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The Real Beatrix Potter
The Real Beatrix Potter is a fascinating and revealing biography of one of the world's most cherished children's authors. Beatrix Potter's famous little white books have enchanted generations of young readers who adored the characters she created and of course her own distinctive illustrations. Born into a typically repressed Victorian family it was assumed that Beatrix would achieve little more than finding herself a rich husband, and so there was no point in bothering to educate her. But the Potters underestimated their daughter. Stifled by the lack of stimulation, she educated herself in art, science, and of course a great love of the natural world. The success of Peter Rabbit proved her to be creative genius who could have become the toast of the London literary scene, but when her fiancé tragically died Beatrix retreated to the Lake District where she reinvented herself as a successful farmer, a canny businesswoman and an early environmental pioneer. Passionately campaigning to save the area from development she helped establish the National Trust, and despite her great wealth Beatrix lived out her days in humble anonymity.
208 pages, Paperback
First published April 30, 2020
17 people are currently reading
132 people want to read
About the author
Nadia Cohen
55 books8 followersNadia Cohen is an author who has written more than a dozen historical and contemporary biographies.
The Real Beatrix Potter will be the latest in a series of fascinating in-depth biographies about apparently whimsical children’s story tellers who actually hid a darker side behind the public facade. Others already published include The Extraordinary Life of AA Milne, The Real Roald Dahl and The Real Enid Blyton.
In a previous incarnation as an entertainment reporter she worked at various newspapers and magazines in London including Grazia, The Daily Mail and The Sun, covering showbiz news, film festivals, premieres and award ceremonies around the world. She was headhunted to join the launch of US magazine In Touch Weekly and spent several years working in New York and Los Angeles before returning to London to produce a series of documentaries for ITV.
Nadia lectures in Journalism at University of Winchester and is the editor of digital lifestyle magazine Box Ibiza.
The Real Beatrix Potter will be the latest in a series of fascinating in-depth biographies about apparently whimsical children’s story tellers who actually hid a darker side behind the public facade. Others already published include The Extraordinary Life of AA Milne, The Real Roald Dahl and The Real Enid Blyton.
In a previous incarnation as an entertainment reporter she worked at various newspapers and magazines in London including Grazia, The Daily Mail and The Sun, covering showbiz news, film festivals, premieres and award ceremonies around the world. She was headhunted to join the launch of US magazine In Touch Weekly and spent several years working in New York and Los Angeles before returning to London to produce a series of documentaries for ITV.
Nadia lectures in Journalism at University of Winchester and is the editor of digital lifestyle magazine Box Ibiza.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
July 3, 2023
This is a biography of children’s author and illustrator Beatrix Potter by English biographer Nadia Cohen. Beatrix grew up the wealthy daughter of a controlling Victorian family, desperate for occupation and independence, whereas her parents’ only plan for her was a good marriage. Beatrix was highly intelligent but not given formal education. She trained herself in botany and natural sciences but was rejected by the scientific community due to her gender. She then began creating the classic illustrated children’s stories she is famous for. Again she was rejected by the publishing houses, only being taken on after her own self-published efforts became a success. She suffered heartbreak when her fiancé died and retreated to the Lake District where she set herself up as a farmer, conservationist, writer and businesswoman. Beatrix married late in life and spent much effort acquiring land in the Lakes that she could leave to the National Trust which she was instrumental in establishing.
Beatrix was an amazing woman and I enjoyed reading about her life. There were times I felt I was straying into the author’s opinion rather than Potter’s but overall an easy, informative read. 3.5 stars for me.
Beatrix was an amazing woman and I enjoyed reading about her life. There were times I felt I was straying into the author’s opinion rather than Potter’s but overall an easy, informative read. 3.5 stars for me.
July 14, 2020
Ladies, be glad you weren't born in the Victorian era. It seems that the customary tactic for controlling women was to bore them into submission.
October 23, 2022
The biographer has done her best to make Beatrix into a pick-me girl, but there are also some genuinely good moments in this one, especially regarding Beatrix’s complicated relationship with her parents. I also love knowing the fact that Beatrix raged around town for a year, wildly meddling with politics because the politics were meddling with her royalties. Sheer joy.
Could have done without the pearl clutching about the movies and how “poor Beatrix” had to spend so much time with WOMEN during the war, and how much harder they were to deal with than men (which doesn’t tally well with Beatrix giving her working mens’ wages to their wives instead of to them). The protestations of how much Beatrix did for feminism also seem a bit forced, since from her actions she seems to have had a lot of her own pretty rigid gender role ideas.
A bit less of the biographer’s ideas and a bit more of Beatrix’s thoughts would have made this 4 stars instead of 3. It’s worth reading, but you might find yourself rolling your eyes more than once or twice. I did.
Could have done without the pearl clutching about the movies and how “poor Beatrix” had to spend so much time with WOMEN during the war, and how much harder they were to deal with than men (which doesn’t tally well with Beatrix giving her working mens’ wages to their wives instead of to them). The protestations of how much Beatrix did for feminism also seem a bit forced, since from her actions she seems to have had a lot of her own pretty rigid gender role ideas.
A bit less of the biographer’s ideas and a bit more of Beatrix’s thoughts would have made this 4 stars instead of 3. It’s worth reading, but you might find yourself rolling your eyes more than once or twice. I did.
January 22, 2020
Description
The Real Beatrix Potter is a fascinating and revealing biography of one of the world's most cherished children's authors. Beatrix Potter's famous little white books have enchanted generations of young readers who adored the characters she created and of course her own distinctive illustrations. Born into a typically repressed Victorian family it was assumed that Beatrix would achieve little more than finding herself a rich husband, and so there was no point in bothering to educate her. But the Potters underestimated their daughter. Stifled by the lack of stimulation, she educated herself in art, science, and of course a great love of the natural world. The success of Peter Rabbit proved her to be creative genius who could have become the toast of the London literary scene, but when her fiancé tragically died Beatrix retreated to the Lake District where she reinvented herself as a successful farmer, a canny businesswoman and an early environmental pioneer. Passionately campaigning to save the area from development she helped establish the National Trust, and despite her great wealth Beatrix lived out her days in humble anonymity.
My Review
I received "The Real Beatrix Potter" as an ARC, in exchange for honest opinion and boy am I eternally grateful for the opportunity to read this book. As an avid fan of all things Beatrix Potter this book is now my number one favorite. It is very well written and adds some information to the life of Beatrix Potter I was not aware existed. It is interesting to see how many obstacles she had to overcome to get to where she finally felt valued.
I loved to see her perseverance above all. I am so thrilled to read about such a pioneer. As I continued to collect all things "Beatrix Potter" and her lovable characters I am definitely adding this to my collection.
This book is a must in your library. I highly recommend it for young and old! I give this a 5 star rating - higher if available.
The Real Beatrix Potter is a fascinating and revealing biography of one of the world's most cherished children's authors. Beatrix Potter's famous little white books have enchanted generations of young readers who adored the characters she created and of course her own distinctive illustrations. Born into a typically repressed Victorian family it was assumed that Beatrix would achieve little more than finding herself a rich husband, and so there was no point in bothering to educate her. But the Potters underestimated their daughter. Stifled by the lack of stimulation, she educated herself in art, science, and of course a great love of the natural world. The success of Peter Rabbit proved her to be creative genius who could have become the toast of the London literary scene, but when her fiancé tragically died Beatrix retreated to the Lake District where she reinvented herself as a successful farmer, a canny businesswoman and an early environmental pioneer. Passionately campaigning to save the area from development she helped establish the National Trust, and despite her great wealth Beatrix lived out her days in humble anonymity.
My Review
I received "The Real Beatrix Potter" as an ARC, in exchange for honest opinion and boy am I eternally grateful for the opportunity to read this book. As an avid fan of all things Beatrix Potter this book is now my number one favorite. It is very well written and adds some information to the life of Beatrix Potter I was not aware existed. It is interesting to see how many obstacles she had to overcome to get to where she finally felt valued.
I loved to see her perseverance above all. I am so thrilled to read about such a pioneer. As I continued to collect all things "Beatrix Potter" and her lovable characters I am definitely adding this to my collection.
This book is a must in your library. I highly recommend it for young and old! I give this a 5 star rating - higher if available.
April 25, 2020
This was an extremely interesting look into the life of Beatrix Potter. I've always loved the books and have recently bought the entire collection- just as a reminder of childhood. The film sparked my fascination with the life of the author and I found this book delved deep into her life. As with many children at the same time - she led a very sheltered life. But Beatrix was a very curious child who wanted to know more about the world she lived in and felt oppressed by a woman's place in this world.
She was very ahead of her time and longed to lead a more independent life- but as an unmarried girl was very much controlled by her parents well into adulthood. She kept an assortment of wild animals in her room that she studied carefully and were the inspiration for her early work. She wrote stories for friends childrens and eventually tried to get them published.
You read about the difficulties of a woman trying to break into the publishing world against her parents wishes.
She really was a woman ahead of her time. She had plenty of heartache- but also found great happiness in a more simple life when she broke away from her parents.
She was part of the great success that is the National Trust and showed a great understanding of the need to preserve places of great beauty- even though she initially bought her home in the Lake District as a holiday home.
I learnt a lot about her life and respect for her drive and the way that she forged a life for herself by working very hard.
She was very ahead of her time and longed to lead a more independent life- but as an unmarried girl was very much controlled by her parents well into adulthood. She kept an assortment of wild animals in her room that she studied carefully and were the inspiration for her early work. She wrote stories for friends childrens and eventually tried to get them published.
You read about the difficulties of a woman trying to break into the publishing world against her parents wishes.
She really was a woman ahead of her time. She had plenty of heartache- but also found great happiness in a more simple life when she broke away from her parents.
She was part of the great success that is the National Trust and showed a great understanding of the need to preserve places of great beauty- even though she initially bought her home in the Lake District as a holiday home.
I learnt a lot about her life and respect for her drive and the way that she forged a life for herself by working very hard.
March 11, 2020
This book was a delightful introduction to the life of Beatrix Potter, creator of beloved characters including Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddleduck, and Benjamin Button.
It starts by discussing her lonely childhood and lack of formal education -- her parents didn't think it was worth it to educate a girl since her only job was to marry wealthy -- and then explains how she started inventing her characters, which started with Peter Rabbit, which she initially self-published. It also spends a lot of time on her passion for nature and conservation, and her important contribution to the National Trust, which is still evident today.
Beatrix Potter was a lot more than a children's book author and illustrator, and she made important contributions to her larger community for her entire life, and this book explores this in a way that doesn't drag on like some nonfiction books do. I've always enjoyed reading Beatrix Potter's books to my children, but I never really knew much about her and appreciated this opportunity to learn more.
While it was repetitive at times and could have used more photos, it was a very enjoyable and interesting read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. It has not influenced my opinion.
It starts by discussing her lonely childhood and lack of formal education -- her parents didn't think it was worth it to educate a girl since her only job was to marry wealthy -- and then explains how she started inventing her characters, which started with Peter Rabbit, which she initially self-published. It also spends a lot of time on her passion for nature and conservation, and her important contribution to the National Trust, which is still evident today.
Beatrix Potter was a lot more than a children's book author and illustrator, and she made important contributions to her larger community for her entire life, and this book explores this in a way that doesn't drag on like some nonfiction books do. I've always enjoyed reading Beatrix Potter's books to my children, but I never really knew much about her and appreciated this opportunity to learn more.
While it was repetitive at times and could have used more photos, it was a very enjoyable and interesting read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. It has not influenced my opinion.
April 30, 2020
Beatrix Potter's name is synonymous with the tales she wrote about Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddle-Duck, and many more. The characters she created are well-known around the world, but the author herself is more of a mystery. This book sets out to reveal the real Beatrix Potter.
I absolutely loved reading this. It's written in a very accessible style but has so much information and detail about the author and the inspiration for her creations. It seems she was a very intelligent and formidable woman, and it was fascinating to learn about her being so much more than the author we know. Personally I had little idea about her involvement with the National Trust and her work with the farming communities of the Lake District. I definitely recommend this to any fan of Beatrix Potter wanting to learn more.
Thanks to NetGalley and publishers, Pen & Sword, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
I absolutely loved reading this. It's written in a very accessible style but has so much information and detail about the author and the inspiration for her creations. It seems she was a very intelligent and formidable woman, and it was fascinating to learn about her being so much more than the author we know. Personally I had little idea about her involvement with the National Trust and her work with the farming communities of the Lake District. I definitely recommend this to any fan of Beatrix Potter wanting to learn more.
Thanks to NetGalley and publishers, Pen & Sword, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
February 19, 2020
Nadia Cohen's The Real Beatrix Potter is an informative and enjoyable biographical account of the life of one of the most loved children's authors of all time. Cohen carefully examines the struggles, heartaches, and triumphs B.P. experienced during her long life. Along with learning much about the subject's life, readers are also granted an understanding look into what life in Victorian England and the Industrial Revolution was like for some women, a look at the publishing industry during the time period, the formation of the National Trust, and the various aspects of farming that surrounded Beatrix Potter's later years interests.
At times, the information was repetitive, going so far as having a word for word repetitive statements throughout the book. This and the random jumping in the timeline of Potter's book publications made the book a bit difficult to follow without backtracking or wondering if I had lost my place in the book. This didn't completely turn me off from the book, and I would recommend this book to a variety of readers. From students to historians, readers with interest in literary figures, and just general readers interested in finding out more about a beloved author from our childhoods. 3.5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a DRC of this work in exchange for my honest review.
At times, the information was repetitive, going so far as having a word for word repetitive statements throughout the book. This and the random jumping in the timeline of Potter's book publications made the book a bit difficult to follow without backtracking or wondering if I had lost my place in the book. This didn't completely turn me off from the book, and I would recommend this book to a variety of readers. From students to historians, readers with interest in literary figures, and just general readers interested in finding out more about a beloved author from our childhoods. 3.5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a DRC of this work in exchange for my honest review.
January 30, 2020
The Real Beatrix Potter by Nadia Cohen is a fascinating insight into one of the world’s best known and loved children’s author. Beatrix Potter was so much more than just a famous author. She was a woman ahead of her time, caring little for the fashionable drawing rooms of Kensington and preferring the rugged outdoors of her beloved Lake District.
Even as a child Beatrix Potter was curious about nature and animals. She loved drawing them and also experimenting. These were activities which she shared with her younger brother.
The famous Tale Of Peter Rabbit was at first refused by the publishers Warne and co but after the success of a self-published run, they published it in 1902 and sold 200,000 in just a few months. The rest as they say is history.
Beatrix Potter was not just the Peter Rabbit Lady, she was passionately involved in conservation and a supporter in the setting up of the National Trust. It is said that “without Beatrix Potter, many experts believe, that the Lake District would not still be here today.” With her funds Beatrix Potter bought up huge areas of the Lake District in order to keep it in the hands of the local people. Her first purchase was her home Hilltop Farm in 1905. In the 1920’s she would buy a larger farm with Herdwick sheep on it and promote the breed.
Nadia Cohen calls Beatrix Potter a trailblazer. She was a woman ahead of her time, quintessentially English but with a world-wide appeal down the generations. Her books have been translated into 46 languages and she is very popular with the Japanese.
Beatrix Potter’s heart has always been for children. She wanted her books priced at no more than a shilling so children could afford them. Children wrote to her and she replied to their letters.
I have always loved Beatrix Potter’s books. I read them as a child. I read them to my children and I read them to my granddaughters. Beatrix Potter’s books are as much loved today as they have always been.
Thank you Nadia Cohen for a fascinating look into a favourite and much loved children’s author.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
Even as a child Beatrix Potter was curious about nature and animals. She loved drawing them and also experimenting. These were activities which she shared with her younger brother.
The famous Tale Of Peter Rabbit was at first refused by the publishers Warne and co but after the success of a self-published run, they published it in 1902 and sold 200,000 in just a few months. The rest as they say is history.
Beatrix Potter was not just the Peter Rabbit Lady, she was passionately involved in conservation and a supporter in the setting up of the National Trust. It is said that “without Beatrix Potter, many experts believe, that the Lake District would not still be here today.” With her funds Beatrix Potter bought up huge areas of the Lake District in order to keep it in the hands of the local people. Her first purchase was her home Hilltop Farm in 1905. In the 1920’s she would buy a larger farm with Herdwick sheep on it and promote the breed.
Nadia Cohen calls Beatrix Potter a trailblazer. She was a woman ahead of her time, quintessentially English but with a world-wide appeal down the generations. Her books have been translated into 46 languages and she is very popular with the Japanese.
Beatrix Potter’s heart has always been for children. She wanted her books priced at no more than a shilling so children could afford them. Children wrote to her and she replied to their letters.
I have always loved Beatrix Potter’s books. I read them as a child. I read them to my children and I read them to my granddaughters. Beatrix Potter’s books are as much loved today as they have always been.
Thank you Nadia Cohen for a fascinating look into a favourite and much loved children’s author.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
January 30, 2020
WoW..........Wishes to come true...........Now, who doesn't love Beatrix Potter characters - Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddle-Duck and Benjamin Bunny when you were growing up?...............I know I did
and I still have all the books this day. So when this book The Real Beatrix Potter by Nadia Cohen I just wanted to learn more about the wonderful person who created these magical characters we all grew up and loved! and still do.
This book is a biography of one of the world's most loved children's author to this day. I am so glad this book has been written about Beatrix Potter so we can learn more about her. This book it vert detailed about her life and has photo's that have never been shown before of her home, inside her home, etc which I found very interesting just like this wonderful book.
I highly recommend this book.......You will bot be disappointed. I loved it
Big Thank you to the publisher Pen & Sword, Netgalley and Nadia Cohen the author for a ARC, in exchange for honest review.
and I still have all the books this day. So when this book The Real Beatrix Potter by Nadia Cohen I just wanted to learn more about the wonderful person who created these magical characters we all grew up and loved! and still do.
This book is a biography of one of the world's most loved children's author to this day. I am so glad this book has been written about Beatrix Potter so we can learn more about her. This book it vert detailed about her life and has photo's that have never been shown before of her home, inside her home, etc which I found very interesting just like this wonderful book.
I highly recommend this book.......You will bot be disappointed. I loved it
Big Thank you to the publisher Pen & Sword, Netgalley and Nadia Cohen the author for a ARC, in exchange for honest review.
June 16, 2022
This book was terrible. It repeated the same scant facts over and over!!
March 1, 2020
This is a fascinating read of one of our most beloved author's . i enjoyed this book for its insights into her charcter, her independence and how she self educated herself during a repressed time for women.. The author covers her environmental advocacy, her purchase of the property in England to save for generations and how she fought the confines of a Victorian upbringing to become the formidable independent educated women she was. She was a great believer of creativity and solitude in nature that teaches the reader a appreciation of her great love of nature. i enjoyed this book so much. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. Review cross posted.
I highly recommend this book for all who adore and follow the life of one of history's most remarkable women.
I highly recommend this book for all who adore and follow the life of one of history's most remarkable women.
February 24, 2020
I enjoyed this well written and well researched biography of a very talented lady. I was a huge Beatrix Potter fan growing up (weren't we all?) and I was fascinated by this insight into her life.
Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.
January 27, 2020
This biography covers the life of one of the most famous children’s authors of all time, Beatrix Potter. We meet her in her latch key childhood and say goodbye to her on her deathbed at her famous Hill Top Farm. This book does a great job at telling the story of her life, helping the reader to learn more about this extraordinary woman.
Like most people, I am a big fan of Beatrix Potter and only knew her through some fictional representations through a book series by Susan Wittig Albert and some adaptations of Peter Rabbit. I was surprised to learn that she had such a sheltered childhood and in her adult years ended up founding The National Trust. She was more than author, she was a trailblazer and a pioneer of sorts.
Restrained by her parents Victorian anxieties of having a disreputable eccentric daughter, Beatrix was very controlled by her parents. She was afraid of upsetting her parents, even as an adult, either because she lacked independence or because she was selfless. As a child she was intellectual and reclusive and only wanted to create a life that had purpose and would keep her occupied. Publishing took off because she was passionate about telling stories and literacy. She realized it could help her achieve the life she always wanted. Peter Rabbit happened by accident when she was mailing story letters to one of her former governess’ sick children. Writing from that point, took on a life of its own.
It was very interesting to read about how she navigated the copyright issues and trademarking in the early 20th century for the first time, which was something new, especially for a woman. I truly believe that Beatrix was a feminist because she fought back against gender stereotypes and learned how to live her life as she wanted to in a time of control and constriction. I also loved how she would respond to letters from readers who wrote to her from all over the world. She could be a little a witty in her letters but it was obvious that her characters and stories meant a lot to her, especially when they brought joy to children’s lives.
The most interesting part of Beatrix Potter was her passion for the country life. Purchasing Hill Top Farm where many of her books took inspiration and the surrounding countryside showed an earthy and practical side to her. Working on the land, tending sheep, and rearing animals gave her life a deeper meaning. Considering she grew up in such a controlling environment, getting her hands dirty and creating something real and tangible was very fulfilling for her. Writing books became a way to fund her acquisition of land and property in the Lake District. Environmental protectionism ended up being one of her biggest legacies. It’s a beautiful irony that books that featured mischievous little animals ended up funding land conservation for years to come.
I think Beatrix Potter has now become of one of my favourite women in history. I think her life is a lesson for us all, that we should pursue what we love even if society disagrees, and use it to make a difference in the world.
Like most people, I am a big fan of Beatrix Potter and only knew her through some fictional representations through a book series by Susan Wittig Albert and some adaptations of Peter Rabbit. I was surprised to learn that she had such a sheltered childhood and in her adult years ended up founding The National Trust. She was more than author, she was a trailblazer and a pioneer of sorts.
Restrained by her parents Victorian anxieties of having a disreputable eccentric daughter, Beatrix was very controlled by her parents. She was afraid of upsetting her parents, even as an adult, either because she lacked independence or because she was selfless. As a child she was intellectual and reclusive and only wanted to create a life that had purpose and would keep her occupied. Publishing took off because she was passionate about telling stories and literacy. She realized it could help her achieve the life she always wanted. Peter Rabbit happened by accident when she was mailing story letters to one of her former governess’ sick children. Writing from that point, took on a life of its own.
It was very interesting to read about how she navigated the copyright issues and trademarking in the early 20th century for the first time, which was something new, especially for a woman. I truly believe that Beatrix was a feminist because she fought back against gender stereotypes and learned how to live her life as she wanted to in a time of control and constriction. I also loved how she would respond to letters from readers who wrote to her from all over the world. She could be a little a witty in her letters but it was obvious that her characters and stories meant a lot to her, especially when they brought joy to children’s lives.
The most interesting part of Beatrix Potter was her passion for the country life. Purchasing Hill Top Farm where many of her books took inspiration and the surrounding countryside showed an earthy and practical side to her. Working on the land, tending sheep, and rearing animals gave her life a deeper meaning. Considering she grew up in such a controlling environment, getting her hands dirty and creating something real and tangible was very fulfilling for her. Writing books became a way to fund her acquisition of land and property in the Lake District. Environmental protectionism ended up being one of her biggest legacies. It’s a beautiful irony that books that featured mischievous little animals ended up funding land conservation for years to come.
I think Beatrix Potter has now become of one of my favourite women in history. I think her life is a lesson for us all, that we should pursue what we love even if society disagrees, and use it to make a difference in the world.
February 10, 2020
I read an advanced copy of this book through Netgalley for an honest review.
I never really wondered about Beatrix Potter, I knew she wrote and illustrated books such as Peter Rabbit and Jemima Puddleduck, but never gave the author a thought.
However, this book was fascinating - covering the unhappy childhood of an extremely bright Beatrix, her relationship with her controlling parents, her difficult personal life and her final freedom in the Lake District. The philanthropic Potter was a huge supporter and contributed to the newly-formed National Trust and, whilst she didn't believe in suffrage and would never have considered herself a feminist, she certainly shunned the conventional life expected of her, instead becoming a famous author and a business woman.
The book lost a star because I found the writing disjointed - the topic would jump around and, often, did not flow. I also regularly had the feeling of deja vu where a subject or line was repeated, often in the very next paragraph, almost as if parts had been copied and pasted without a proper edit.
All in all, well worth the read to learn about the life of Beatrix Potter.
I never really wondered about Beatrix Potter, I knew she wrote and illustrated books such as Peter Rabbit and Jemima Puddleduck, but never gave the author a thought.
However, this book was fascinating - covering the unhappy childhood of an extremely bright Beatrix, her relationship with her controlling parents, her difficult personal life and her final freedom in the Lake District. The philanthropic Potter was a huge supporter and contributed to the newly-formed National Trust and, whilst she didn't believe in suffrage and would never have considered herself a feminist, she certainly shunned the conventional life expected of her, instead becoming a famous author and a business woman.
The book lost a star because I found the writing disjointed - the topic would jump around and, often, did not flow. I also regularly had the feeling of deja vu where a subject or line was repeated, often in the very next paragraph, almost as if parts had been copied and pasted without a proper edit.
All in all, well worth the read to learn about the life of Beatrix Potter.
February 7, 2020
3.5 stars
I found this account of Beatrix Potter's life to be very dry, almost like a profile written for newspaper or magazine copy. Disappointingly as well for a celebrated author with so much of her work and even her words still surviving in the present day, I felt that Cohen repeated and recycled a lot of material unnecessarily. Many quotes and passages are dredged up again and again which over time becomes distracting. The story of Beatrix Potter is still an inspiring one of a tenacious if shy woman who changed the course of history with her talent in an era when women were not encouraged to do so. We have her to thank not just for the whimsical creations for children, but also for her conservation efforts in the Lake District and generous donations to the National Trust. I thought that this was a fair if occasionally clunky tribute to Mrs. Potter's life.
I found this account of Beatrix Potter's life to be very dry, almost like a profile written for newspaper or magazine copy. Disappointingly as well for a celebrated author with so much of her work and even her words still surviving in the present day, I felt that Cohen repeated and recycled a lot of material unnecessarily. Many quotes and passages are dredged up again and again which over time becomes distracting. The story of Beatrix Potter is still an inspiring one of a tenacious if shy woman who changed the course of history with her talent in an era when women were not encouraged to do so. We have her to thank not just for the whimsical creations for children, but also for her conservation efforts in the Lake District and generous donations to the National Trust. I thought that this was a fair if occasionally clunky tribute to Mrs. Potter's life.
February 4, 2020
If not for those little white books with stories of endearing watercolored animals that seem to act and talk like humans , many parts of the UK might not be as pristine as it actually is today. I found this out while reading the Real Beatrix Potter.
What an intriguing story about the woman who penned such magical stories that intrigued both children and adults alike throughout the world and still does so! Coming out from under the thumbs of domineering parents, Ms Potter made an impact on the English countryside to an extent that many may not know about.
I found some portions of the book a bit repetitive, but other than that I thoroughly enjoyed this biography. Being such a private person right to the end, her journals (some of them written in secret code!) helped contribute to the story encapsulated in The Real Beatrix Potter. It was wonderful reading about the unconventional woman behind the books.
Thank you Netgalley and Pen and Sword for this ARC. This is my honest review.
What an intriguing story about the woman who penned such magical stories that intrigued both children and adults alike throughout the world and still does so! Coming out from under the thumbs of domineering parents, Ms Potter made an impact on the English countryside to an extent that many may not know about.
I found some portions of the book a bit repetitive, but other than that I thoroughly enjoyed this biography. Being such a private person right to the end, her journals (some of them written in secret code!) helped contribute to the story encapsulated in The Real Beatrix Potter. It was wonderful reading about the unconventional woman behind the books.
Thank you Netgalley and Pen and Sword for this ARC. This is my honest review.
February 3, 2020
With thanks to netgalley and Pen and Sword for granting my wish and allowing me to read The real beatrix potter before publication day.
What an honour it was to read about a lady we have all grown up knowing about and her Fantastically beautifully presented books.
It was like stepping into the past and living the often lonely life of this OUTSTANDING Author it was intriguing and whimsical in many parts sheet hard work and determination were her solicitude one remarkable lady I just loved everything about this book.
If I have one small grip I would have liked if there had been definined chapters as it all merged into one but did not take from this OUTSTANDING book.
What an honour it was to read about a lady we have all grown up knowing about and her Fantastically beautifully presented books.
It was like stepping into the past and living the often lonely life of this OUTSTANDING Author it was intriguing and whimsical in many parts sheet hard work and determination were her solicitude one remarkable lady I just loved everything about this book.
If I have one small grip I would have liked if there had been definined chapters as it all merged into one but did not take from this OUTSTANDING book.
January 24, 2020
Thank you so much, NetGalley, for allowing me the opportunity to read this very special book. Author Susan Branch and a special cousin opened my door into the lovely world of Beatrix Potter, but I knew so little. Along came this refreshing biography and I just can't get enough. From misunderstood shy child of a wealthy family to financial freedom from her published works, Beatrix became her own person. Author, landowner, landlord, neighbor, shepherdess, wife..she was all this and more. My interest was held from the first to the last page. Bravo!Thank you
March 24, 2023
Helen Beatrix Potter(28 July 1866 – 22 December 1943) was an English writer, illustrator, natural scientist, and conservationist. She is best known for her children's books featuring animals, such as The Tale of Peter Rabbit, which was her first published work in 1902.Potter was also a pioneer of merchandising—in 1903, Peter Rabbit was the first fictional character to be made into a patented stuffed toy, making him the oldest licensed character.Born into an upper-middle-class household, Potter was educated by governesses and grew up isolated from other children. She had numerous pets and spent holidays in Scotland and the Lake District, developing a love of landscape, flora, and fauna, all of which she closely observed and painted. Potter's study and watercolours of fungi led to her being widely respected in the field of mycology.Potter wrote over 60 books, with the best known being her 23 children's tales. With the proceeds from the books and a legacy from an aunt, in 1905, Potter bought Hill Top Farm in Near Sawrey, a village in the Lake District. Over the following decades, she purchased additional farms to preserve the unique hill country landscape. In 1913,she wed William Heelis, a respected local solicitor from Hawkshead.They were happily married for 30 years. Potter was also a prize-winning breeder of Herdwick sheep and a prosperous farmer keenly interested in land preservation. When she died,she left almost all her property to the National Trust. She is credited with preserving much of the land that now constitutes the Lake District National Park.Her Journal, deciphered and transcribed by Leslie Linder in 1958, is an invaluable source for understanding a vibrant part of British society in the late 19th century.It describes Potter's maturing artistic and intellectual interests, her often amusing insights into the places she visited, and her unusual ability to observe nature and to describe it. Potter enjoyed a close relationship with her younger brother, Walter Bertram(1872-1918).Beatrix was briefly engaged to Norman Warne of Frederick Warne & Co,her publisher, until his untimely death.Beatrice just wanted to live life on her terms.
August 1, 2020
"I see no reason why common sense should not foster a healthier appreciation of beauty than morbid sentimentality."
"I just made stories to please myself, because I never grew up."
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This biography tells the story of a rather privileged English girl's young life that was marred by boredom and inattention from her parents. Beatrix's imagination grew out of her circumstances, she was fascinated with the world and sought to learn about it in every way she could much to the chagrin of the society of the time.
She was a miniature biologist and her observations of flora and fauna as a child helped to inform the beloved characters of the stories we all know and love. I was surprised to hear about her forays into science and how she was turned away from contributing what would have been valuable scientific info simply because she was a woman without formal education.
Her penchant for journaling throughout her life left a rich set of notes so those of us reading about her later could truly get a sense of what was ticking through her mind. I'm absolutely amazed that she wrote such hopeful children's stories when she clearly was a frequently depressed person. She's exactly the type of person I find absolutely fascinating, curious and with a lust for learning that seemed infectious and yet wholly practical and shrewd in her desire for success. I love that she went from paying to be published in a small run to being inundated with fanmail and success. Her legacy that continues through The National Trust is just remarkable. She was a woman well beyond her time!
Thank you to Netgalley for a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
"I just made stories to please myself, because I never grew up."
---------------------------------------------------------------------
This biography tells the story of a rather privileged English girl's young life that was marred by boredom and inattention from her parents. Beatrix's imagination grew out of her circumstances, she was fascinated with the world and sought to learn about it in every way she could much to the chagrin of the society of the time.
She was a miniature biologist and her observations of flora and fauna as a child helped to inform the beloved characters of the stories we all know and love. I was surprised to hear about her forays into science and how she was turned away from contributing what would have been valuable scientific info simply because she was a woman without formal education.
Her penchant for journaling throughout her life left a rich set of notes so those of us reading about her later could truly get a sense of what was ticking through her mind. I'm absolutely amazed that she wrote such hopeful children's stories when she clearly was a frequently depressed person. She's exactly the type of person I find absolutely fascinating, curious and with a lust for learning that seemed infectious and yet wholly practical and shrewd in her desire for success. I love that she went from paying to be published in a small run to being inundated with fanmail and success. Her legacy that continues through The National Trust is just remarkable. She was a woman well beyond her time!
Thank you to Netgalley for a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
September 16, 2020
The Real Beatrix Potter
By: Nadia Cohen
Pen and Sword
Pen and Sword History
History, Nonfiction (Adult)
Publish Date April 30, 2020
#TheRealBeatrixPotter #NetGalley
I am so glad that net galley gave me the opportunity to review this book. I did miss the download time frame but I still wanted to review it so I bought the book.
This was a good book. I learned a lot this beloved children's author that I didn't know. This book tells you about the life of Beatrix which is actually her middle name. She was a very lonely child even though she had a younger brother. She spent most of her youth in the family nursery with governesses.
She was different and her parents had a hard time understanding her. Even though she was brought up wealthy she didn't act like it and hated socializing. She had an interesting life and in the end left a legacy for us all besides her books.
She was a private person and loved the open country and learning new things. I gave this book 4 stars and recommend that you read this book to learn more about her.
By: Nadia Cohen
Pen and Sword
Pen and Sword History
History, Nonfiction (Adult)
Publish Date April 30, 2020
#TheRealBeatrixPotter #NetGalley
I am so glad that net galley gave me the opportunity to review this book. I did miss the download time frame but I still wanted to review it so I bought the book.
This was a good book. I learned a lot this beloved children's author that I didn't know. This book tells you about the life of Beatrix which is actually her middle name. She was a very lonely child even though she had a younger brother. She spent most of her youth in the family nursery with governesses.
She was different and her parents had a hard time understanding her. Even though she was brought up wealthy she didn't act like it and hated socializing. She had an interesting life and in the end left a legacy for us all besides her books.
She was a private person and loved the open country and learning new things. I gave this book 4 stars and recommend that you read this book to learn more about her.
February 1, 2023
3.5 stars, rounded up
I was recently reminded of Jemima Puddle-Duck, a story I remember fondly from childhood. I don't know that I would have the same love for Potter's stories rereading them as an adult, so I was happy to have found this biography of the author. It was interesting to find that she was a rather reclusive woman, who was a bit baffled by the fame she achieved and the curiosity surrounding her. I suspect she would have been uncomfortable with this book having even been written. I found her dedication to acquiring and preserving land within England to be admirable; it was rather refreshing to see someone achieve success and remain grounded.
I knocked half a star off due to some editorializing on the part of Cohen; I didn't need to be told repeatedly that Potter was an early feminist or conservationist, when both of these things were apparent in her actions throughout her life.
I was recently reminded of Jemima Puddle-Duck, a story I remember fondly from childhood. I don't know that I would have the same love for Potter's stories rereading them as an adult, so I was happy to have found this biography of the author. It was interesting to find that she was a rather reclusive woman, who was a bit baffled by the fame she achieved and the curiosity surrounding her. I suspect she would have been uncomfortable with this book having even been written. I found her dedication to acquiring and preserving land within England to be admirable; it was rather refreshing to see someone achieve success and remain grounded.
I knocked half a star off due to some editorializing on the part of Cohen; I didn't need to be told repeatedly that Potter was an early feminist or conservationist, when both of these things were apparent in her actions throughout her life.
November 1, 2025
It was a joy to listen to Rosie Akerman read this biography with confidence & emotion! There was so much that I didn't know about Beatrix Potter Heelis, and the story utterly engaged my senses and my mind, transporting me to the Lake District of England. Not only do I respect her sheer talent for writing and illustrating imaginative stories, (even endearing me to a hedgehog!) but now I appreciate her work ethic as a farmer, her down-to-earth ideas concerning caring for women and children, and her courage to purchase land and protect it for her people. Lovely honest story...
April 7, 2020
Children's books are treasures. When one picks up a book by Beatrix Potter, one picks up a book of happiness, beauty and the unique.
This book is about Beatrix's life. How she grew up and then how she lived.
What joy she brought us. Her drawings are amazing. I always was interested in how she colored the drawings. Now, learn about when she created her stories and how she managed her life.
A wonderful book! Pick it up! Then, pick up a few of her books for your children/grandchildren.
This book is about Beatrix's life. How she grew up and then how she lived.
What joy she brought us. Her drawings are amazing. I always was interested in how she colored the drawings. Now, learn about when she created her stories and how she managed her life.
A wonderful book! Pick it up! Then, pick up a few of her books for your children/grandchildren.
March 9, 2025
An enjoyable read, but the author seemed to want to force the idea that Beatrix was a staunch feminist, despite her views on rigid gender roles, seeming discomfort of being around women, and her self-professed lack of interest in the suffrage movement. She seemed to be feminist only when it financially benefitted her, rather than rallying behind a cause for all women, so it was a little misplaced for the author to keep pushing that narrative.
November 28, 2024
Excellent biography of little known facts of Beatrix Potter's life during her lifetime and about her legacy maintained by the National Trust today; many things I had never heard of before. Such an interesting person. Never knew about her land conservation interests during the Victorian times which were quite forward looking.
August 26, 2025
This was very informative, I didn't know anything about Beatrix Potter going into this except having read her books as a child.
Ive come out of it with a huge amount of knowledge, Potter was a woman ahead of her time she had both good and bad points, this is a very fair and seemingly unbiased view of the author.
I would definitely recommend this one.
Ive come out of it with a huge amount of knowledge, Potter was a woman ahead of her time she had both good and bad points, this is a very fair and seemingly unbiased view of the author.
I would definitely recommend this one.
March 20, 2024
enjoyable read
I looked for the book after seeing the Miss Potter film because I wanted find the rest of her story
I looked for the book after seeing the Miss Potter film because I wanted find the rest of her story
July 24, 2024
The content of this book was interesting, but I almost feel like I'm being generous in giving it the stars. It was unnecessarily repetitive and could have used a lot more editing.
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