Thursday, January 5, 2012

Beatrix Potter's life

One of my recent checked-out books from the library was Beatrix Potter: the story of the creator of Peter Rabbit by Elizabeth Buchan.

- This book, 77 pages long, narrates the life story of Beatrix Potter: How difficult it was for a woman, an unmarried woman nonetheless, of her class, to be involved in "trading."

~Here are some interesting facts about her life:

  • Beatrix Potter was born on July, 1866 and died on December 22, 1943. 
  • Beatrix and her brother Bertram had numerous pets which they liked to observe and drew endlessly. Most of these pets were used in her stories later in her life.
  • It was said that she developed her love for the natural world when she spent her summer holidays in Scotland and in the Lake District.
  • She was educated by a governess until she was eighteen.
  • Not only did she love to draw her animal friends, but she also developed a taste for illustrating insects, fossils, fungi, etc.
  • She sold Christmas cards before becoming interested of publishing.
  • She was very attached to the children of one of her governesses. It was then when she started writing them letters with short stories whenever one of the had a birthday, got sick, or any other occasion. Those kids had been the first group of people to get a glimpse of Beatrix's works that would soon invade the entire world.
  • The tale of Peter Rabbit was first published in 1901 by the Frederick Warne & Co.
  • She secretly became engaged to her editor Norman Warne in 1905. Her parents never approved. Over the summer Norman go sick and passed away. 
  • With her earnings Potter bought Hilltop Farms and married William Heelis.
  • Beatrix published 23 books.
  • When she dies at age 77, she left almost all her property to the National Trust. She is credited with preserving much of the land: which now is known as Lake District National Park.

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