Beatrix Potter

Generations of children have been captivated by the exploits of Jemima Puddle-Duck, Squirrel Nutkin, Peter Rabbit and the host of other characters conjured up by Beatrix Potter. Packed with original artwork, Beatrix Potter: Drawn to Nature, looks at secrets to her success and celebrates her wider life and legacy – her passions and accomplishments – that stretch far beyond the pages of her storybooks. Charting her life, from her childhood in South Kensington, London to her later years in the Lake District, Annemarie Bilclough and Emma Laws show how Potter’s exceptional affinity with nature from an early age ensured the success of her stories – underneath the costumes were real, believable, animals. Sara Glenn highlights Potter’s entrepreneurial talents whilst Lucy Shaw takes readers on a Victorian holiday. Contributions from Richard Fortey and James Rebanks reveal her work in the field of mycology and transformation into a farmer, and Liz Hunter MacFarlane discusses her profound impact on the preservation of the Lake District landscape. Naturalist, creative pioneer, storyteller, determined entrepreneur – Potter has been described as ‘a many-sided genius’ and Beatrix Potter: Drawn to Nature allows readers a tantalising glimpse into the life of this extraordinary woman.