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Beatrix Potter: Drawn to Nature
This beautiful book explores the beloved writer’s achievements as a storyteller, artist, and naturalist.
Beatrix Potter’s universe of characters—Peter Rabbit, Squirrel Nutkin, Jemima Puddleduck—have delighted audiences for over a century. A creative pioneer and determined entrepreneur, she combined scientific observation with imaginative storytelling to create some of the world’s best-loved children’s books. This volume showcases Potter’s charming charac-ters against the backdrop of her exquisite botanical drawings, humorous illustrated letters to friends, Lake District landscapes, and rarely seen photographs.
Beatrix Potter’s endearingly hand-painted world of animals and gardens made her one of the most celebrated children’s book authors of all time, yet this is but one facet of her creative life. Drawn to the picturesque English countryside after a London childhood, Potter had a passion for nature that influenced her many achievements as a naturalist, artist, storyteller, and later in life as a fervent conservationist and “gentlewoman” farmer. This book sheds light upon the connections between her art, entrepreneurial success, and legacy in preservation.
Beatrix Potter’s universe of characters—Peter Rabbit, Squirrel Nutkin, Jemima Puddleduck—have delighted audiences for over a century. A creative pioneer and determined entrepreneur, she combined scientific observation with imaginative storytelling to create some of the world’s best-loved children’s books. This volume showcases Potter’s charming charac-ters against the backdrop of her exquisite botanical drawings, humorous illustrated letters to friends, Lake District landscapes, and rarely seen photographs.
Beatrix Potter’s endearingly hand-painted world of animals and gardens made her one of the most celebrated children’s book authors of all time, yet this is but one facet of her creative life. Drawn to the picturesque English countryside after a London childhood, Potter had a passion for nature that influenced her many achievements as a naturalist, artist, storyteller, and later in life as a fervent conservationist and “gentlewoman” farmer. This book sheds light upon the connections between her art, entrepreneurial success, and legacy in preservation.
216 pages, Hardcover
Published February 22, 2022
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217 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 21, 2023
Официалната книга на изложбата, посветена на Беатрикс Потър, която посетих декември 2022. Има някои повтарящи се илюстрации и информация, но като цяло е чудесно допълнение към "The Art of Beatrix Potter".
Спомням си изложбата и определено не беше така организирана, както e книгата. Книгата е разпределена на важни аспекти от живота й, което доста ми допадна. Всички я знаят като авторката на Petter Rabbit, но всъщност тя има доста голям принос към The National Trust, особено в Lake District. И пейзажите й са ми много по-любими от илюстрациите й. Книгата ясно показва тези две различни личности, които е била Beartix Potter и е супер интересно. :)
На самата изложба имаше много повече снимки и илюстрации и всичко беше хронологично подредено. В книгата са наблегнали на текста. Можеха да добавят още снимки и илюстрации. Също така текстът беше наситен с имена и места и се усещаше доста сух, този типично научен стил на изразяване, който не подхожда на такъв тип книга, поне според мен.
Това настрана, нямам търпение да посетя фермата и да видя и този аспект от живота й. Винаги е вълнуващо да свършиш книга с реално събитие или място. :)
Спомням си изложбата и определено не беше така организирана, както e книгата. Книгата е разпределена на важни аспекти от живота й, което доста ми допадна. Всички я знаят като авторката на Petter Rabbit, но всъщност тя има доста голям принос към The National Trust, особено в Lake District. И пейзажите й са ми много по-любими от илюстрациите й. Книгата ясно показва тези две различни личности, които е била Beartix Potter и е супер интересно. :)
На самата изложба имаше много повече снимки и илюстрации и всичко беше хронологично подредено. В книгата са наблегнали на текста. Можеха да добавят още снимки и илюстрации. Също така текстът беше наситен с имена и места и се усещаше доста сух, този типично научен стил на изразяване, който не подхожда на такъв тип книга, поне според мен.
Това настрана, нямам търпение да посетя фермата и да видя и този аспект от живота й. Винаги е вълнуващо да свършиш книга с реално събитие или място. :)
August 31, 2025
I had the great delight of visiting Hill Top and the Lake District in 2023 and bought this book after a quick skim in the gift shop. I’m really glad I took a chance on it. This is beautifully laid out, an enjoyable read, and a fitting tribute to a remarkable woman!
April 14, 2025
An overview of the life of the famous children's book author, mycologist, scientist, and land preservationist as well as the catalog of a traveling exhibit of her artwork, letters and ephemera that originated at the V&A Museum. Having seen the exhibit at the Morgan Library it was a pleasure to review the works and her life at my leisure. A beautiful book.
May 17, 2022
This is a stunning book that I enjoyed beginning to end. I still treasure my Potter books from childhood (the ones by Beatrix not the ones about Harry) and have always admired her style. She led a very interesting life, well documented in this book. There are many illustrations from her journals, manuscripts and picture letters to her young penpals.
If you have enjoyed her children’s stories you may well love this book too.
If you have enjoyed her children’s stories you may well love this book too.
August 11, 2022
Wonderful! A beautifully made book. The essays were interesting and incorporated many topics relating to her life and interests. I enjoyed how the book conveyed her sense of humour. She must have been a very fun person to be around! I would like to have read more about her relationship with Norman Warne, and then with William Heelis (the book details slightly more on this). Maybe this isn't the place for it, I don't know, but, I think it would have fit.
October 16, 2022
I wish there was more art here, but the art included is 5 stars for sure.
October 21, 2024
Gorgeous book. Not just a coffee table book; the essays for each chapter are lovely and well worth reading!
August 26, 2022
The illustrations, from Potter's early work through countryside scenes and art from her books, is the star. The book is a series of essays, occasionally repetitive, on various aspects such as her precise botanical art or her sheep-farming. Writing ranges from good to absorbing.
For Beatrix Potter fans particularly of her illustrations and her work to help save the Lake District and pioneer work as part of the National Trust.
For Beatrix Potter fans particularly of her illustrations and her work to help save the Lake District and pioneer work as part of the National Trust.
July 7, 2022
This is a wonderful collection of essays evoking the main themes of Potter's life, enlivened by excellent reproductions of her work. A must-read for all Potter enthusiasts.
December 8, 2023
A Peek into the World of Beatrix Potter
This is a large descriptive book that illustrates the life and world of writer and illustrator Beatrix Potter. It has large articles covering everything including her childhood, the locations she lived, her collections and her life's work.
The book includes many of her illustrations; full color and sketches from her sketchbooks. It gives a remarkable view of the life of the Illustrator, the Storyteller, the Entrepreneur, the Farmer, and the Naturalist. One section of the book gives full photos and summaries of Potter's Protagonists. I picked this up at the High Museum of Art giftshop, where they were featuring a special exhibition on Beatrix's art.
That is worth seeing if you have a chance in the future. It will be in Atlanta through January 7th, I believe. As nice as it is to see all her art and her butterfly and bone collections up close; this book adds a lot to the experience and expands on the exhibit in a take away format. There are many other books available, for adults and children; but I liked the fact that this one covered Potter and her work, giving a behind the scenes view to complete our view of her work in her books.
This is a large descriptive book that illustrates the life and world of writer and illustrator Beatrix Potter. It has large articles covering everything including her childhood, the locations she lived, her collections and her life's work.
The book includes many of her illustrations; full color and sketches from her sketchbooks. It gives a remarkable view of the life of the Illustrator, the Storyteller, the Entrepreneur, the Farmer, and the Naturalist. One section of the book gives full photos and summaries of Potter's Protagonists. I picked this up at the High Museum of Art giftshop, where they were featuring a special exhibition on Beatrix's art.
That is worth seeing if you have a chance in the future. It will be in Atlanta through January 7th, I believe. As nice as it is to see all her art and her butterfly and bone collections up close; this book adds a lot to the experience and expands on the exhibit in a take away format. There are many other books available, for adults and children; but I liked the fact that this one covered Potter and her work, giving a behind the scenes view to complete our view of her work in her books.
December 15, 2024
What an incredible exhibit at the Morgan Library - originally at the V&A. The catalog goes into great detail about this incredible scientist, artist, writer, entrepreneur, farmer, preservationist and incredible woman. The best that late Victorian England offered she must have been a very formidable character.
I found the part or her life that I knew less about [ as a mycologist and as a farmer and sheep rearer very engaging. But it is also being able to spend significant time with the illustrations that makes this book so magical.
really magical.
I found the part or her life that I knew less about [ as a mycologist and as a farmer and sheep rearer very engaging. But it is also being able to spend significant time with the illustrations that makes this book so magical.
really magical.
February 11, 2023
About 5 years ago I went to the Lake District at February half_term. It was a foul morning and I got up extra early to be first in the queue. There were already 3 coaches disembarking their international devotees I asked, it thwreany time you're not chokkah? No, the cashier conceded This ordinary London girl from a well to do family was to become a publishing phenonomen And she knew her stuff too All her art meticulously practiced until perfect An absolute delight, and yes Peter Rabbit had a real life antecedent...
October 27, 2022
Lovely book with great illustrations and a great survey of her life and her accomplishments in both art, her study of fungi and her conservancy of the Lake District farms and beautiful landscapes. She was away ahead of her times with her preservation of different breeds of sheep and finding a cure for flux affecting native sheep.
May 20, 2023
A very beautiful book lavishly illustrated with Beatrix Potter's artwork. The chapters about her second career as a farmer and her conservation of Lake District land are extremely interesting as this important aspect of her life is less well known than her writing. Shew as atruly remarkable lady.
March 9, 2024
Another "catalogue" from an exhibition (this one the V&A) that turns out to be so much more. Lavishly illustrated, covering Potter's life and works through essays focusing on individual aspects of her life and art (say, her studies of fungi and mushrooms). This is a beautiful book and vital for any fan of Potter's tiny, lovely books.
January 22, 2023
I can’t wait to re-read many of Beatrix Potter’s books with a new lens after reading this book. It’s inspiring to learn about the legacy of land she left behind.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews