the book generally followed the same philosophy: "Judith Heelis with her prize-winning Herdwick at the Great Yorkshire Show, 1993." (Wikipedia: "The Herdwick is a breed of domestic sheep native to the Lake District of Cumbria in North West England. The name "Herdwick" is derived from the Old Norse herdvyck, meaning sheep pasture. And Beatrix herself was a prize-winning Herdwick breeder.") Lovely photo, nice looking young lady. But as Ms. Potter died in 1943, the rationale for including this photo in the book escapes me, as does the photo of "Two of the author's grandchildren, Sarah and Rebecca." (I am assuming they are the grandchildren of the great-nephew, as Beatrix herself was childless.)

I came away from the book quite confused, and feeling more distant from Beatrix than when I began. If you're a fan of her and her work, I'd stick to the 2006 movie "Miss Potter, a biopic of Potter’s life focusing on her early career and romance with her editor Norman Warne." It's delightful, and there's absolutely no necessity whatsoever to know anything about any of her family, or the Heelis family. What a relief!