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Amoureuse de la nature: L'incroyable destin de Beatrix Potter
Through she's universally known as the creator of The Tale of Peter Rabbit, Beatrix Potter did so much more. This is the true story about how she helped save the English countryside!
Growing up in London, Beatrix Potter felt the restraints of Victorian times. Girls didn't go to school and weren't expected to work. But she longed to do something important, something that truly mattered. As Beatrix spent her summers in the country and found inspiration in nature, it was through this passion that her creativity flourished.
There, she crafted The Tale of Peter Rabbit. She would eventually move to the countryside full-time, but developers sought to change the land. To save it, Beatrix used the money from the success of her books and bought acres and acres of land and farms to prevent the development of the countryside that both she and Peter Rabbit so cherished. Because of her efforts, it's been preserved just as she left it.
Growing up in London, Beatrix Potter felt the restraints of Victorian times. Girls didn't go to school and weren't expected to work. But she longed to do something important, something that truly mattered. As Beatrix spent her summers in the country and found inspiration in nature, it was through this passion that her creativity flourished.
There, she crafted The Tale of Peter Rabbit. She would eventually move to the countryside full-time, but developers sought to change the land. To save it, Beatrix used the money from the success of her books and bought acres and acres of land and farms to prevent the development of the countryside that both she and Peter Rabbit so cherished. Because of her efforts, it's been preserved just as she left it.
36 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2020
About the author
Linda Elovitz Marshall
28 books19 followersI have always loved words. My parents said I spoke in full sentences before I was a year old. They also said I didn't walk until I was two.
I was still a baby when I saw a TV commercial about a vacuum cleaner and its expandable bag. That night, my parents begged me to eat "just one more bite." I refused. Using a phrase I'd learned from the vacuum cleaner commercial, I explained, "My stomach is fully expanded." My parents laughed...and I was saved from having to eat that dreadful "one more bite."
My love of words extended to foreign languages. I was one of those kids who loved school. I loved Hebrew school, too. Learning Hebrew taught me that words can be composed of roots and that those roots can change, often in predictable ways. I noticed some of the rules I'd learned in Hebrew applied to English, too. I also love word games, puzzles, and etymology, learning about the origins of words.
Some of my other favorite things include being outside, exploring, and being around animals. When I was a child, I wanted a horse. I didn't get one. But when I grew up, my husband and I moved to a farm. That's where we raised our four children...and sheep, chickens, and rabbits. It's also where some of my stories are based.
I also love teaching and have taught all ages, from babies through college. I've taught parents, too.
When I write stories, I combine so many of the things I love. I'm always learning and exploring...and having a fabulous time!
I was still a baby when I saw a TV commercial about a vacuum cleaner and its expandable bag. That night, my parents begged me to eat "just one more bite." I refused. Using a phrase I'd learned from the vacuum cleaner commercial, I explained, "My stomach is fully expanded." My parents laughed...and I was saved from having to eat that dreadful "one more bite."
My love of words extended to foreign languages. I was one of those kids who loved school. I loved Hebrew school, too. Learning Hebrew taught me that words can be composed of roots and that those roots can change, often in predictable ways. I noticed some of the rules I'd learned in Hebrew applied to English, too. I also love word games, puzzles, and etymology, learning about the origins of words.
Some of my other favorite things include being outside, exploring, and being around animals. When I was a child, I wanted a horse. I didn't get one. But when I grew up, my husband and I moved to a farm. That's where we raised our four children...and sheep, chickens, and rabbits. It's also where some of my stories are based.
I also love teaching and have taught all ages, from babies through college. I've taught parents, too.
When I write stories, I combine so many of the things I love. I'm always learning and exploring...and having a fabulous time!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
August 23, 2020
This is a worthy addition to the Beatrix Potter PB biography line-up as it focuses on her conservation and philanthropy work more than her career as an author and illustrator. We do still chart Potter's ascent to literary fame but it is framed more around her love of nature and the countryside. I already knew about her amazing work preserving the farmland in the Lake District and here I also learned about her work helping folks in the area such as helping pay for medical care for both farm families and their animals. The illustrations are lovely and evocative. I have been fortunate enough to visit the Lake District and this made me want to go right back again! The author's note is interesting and a bibliography is provided, though I do think the inclusion of a few actual photographs of Potter and Hill Top would have been nice, as would a timeline. Still, if I have one major complaint about the book it is that, in an effort to show how extraordinary Potter was, I feel it sort of backhandedly makes most other women of the day woefully ordinary and, to me, that is a shame. By repeatedly saying that Potter "wanted to do something important, something that mattered" is there, perhaps inadvertently, the implication that the lives of of ordinary women of the time didn't matter? I know, I know, the problem is that women were not offered a *choice* in the matter, that many did aspire beyond a home and family life, but that shouldn't imply that those lives didn't MATTER. Yes, Potter *was* extraordinary for going against tradition -- also, of course, her extraordinary natural talent. But, I think there needs to be a way to convey this without implying that her life (or the lives of countless other women of the day) would not have "mattered" if she hadn't been successful.
July 30, 2022
My love for Beatrix Potter is well-documented, and my profile picture alone attests to the fact! So it's no surprise that I loved Marshall's sweet biography of Potter's life, and Urbinati's charming illustrations. I appreciated that Urbinati didn't even attempt to recreate Potter's style, but instead went boldly onward with her own style.
Besides being the best-selling children's author of her generation, Potter was an amateur mycologist and professional farmer and conservationist. I loved how Marshall highlighted these aspects of Potter's life, and told the story of printing Potter's books in some detail. She also mentioned some stories of Potter's smaller acts of benevolence, like paying vets' bills when her neighbors couldn't, and paying a nurse when illness swept through the Lake District. Urbinati's illustrations follow the text in close detail and are an excellent companion. She clearly did her research, and accurately reflects the settings. One of her choices--to always dress Potter in purple--makes a pleasing palette and provides a sense of continuity from the little girl to the woman.
The one thing I didn't like was how Marshall kept mentioning how Restricted™ women were in Potter's era. Yes, they had fewer social freedoms than we have today (as men, the middle and lower classes, and people of color do, too!). Yes, Potter experienced sexism. But she made enough of her life--and enjoyed doing it--that mentioning societal restrictions multiple times belittles her real achievements. It also doesn't reflect Potter's own social and political views. For example, she was not in support of women's suffrage. Yet, she was quite wealthy (by her own efforts and business sense, not inheritance) and powerful enough to preserve lands for agriculture and public use rather than giving them up for development. Potter is a great subject to alleviate my other pet peeve--she may have gone against the social grain in some ways, but she did not hate needlework, as all Strong Young Women in children's/YA books are wont to do. When you visit Hill Top Farm, you can see the last piece of embroidery she was working on. As Mrs. Lynde says in Anne of the Island, "There’s always a piece of unfinished work left."
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this jaunt into Potter's life and hope to keep a copy in my library someday.
Besides being the best-selling children's author of her generation, Potter was an amateur mycologist and professional farmer and conservationist. I loved how Marshall highlighted these aspects of Potter's life, and told the story of printing Potter's books in some detail. She also mentioned some stories of Potter's smaller acts of benevolence, like paying vets' bills when her neighbors couldn't, and paying a nurse when illness swept through the Lake District. Urbinati's illustrations follow the text in close detail and are an excellent companion. She clearly did her research, and accurately reflects the settings. One of her choices--to always dress Potter in purple--makes a pleasing palette and provides a sense of continuity from the little girl to the woman.
The one thing I didn't like was how Marshall kept mentioning how Restricted™ women were in Potter's era. Yes, they had fewer social freedoms than we have today (as men, the middle and lower classes, and people of color do, too!). Yes, Potter experienced sexism. But she made enough of her life--and enjoyed doing it--that mentioning societal restrictions multiple times belittles her real achievements. It also doesn't reflect Potter's own social and political views. For example, she was not in support of women's suffrage. Yet, she was quite wealthy (by her own efforts and business sense, not inheritance) and powerful enough to preserve lands for agriculture and public use rather than giving them up for development. Potter is a great subject to alleviate my other pet peeve--she may have gone against the social grain in some ways, but she did not hate needlework, as all Strong Young Women in children's/YA books are wont to do. When you visit Hill Top Farm, you can see the last piece of embroidery she was working on. As Mrs. Lynde says in Anne of the Island, "There’s always a piece of unfinished work left."
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this jaunt into Potter's life and hope to keep a copy in my library someday.
August 25, 2020
Love this! ❤
August 21, 2020
What an amazing range of accomplishments/topics covered in this book. Also existential AF!
March 22, 2021
Saving the Countryside: The Story of Beatrix Potter and Peter Rabbit is a children's picture book written by Linda Elovitz Marshall and illustrated by Ilaria Urbinati. The life of the British picture-book author and illustrator makes a serendipitous subject for an engaging and attractive picture book.
Helen Beatrix Potter was an English writer, illustrator, natural scientist and conservationist. She was best known for her children's books featuring animals.
Marshall's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. In forthright language, this picture book biography recounts Potter's boundary-breaking life as she grows from a nature-loving child with a menagerie of pets into a successful artist and canny entrepreneur. Backmatter includes an author’s note, bibliography. Urbinati's detailed illustrations skew sweeter than Potter's own, but they appreciably capture Potter's grit and determination, as well as the enduring charm of her artwork and the animal-filled, windswept countryside she drew.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. Growing up in an upper-class family in Victorian London, Potter was an observant and talented artist from a young age. When on vacation in the English countryside, she reveled in the freedom to enjoy animals and nature. Initially finding no interest for her children's book among publishers, she self-published and when that sold, a publisher became interested, and she wrote and published all the small-format children’s books for which she is well known today.
Realizing the countryside she loved was under threat from urbanization, she used her wealth to acquire several farms and saved much of the English Lake District through her land purchases, more than 4,000 acres of which she donated to the National Trust.
All in all, Saving the Countryside: The Story of Beatrix Potter and Peter Rabbit is a well-told tale that makes the life story of the renowned author accessible to children.
Helen Beatrix Potter was an English writer, illustrator, natural scientist and conservationist. She was best known for her children's books featuring animals.
Marshall's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. In forthright language, this picture book biography recounts Potter's boundary-breaking life as she grows from a nature-loving child with a menagerie of pets into a successful artist and canny entrepreneur. Backmatter includes an author’s note, bibliography. Urbinati's detailed illustrations skew sweeter than Potter's own, but they appreciably capture Potter's grit and determination, as well as the enduring charm of her artwork and the animal-filled, windswept countryside she drew.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. Growing up in an upper-class family in Victorian London, Potter was an observant and talented artist from a young age. When on vacation in the English countryside, she reveled in the freedom to enjoy animals and nature. Initially finding no interest for her children's book among publishers, she self-published and when that sold, a publisher became interested, and she wrote and published all the small-format children’s books for which she is well known today.
Realizing the countryside she loved was under threat from urbanization, she used her wealth to acquire several farms and saved much of the English Lake District through her land purchases, more than 4,000 acres of which she donated to the National Trust.
All in all, Saving the Countryside: The Story of Beatrix Potter and Peter Rabbit is a well-told tale that makes the life story of the renowned author accessible to children.
November 1, 2020
This excellent biography focuses on how Beatrix Potter purchased 4000 acres of countryside (with the money she earned from her books, etc.) and donated it to the National Trust, so that it would remain countryside forever. Ilaria Urbinati illustrates the books with lovely watercolors that extend the story beyond the bounds of the text. The book ends with an author's note and a bibliography.
December 29, 2020
A lovely and informative picture book biography about the author / illustrator Beatrix Potter. Marshall does a good job of describing how Potter's childhood influenced not only her books, but her work as a scientist and conservationist. An engaging and accessible biography about a creative and resourceful woman.
March 2, 2021
Excellent and warm biography of the author, illustrator, scientist, and naturalist Beatrix Potter. The important story of how she made her way, controlled her creations, and followed her interests is frowned by her vision of conservation and the generosity she displayed to her community. A lovely addition to the Potter cannon. Beautiful, loose illustrations by Ilaria Urbinati.
September 7, 2020
Beautifully written. Beautifully illustrated.
May 20, 2021
A wonderful nonfiction picture book!
December 21, 2025
Such a gorgeous book! 📖
I’d love my own copy.
I’d love my own copy.
Read
July 31, 2026I’ve tried everything to get my brother to go to sleep—clearly.
February 27, 2021
Beautiful book, and I have to admit that I did not know that much about Beatrix Potter. Now I would like to visit the area, and I guess I should read some of her books! The illustrations are very mesmerizing.
April 9, 2021
Wonderful children's book about the work of Beatrix Potter and her lesser known humanitarian work and contributions that salvaged the country side of her youth. It is also a wonderful encouragement to us all that just because people say we "can't" do something, doesn't mean they are right.
July 10, 2020
Confession: I am obsessed with Beatrix Potter. This is a heart print book for me. Her love of the country and animals. Passion for drawing and her gift of a story. Learned so many new facts and might have planned my retirement trip to England someday. ❤️
June 3, 2020
"Using delicate, precise strokes, she sketched Bemjamin Bouncer. She drew him from the front. She drew him from the side. She even drew him standing and wearing fancy clothes."
This story so engaging and informative. Peter Rabbit was one of my favorite characters as a child and learning about Beatrix Potter was not only delightful, but also reminded me of some of my favorite memories of reading some of my favorite books.
This story so engaging and informative. Peter Rabbit was one of my favorite characters as a child and learning about Beatrix Potter was not only delightful, but also reminded me of some of my favorite memories of reading some of my favorite books.
February 11, 2025
Another ignominious example of the She Said No! genre, which takes women's genius and achievements and dumbs them down with a shellac of feminist revisionist faux-mage, which actually insults the subject it purports to honor. Beatrix Potter was a polymath genius with a flair for art, science, and extremely astute observation. She also donated her land to the national trust after she died, to preserve its rural character.
Despite the author pointing out her nannies, private tutors and governesses, and her world-class private education, she wants us to believe that BP is oppressed and held back by evil men. The problem here is that it was the "evil men" who bankrolled BP's education and work, who were inspired by her talents and helped to inspire her.
The author's last minute check-list of Potter's generosity to her community should be inspiring, but it feels disingenuous, perfunctory and emotionally dishonest, like a land acknowledgement or other smarmy woke speechifying. Sure, BP donated a lot of land, money, and sheep care to her community, but she was born rich and only became more wealthy throughout life. And does the author think all these sheeps were pampered pets? They went to slaughter and were raised for profit like any other livestock. Only an American overfed on too much BBC cottagecore shows would be naïve enough to believe the English countryside was nothing more than a big petting zoo. This work taught me more about affluent New Yorkers' bucolic fantasies than it did anything about rural country life in England.
The author makes BP into a saint for doing things that conflate the obligatory philanthropy of the wealthy with the care of the invested social justice activist. She also dishonestly presents this false, idealized version of BP as having single-handedly saved all of rural England from urban decay. This ingratiating tone and halos placed by the author around St. Potter's head feels like poverty porn penned for kiddos... It lacks all nuance, complexity...and frankly, truth. And again, complex women are reduced to cardboard cutouts in their (often entirely fictional, as seen here) struggle against male oppression...regardless of whether their life featured it or not.
Seeing the title, I immediately suspected (and learned I was correct) that the author was not British, but an American. Why? Because the entire story revolves around publishing contracts, making money, and business...and somehow presenting it all as noble activism. To an American, nothing is more important, empowering, or beautiful than making money. But I hardly think the capitalist spirit is the key defining feature of BP's life. In fact, all the emphasis on business demotes and insults the memory of her actual creative and scientific accomplishments. The origins of BP's money was the least interesting aspect of BP's stories and life.
Worse than the theme, the writing itself is lifeless, dull, deflated and maudlin. It's as if the author cannot be done with it quick enough. The pictures are done by a capable hand, but they too contribute to an idealized version of BP. When our subject isn't saving ailing lambs or writing books solely for sick children, she is displayed whimsically skipping through the fields, and she is portrayed as eternally young, pretty, and thin (even though in life she was heavyset and plain). I ask, is this faux-mage real feminism? Is portraying a great, creative female polymath not as she actually looked but per the dictates of male fantasy elevating Beatrix Potter's image, or insulting it? Does a woman have to be oppressed by men for her achievements to mean anything? Well, many American female picture book authors think so! ...A pity they have no faith in either their sex, their audience, or their subjects. The problem is that American revisionist historians writing for children construct their own idealized fantasies surrounding their subject, without any realization that these fantasies serve no one but the author's ego and the All-Important Message. They act ass though they are presenting an idealized characterization of their subject, but in the process of replacing any truth about their subject with their own fantasizing, the resultant product (and product it is) comes across as crass, jaded, and quite cynical. This is a disservice and an insult both to BP, and to women in general.
Children appear to be thought of last and least in the creation of this propaganda, because I see nothing in it for them. This author doesn't rant or pontificate the way some of the more outrage-driven ones do, but the tone is still very aloof and condescending. Fellow authors will find BP's publishing history interesting...but not little kids. The writing and illustrations in this work speak to other shallow activist adults, not to children. This book does not contain a story, but merely a one-dimensional gimmick--and not even an original gimmick, but one imitated by countless picture book authors unhampered by any vision, originality or creativity of their own. One thing the author does do well, is highlight how superior Beatrix Potter's talents were compared to modern children's authors--even despite the fact that Potter's writing and her stories were not very compelling. They were still far more brilliant, creative, and whimsical than the dreck being produced to honor ("exploit" might be a better word) her memory.
Despite the author pointing out her nannies, private tutors and governesses, and her world-class private education, she wants us to believe that BP is oppressed and held back by evil men. The problem here is that it was the "evil men" who bankrolled BP's education and work, who were inspired by her talents and helped to inspire her.
The author's last minute check-list of Potter's generosity to her community should be inspiring, but it feels disingenuous, perfunctory and emotionally dishonest, like a land acknowledgement or other smarmy woke speechifying. Sure, BP donated a lot of land, money, and sheep care to her community, but she was born rich and only became more wealthy throughout life. And does the author think all these sheeps were pampered pets? They went to slaughter and were raised for profit like any other livestock. Only an American overfed on too much BBC cottagecore shows would be naïve enough to believe the English countryside was nothing more than a big petting zoo. This work taught me more about affluent New Yorkers' bucolic fantasies than it did anything about rural country life in England.
The author makes BP into a saint for doing things that conflate the obligatory philanthropy of the wealthy with the care of the invested social justice activist. She also dishonestly presents this false, idealized version of BP as having single-handedly saved all of rural England from urban decay. This ingratiating tone and halos placed by the author around St. Potter's head feels like poverty porn penned for kiddos... It lacks all nuance, complexity...and frankly, truth. And again, complex women are reduced to cardboard cutouts in their (often entirely fictional, as seen here) struggle against male oppression...regardless of whether their life featured it or not.
Seeing the title, I immediately suspected (and learned I was correct) that the author was not British, but an American. Why? Because the entire story revolves around publishing contracts, making money, and business...and somehow presenting it all as noble activism. To an American, nothing is more important, empowering, or beautiful than making money. But I hardly think the capitalist spirit is the key defining feature of BP's life. In fact, all the emphasis on business demotes and insults the memory of her actual creative and scientific accomplishments. The origins of BP's money was the least interesting aspect of BP's stories and life.
Worse than the theme, the writing itself is lifeless, dull, deflated and maudlin. It's as if the author cannot be done with it quick enough. The pictures are done by a capable hand, but they too contribute to an idealized version of BP. When our subject isn't saving ailing lambs or writing books solely for sick children, she is displayed whimsically skipping through the fields, and she is portrayed as eternally young, pretty, and thin (even though in life she was heavyset and plain). I ask, is this faux-mage real feminism? Is portraying a great, creative female polymath not as she actually looked but per the dictates of male fantasy elevating Beatrix Potter's image, or insulting it? Does a woman have to be oppressed by men for her achievements to mean anything? Well, many American female picture book authors think so! ...A pity they have no faith in either their sex, their audience, or their subjects. The problem is that American revisionist historians writing for children construct their own idealized fantasies surrounding their subject, without any realization that these fantasies serve no one but the author's ego and the All-Important Message. They act ass though they are presenting an idealized characterization of their subject, but in the process of replacing any truth about their subject with their own fantasizing, the resultant product (and product it is) comes across as crass, jaded, and quite cynical. This is a disservice and an insult both to BP, and to women in general.
Children appear to be thought of last and least in the creation of this propaganda, because I see nothing in it for them. This author doesn't rant or pontificate the way some of the more outrage-driven ones do, but the tone is still very aloof and condescending. Fellow authors will find BP's publishing history interesting...but not little kids. The writing and illustrations in this work speak to other shallow activist adults, not to children. This book does not contain a story, but merely a one-dimensional gimmick--and not even an original gimmick, but one imitated by countless picture book authors unhampered by any vision, originality or creativity of their own. One thing the author does do well, is highlight how superior Beatrix Potter's talents were compared to modern children's authors--even despite the fact that Potter's writing and her stories were not very compelling. They were still far more brilliant, creative, and whimsical than the dreck being produced to honor ("exploit" might be a better word) her memory.
January 24, 2020
A lovely picture book about Beatrix Potter and how the Peter Rabbit stories got published. I loved the art work as well. My only wish is that timeline wasn't mentioned at all .
Read
December 8, 2020Learn about the life of children's author Beatrix Potter from her days as a young girl longing for her summers in the country to her efforts to get published and finally her work protecting the English countryside for generations to come.
August 4, 2020
Biography of Potter for elementary level readers.
Marshall shares information from her childhood through legacy.
Soft colored illustrations capture Potter's style as well.
Marshall shares information from her childhood through legacy.
Soft colored illustrations capture Potter's style as well.
October 30, 2021
I loved this beautiful depiction of the effect of Potter's work.
June 3, 2021
Mentioned in WORLD. Sometimes a bit heavy-handed with the messaging, but still good.
November 27, 2020
Summary: Saving the Countryside by Linda Marshall is about a lady named Beatrix Potter. When Beatrix was young, women weren't allowed to have careers and they weren't expected to attend college. So, instead of feeling completely useless, Beatrix began drawing her rabbit, Benjamin Bouncer, over and over again. She drew him from the front, side, and standing while wearing fancy clothes. Beatrix decided to send her drawing into a publisher and she landed herself a job creating holiday cards. She tried to pursue other careers as well, but those feel through, so she resorted to drawing more bunnies. One day, her friend was feeling ill and to cheer him up she brought him a story about a bunny named Peter Rabbit, which she saw was perfect for small hands. She later called the story, The Tale of Peter Rabbit and published several copies and it was a huge hit. After her success, she then wrote 23 more books and created games, toys, and tea sets with Peter Rabbit on them. But, after so much success Beatrix found herself missing the countryside; so she decided to buy a farm with some animals and a few years later she bought a second farm. As years went by, Beatrix grew older and the country was becoming more like the city. So, she bought over 15 farms, paid for the veterinarian bills, paid for a live in nurse for the local families, and made millions of people, especially children happy again.
Analysis: I loved this story because Beatrix didn't use all of her success for her own benefit, but rather for the benefit of other people, which to me is quite amazing. In today's day and age, many celebrities use their money to buy themselves bigger houses or cars or more stuff towards their own business, so it's quite rare to here people using their success for the common good of others.
In psychotherapy, I would use this book to help my clients who have received help, be able to reach out to their friends and or loved ones who need help too. I would give them that confidence to show others that if they can do it, than their friend or family member can do it too.
Analysis: I loved this story because Beatrix didn't use all of her success for her own benefit, but rather for the benefit of other people, which to me is quite amazing. In today's day and age, many celebrities use their money to buy themselves bigger houses or cars or more stuff towards their own business, so it's quite rare to here people using their success for the common good of others.
In psychotherapy, I would use this book to help my clients who have received help, be able to reach out to their friends and or loved ones who need help too. I would give them that confidence to show others that if they can do it, than their friend or family member can do it too.
February 7, 2022
Ever since I was a little girl I have loved the stories and the world of Beatrix Potter. Someone in my family gave me one of those giant treasuries with all of her stories and I read that book over and over again. Now I read that book to my son and we talk about the possibility of seeing a hedgehog wandering away with someone's laundry. We already know about naughty kittens or cats for that matter.
I had known a bit of her story and how her books had come about, how she had saved farmland, though finding out about the nurse was new and another wonderful telling detail. The more I find out about Potter's life, the more I enjoy her life story. Yes, she was white and privileged, there is no denying this fact. I don't want to argue with anyone about this. I am not trying to deify her or celebrate the fact that she bought up farmland and helped a local breed of sheep. Many other reviewers said that she used her white privilege and went on about this, so okay, we all have choices we can make with the lives we are given each and every day. These were the choices one person made, at that particular moment in history. She tried to help; maybe we could not tear her down for that? (Sorry I went so long here.)
The pictures are idyllic, just like the countryside. I hope someday someone makes me look that lovely. And someday I hope to visit the Lake District. I'm glad that we have this area and glad that Potter had the foresight and the ability to save the area so that it would still be there "for all living things to enjoy."
I had known a bit of her story and how her books had come about, how she had saved farmland, though finding out about the nurse was new and another wonderful telling detail. The more I find out about Potter's life, the more I enjoy her life story. Yes, she was white and privileged, there is no denying this fact. I don't want to argue with anyone about this. I am not trying to deify her or celebrate the fact that she bought up farmland and helped a local breed of sheep. Many other reviewers said that she used her white privilege and went on about this, so okay, we all have choices we can make with the lives we are given each and every day. These were the choices one person made, at that particular moment in history. She tried to help; maybe we could not tear her down for that? (Sorry I went so long here.)
The pictures are idyllic, just like the countryside. I hope someday someone makes me look that lovely. And someday I hope to visit the Lake District. I'm glad that we have this area and glad that Potter had the foresight and the ability to save the area so that it would still be there "for all living things to enjoy."
October 20, 2025
I've now read quite a few books out about Beatrix Potter, both recent and older ones, so I didn't expect to learn more, but each of the books have offered different snippets and approaches to who Beatrix was and her life. It is often what sequence one finds and reads many books on a famous artist that you find there is no best book, but the sum of the books are like the sum of what one may know about a person.
So I was surprised by a prior book to learn the theme of this one, that Beatrix Potter purchased much farmland to preserve it as such for perpetuity in trust. This particular book tries less to be a fun story, and succeeds at giving me more of the omitted details of the artist's life becoming a businesswoman, and beyond her art further, into her charitable caring community offerings. It presents Beatrix as a person in the era she grew up, and as an admirable woman who achieved much more than the norm based on her priorities towards the things she loved, animals, the countryside, her community.
The art is lovely, reminiscent of place, time period, and Beatrix's art without trying to be in her style, but purely the illustrator's own lovely watercolor paintings and rough edge drawings [pictures by ILARIA URBINATI].
So I was surprised by a prior book to learn the theme of this one, that Beatrix Potter purchased much farmland to preserve it as such for perpetuity in trust. This particular book tries less to be a fun story, and succeeds at giving me more of the omitted details of the artist's life becoming a businesswoman, and beyond her art further, into her charitable caring community offerings. It presents Beatrix as a person in the era she grew up, and as an admirable woman who achieved much more than the norm based on her priorities towards the things she loved, animals, the countryside, her community.
The art is lovely, reminiscent of place, time period, and Beatrix's art without trying to be in her style, but purely the illustrator's own lovely watercolor paintings and rough edge drawings [pictures by ILARIA URBINATI].
Read
June 16, 2020Note: Would work for entrepreneurship storytime.
Through she's universally known as the creator of The Tale of Peter Rabbit, Beatrix Potter did so much more. This is the true story about how she helped save the English countryside!
Growing up in London, Beatrix Potter felt the restraints of Victorian times. Girls didn't go to school and weren't expected to work. But she longed to do something important, something that truly mattered. As Beatrix spent her summers in the country and found inspiration in nature, it was through this passion that her creativity flourished.
There, she crafted The Tale of Peter Rabbit. She would eventually move to the countryside full-time, but developers sought to change the land. To save it, Beatrix used the money from the success of her books and bought acres and acres of land and farms to prevent the development of the countryside that both she and Peter Rabbit so cherished. Because of her efforts, it's been preserved just as she left it.
This beautiful picture book shines a light on Beatrix Potter's lesser-known history and her desire to do something for the greater good
Through she's universally known as the creator of The Tale of Peter Rabbit, Beatrix Potter did so much more. This is the true story about how she helped save the English countryside!
Growing up in London, Beatrix Potter felt the restraints of Victorian times. Girls didn't go to school and weren't expected to work. But she longed to do something important, something that truly mattered. As Beatrix spent her summers in the country and found inspiration in nature, it was through this passion that her creativity flourished.
There, she crafted The Tale of Peter Rabbit. She would eventually move to the countryside full-time, but developers sought to change the land. To save it, Beatrix used the money from the success of her books and bought acres and acres of land and farms to prevent the development of the countryside that both she and Peter Rabbit so cherished. Because of her efforts, it's been preserved just as she left it.
This beautiful picture book shines a light on Beatrix Potter's lesser-known history and her desire to do something for the greater good
November 7, 2020
The second picture book about Beatrix Potter I've read! Instead of being about the scientific career she didn't pursue, this one is about the landscape protection program she did instead. The story of her life starts in childhood, with regimented home life alternated with glorious summers at a farm, leading to her interest in animals and illustration. Her writing career takes off with Peter Rabbit, and she skillfully manages her trademarks, characters, and writing. She buys her own farm, and then another one. And then still more, because she hates to see modern roads, housing developments, and factory farms uprooting the countryside that she loves (and that populates her books).
Backmatter includes an note about how the author became interested in Potter's donations to the Land Trust, and a bibliography.
I was a bit disgruntled with the page showing her Peter Rabbit pictures, because it didn't seem to match her actual style at all -- the gentle watercolor (?) fuzziness is not what I remember of the little books.
Backmatter includes an note about how the author became interested in Potter's donations to the Land Trust, and a bibliography.
I was a bit disgruntled with the page showing her Peter Rabbit pictures, because it didn't seem to match her actual style at all -- the gentle watercolor (?) fuzziness is not what I remember of the little books.
January 14, 2025
What a neat coincidence; today I read two books about gardens. I think spring is on the way is what that means. Or I need to plan a garden this year, or it's simply coincidence and don't overthink it girl.
This is about Beatrix Potter and her life, but it's more focused on how she saved the garden district for people to enjoy to this day. She bought up farms, helped out the community, even brought in nurses to keep people well during epidemics. She kept the countryside of that day from being developed like everything around it.
She was a woman who made her own way in the world. She wasn't supposed to, and she did anyway. Talent gives you freedom if you find that idea.
The artwork is lovely and it looks like they used some of Beatrix initial sketches on a few pages. They copied her style at the least. It's a lovely book. It has a love and appreciation for the country side and nature. I want to garden after reading it.
Kids interested in gardening and Peter Rabbit will love this.
This is about Beatrix Potter and her life, but it's more focused on how she saved the garden district for people to enjoy to this day. She bought up farms, helped out the community, even brought in nurses to keep people well during epidemics. She kept the countryside of that day from being developed like everything around it.
She was a woman who made her own way in the world. She wasn't supposed to, and she did anyway. Talent gives you freedom if you find that idea.
The artwork is lovely and it looks like they used some of Beatrix initial sketches on a few pages. They copied her style at the least. It's a lovely book. It has a love and appreciation for the country side and nature. I want to garden after reading it.
Kids interested in gardening and Peter Rabbit will love this.
June 12, 2026
Saving The Countryside: The Story of Beatrix Potter and Peter Rabbit, written by Linda Elovitz Marshall and illustrated by Ilaria Urbinati, is a biographical nonfiction book that details the life of author and illustrator Beatrix Potter. Potter was the author and illustrator who created the beloved character, Peter Rabbit. From a young age, Potter loved and found great inspiration in the countryside. She did much of her growing up in the city and found the countryside to be magical and full of wonder. She observed the flora and fauna of the country, which led her to use her artistic talent to paint animals and give them stories, which then led to the creation of Peter Rabbit. Potter’s Peter Rabbit books were not as popular due to some publishers rejecting her book. Potter then promoted her books herself and found great success. The money that she collected from her books, she decided to put toward the purchase to keep the English countryside protected.
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