The Complete Tales by Beatrix Potter — Reviews, Discussion, Bookclubs, Lists Nov 13, 2012 Jason Koivu rated it really liked it Don't let this innocent looking book fool you! It's all death and despair right from the get-go when a mother bunny relates with such nonchalant callousness the death of their father to four impressionable young rabbits. One suspects she wasn't all that sad to see the old man go. Perhaps he was beating her. Love the fantastic illustrations! Sure they border on Kinkadian quaintness and might be too cute for their own good, but without them most of these stories quite frankly never would've been r Don't let this innocent looking book fool you! It's all death and despair right from the get-go when a mother bunny relates with such nonchalant callousness the death of their father to four impressionable young rabbits. One suspects she wasn't all that sad to see the old man go. Perhaps he was beating her. Love the fantastic illustrations! Sure they border on Kinkadian quaintness and might be too cute for their own good, but without them most of these stories quite frankly never would've been read.

Beatrix Potter had a quirky writing style that was adequate most of the time, unexpectedly fun some of the time, and completely useless a time or two. If it weren't for the pictures, at least once or twice the reading would've ground to a "what huh?" halt. If there's an over-arching theme, aside from "FUZZY BUNNIES! SQUEEEEE!!!!!", it would be that of "Thievery in the world of the common man (or mouse)". Many of Potter's stories revolve around thieving, from petty pilfering to wholesale theft on a grand scale such as in "The Tale of the Tailor of Gloucester". The focal story of the collection, and the story everyone thinks of first, "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" is about a young thief eluding a vindictive farmer, who (view spoiler) [upon failing to capture the little thief (hide spoiler) ] creates an effigy using Peter's clothes in which "to frighten the blackbirds," a thinly veiled nod to the farmer's apparent racist attitude towards minorities.

In each story the thief occasionally gets their comeuppance, other times they get away with it, and sometimes they are heralded like a Robin Hood for their acts. It's difficult to decipher Potter's stance, but it is clear the crime weighed heavily upon her mind. NOTE: I decided to write this serious (well, semi-serious) review after realizing my original review lacked much depth and insight. ORIGINAL REVIEW: Shelves: xx-dnf-skim-reference Ok, no, I didn't read the whole book, not even all the ones I didn't know before. After all, they're at Project Gutenberg, so I can read them on my tablet at any time. But I picked this up at the library to have an idea of just how prolific Potter (second cousin's great-aunt of Harry?) was. And I have to admit, the variety of what she created is more than I realized, and the quantity less. I'm finding that I'm enjoying the ones that are not so cutesy bunny more than those that are. The Tale of M Ok, no, I didn't read the whole book, not even all the ones I didn't know before.

After all, they're at Project Gutenberg, so I can read them on my tablet at any time. But I picked this up at the library to have an idea of just how prolific Potter (second cousin's great-aunt of Harry?) was. And I have to admit, the variety of what she created is more than I realized, and the quantity less. I'm finding that I'm enjoying the ones that are not so cutesy bunny more than those that are. The Tale of Mr. Tod is killer. I never knew that Mr. Tod is a nickname for a fox, and Tommy Brock is a badger. And when a mother rabbit finds her children missing, we read that she "wrung her ears." Did you know also that Potter bought country lands to preserve it, and "When she died in 1943 she left over 4,000 acres and fifteen farms to the nation." ...more Shelves: childrens-books , classics , fairy-tales , owned-books I did not read these gorgeous tales when I was a child. I have no nostalgia for Peter Rabbit and his friends. But oh, how I wish I had!

How I wish I had read about the wonderful rabbit in his lovely blue jacket with shiny golden buttons and his tiny pair of shoes. How I wish I had lost myself in Beatrix Potter's wonderful, pastel-coloured water-paintings and gasped of the wickedness and cunning of Tommy Brock, and sighed with delight with each happy ending, each last word wrapping up the story i I did not read these gorgeous tales when I was a child. I have no nostalgia for Peter Rabbit and his friends. But oh, how I wish I had! How I wish I had read about the wonderful rabbit in his lovely blue jacket with shiny golden buttons and his tiny pair of shoes. How I wish I had lost myself in Beatrix Potter's wonderful, pastel-coloured water-paintings and gasped of the wickedness and cunning of Tommy Brock, and sighed with delight with each happy ending, each last word wrapping up the story in a delicate ribbon.

But even if I didn't read them as a child and even if I don't possess that cherished sense of nostalgia towards Beatrix Potter's universe of foxes, birds, squirrels and rabbits, I still found these tales to be an absolute delight, adorably simple and perfectly fitting for any child (or any child hiding within an adult). I can easily understand why these tales are so beloved and so dear to so many people. I can't understand why I haven't read them sooner. ...more Aug 17, 2012 Emma Long rated it it was amazing Beatrix Potter's Complete Tales holds a very dear place in my heart. This collection has never lost its popularity. Beatrix Potter's first story in 1902, "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" was published in a small edition by Frederick Warne, within a year it was an instant best seller. To this day the appeal of the tales is just as strong. The animals seem to almost take on human personalities. In fact, these magical stories are often connected with real people, places or animals. Stories that involve an Beatrix Potter's Complete Tales holds a very dear place in my heart. This collection has never lost its popularity.

Beatrix Potter's first story in 1902, "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" was published in a small edition by Frederick Warne, within a year it was an instant best seller. To this day the appeal of the tales is just as strong. The animals seem to almost take on human personalities. In fact, these magical stories are often connected with real people, places or animals. Stories that involve animals as the main characters in books always seem to fascinate young children and Peter Rabbit has always been up there with the best. The Tale of Mr Jeremy Fisher can provide the perfect introduction into mini-beasts such as beetles, grasshoppers and worms in KS1 science lessons. The life cycle of a frog can also be explored. Beatrix Potter can also be used in conjunction with History lessons on the Victorians. By studying Beatrix Potter's childhood, children can compare/contrast it with their own world. This can also lead way to discussions as to why Potter wrote simple stories about animals rather than people. Children can then go on to write their own animal themed story. With regards to Art lessons, children can draw a variety of animals and plants, they can then work with watercolour, just as Beatrix Potter did with her own illustrations.

These tales are most certainly tailored to a younger audience, most certainly EYFS, yet these tales can and still are enjoyed by older audiences, including myself. Shelves: children-s-books PRELUDE; A few weeks ago went to see the film of the Royal Ballet dancing several Tales of Beatrix Potter. The ballet choreographed by Frederick Ashton with music, really delightful, by John Lanchbery was first made into a film some years ago.This recent production was filmed in the actual theatre. There were only two of us in the movie theatre.I was sitting right at the back and was sorely tempted to get up and dance to my heart's content across the large open area behind the last row of seats. I PRELUDE; A few weeks ago went to see the film of the Royal Ballet dancing several Tales of Beatrix Potter. The ballet choreographed by Frederick Ashton with music, really delightful, by John Lanchbery was first made into a film some years ago.This recent production was filmed in the actual theatre. There were only two of us in the movie theatre.I was sitting right at the back and was sorely tempted to get up and dance to my heart's content across the large open area behind the last row of seats.

I didn't but I did cavort round the house when I got home and played the music. I came to Beatrix Potter late, about age 31.(It's never TOO late!!) Took a break from my job in Athens to join my Mum and Step-father in a motoring holiday around the U.K. Was reading BP's biography by Margaret Lane - an excellent one. And so of course when we hit the Lake District we ended up at her wonderful house left exactly as she had left it. Mum photographed me standing in the doorway where BP had her photo taken.(I knew because the photo was in the book!!) Later Mum was to run around the moors on the edge of Haworth crying out "Heathcliff!!Heathcliff!!!"in a much darker literary clime. After which we got caught in a Yorkshire storm and staggered into our hotel dying of laughter, while my step-father gave us fierce disapproving looks which made us laugh all the more.(He WAS an Accountant, and I'm sure had NEVER read a Beatrix Potter!!) So now I am going to read first the several Tales that were recreated for the ballet. And then follow up with ALL the rest.

Ah, blisssssss!!! MUCH LATER: Now aged almost 62, short of a couple of weeks, I have read All the Tales in Chronological Order. And discovered that Beatrix has a Dark Side!!!(Scarey!!!) In the VERY FIRST story, The Tale of Peter Rabbit", Mrs Rabbit tells her children where they may and may not go, warning them off Mr.McGregor's garden :"...your Father had an accident there; he was put in a pie by Mrs McGregor."(Ouch!!There goes Junior's slumberful night!) Often Beatrix's Own Inspirations didn't live to tell their Tale. Mr Jeremy Fisher - dissected. Peter Rabbit - death by chloroform, followed by dissection and drawn for illustrative purposes. Jemima Puddleduck - ditto. And Squirrel Nutkin shot - at Beatty's request for drawing. And Guess Who performed the dissections. (Not a question!) Is it surprising then, given the blood on Beatty's hands, that every Tale has at least one sentence that lets Junior know all is NOT well with the World. Life itself is under threat.

Even if its just Ginger, (the cat who shared ownership of the popular village shop with Pickles the terrier, popular because it gave generous credit), who had to ask Pickles to serve their mouse customers because they made his mouth water. ("I cannot bear to see them going out at the door carrying their little parcels," he confessed.) Pickles had to make a similar confession about rats, but being a Realist added:"..but it would never do to eat our own customers; they would leave us and go to Tabitha Twitchet's."(The cat whose shop did NOT give credit.)Being much more of a realist, which one would expect of a cat, Ginger replied gloomily: "On the contrary,they would go nowhere." Ginger"s and Pickle's business finally collapses because of their customers' greed( ALL characters from the Tales I am shocked to tell you!!!).They NEVER paid a penny, so poor Ginger and Pickles were forced to eat their own goods...but never laid claw or tooth on their clientele, to their credit.(No pun intended, I assure you!)Pickles became a gamekeeper and Ginger went to live on the warren and became stout and comfortable.

Would it surprise you to learn that a warren is a place where rabbits abound? Although Miss Potter tells us:"I do not know what occupation he pursues", her drawing shows Ginger laying nasty traps with big metal teeth - on the warren!!!(Miss Potter's illustrations often convey information she does NOT provide in the text!!)And Miss Tabitha Twitchett put up all her prices and refused to give credit!!!!! After this Tale of 1909 Miss Potter's Tales just get nastier and nastier. They are thrilling and delightful!! I'm sure All those Edwardian era Mums and Dads had no idea what subversiveness and violence was being smuggled into Junior's nursery under innocent covers. By 1912 Miss Potter had declared that she was tired of writing: "goody goody books about nice people." No wonder World War One broke out only a couple of years later. And yet the History Books never mention Miss Potter as one of the chief underlying causes. Feminism has a lot to answer for. EPILOGUE: Miss Potter knew a lot. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder???

Tom Kitten,victim of the rat, Anna Maria, who tied him up; and her husband, Mr.Samuel Whiskers, who helped her encase him in dough to be cooked and eaten.Poor Tom is rescued just in time. But ever afterwards "he has always been afraid of a rat; he never durst face anything that is bigger than - a mouse!" And I doubt any sensitive reader will either. Except the Insensitive who will no doubt join the Army. Shelves: children-s-lit , british-literature , animals , reviewed , by-women , ebooks-kindle , 2011-2016 The Kindle edition included audio files which I didn't listen to, although I might try them at some future time. When one thinks of Beatrix Potter, Peter Rabbit immediately springs (or hops) to mind, but there is so much more. Other stories feature rabbits, mice, cats, dogs, frogs, ducks, pigs, squirrels and other animals. Human beings usually appear only incidentally, and play a major role in only a few stories.

The level of the narration varies: some stories seem geared to the very young, and s The Kindle edition included audio files which I didn't listen to, although I might try them at some future time. When one thinks of Beatrix Potter, Peter Rabbit immediately springs (or hops) to mind, but there is so much more. Other stories feature rabbits, mice, cats, dogs, frogs, ducks, pigs, squirrels and other animals. Human beings usually appear only incidentally, and play a major role in only a few stories. The level of the narration varies: some stories seem geared to the very young, and some to more mature audiences. They often feature animals getting into trouble through their own carelessness, which is a plot element often found in fairy tales. Problems are solved sometimes through ingenuity, sometimes through sheer luck. This edition contains Potter's illustrations, some in black and white, many in colour. I'm glad to say that none of the little animals moved mischievously when no one else was looking.

...more Shelves: fiction , children-s-books , classics , favorites , short-stories , own , picture-books The first book I can remember reading was The Tale of Peter Rabbit, so Beatrix Potter is very near and dear to my heart. This collection of her tales is simply wonderful. Between her stunning artwork and her entertaining stories, there is something here for everyone. These would definitely be fun stories to read out loud to children. In regards to this edition, I really enjoyed how before each tale, there was some background information on the story and what inspired Ms. Potter to write them. I The first book I can remember reading was The Tale of Peter Rabbit, so Beatrix Potter is very near and dear to my heart. This collection of her tales is simply wonderful. Between her stunning artwork and her entertaining stories, there is something here for everyone. These would definitely be fun stories to read out loud to children. In regards to this edition, I really enjoyed how before each tale, there was some background information on the story and what inspired Ms. Potter to write them. I never realized before reading this that so many of her tales have interconnected characters and details, which was neat. It was fun to see favorite characters popping up again.

...more Shelves: naptimecafé After reading the little handheld sizes many times, we now listen on Audible narrated by Katherine Kellgren. She has a lovely cadence, esp on The Tale of Mr. Tod! We also like the Tailor of Gloucester narrated by Meryl Streep because the music by the Chieftans makes it extra festive & enhances the Christmas vibe. Aug 18, 2013 Nicola Mansfield rated it it was amazing · review of another edition Review written in 2007: I've been reading this aloud to my 7yo for a month or so, reading one story every now and then. The stories are presented here in chronological order as published with 4 unpublished works at the end. The stories are wonderful, darling tales of anthropomorphic animals. Once she married in 1913 she didn't have as much time for her painting and writing and I think it shows as the stories in the first half of the book are much more enjoyable than the latter ones. The stories Review written in 2007: I've been reading this aloud to my 7yo for a month or so, reading one story every now and then.

The stories are presented here in chronological order as published with 4 unpublished works at the end. The stories are wonderful, darling tales of anthropomorphic animals. Once she married in 1913 she didn't have as much time for her painting and writing and I think it shows as the stories in the first half of the book are much more enjoyable than the latter ones. The stories are somewhat didactic but not overly so. They are also much more violent than I would have remembered them to be. Naughty children are spanked frequently and Potter presents as a matter of fact that animals are often killed by hunters, farmers and other animals. The 7yo really enjoyed the stories, especially the ones in which Peter Rabbit or members of his family appeared. Also, while each story stands alone there are references to prior events and characters and this was fun to notice when reading them in order. This edition itself includes a brief biography of Beatrix Potter at the front and prior to each story is a short introductory paragraph detailing connections in the story with Potter's real life. All the original illustrations, including the original front covers illustrations, are included and this is a book that can be browsed through just for the gorgeous watercolours and sketches.

...more May 19, 2014 Shawn Thrasher rated it really liked it · review of another edition I listened to the magnificently read Blackstone audio version, and really, I can't recommend it enough. It's like having a British gran read you the stories before a crackling fire while English weather does what English weather does outside, with a cup of chamomile tea. Tennyson wrote "Nature, red in tooth and claw" and while he wasn't writing about the brutal world of Beatrix Potter, he could have been. Peter Rabbit and friends may be late Victorian yeomen and gentry wearing blue coats and sel I listened to the magnificently read Blackstone audio version, and really, I can't recommend it enough. It's like having a British gran read you the stories before a crackling fire while English weather does what English weather does outside, with a cup of chamomile tea. Tennyson wrote "Nature, red in tooth and claw" and while he wasn't writing about the brutal world of Beatrix Potter, he could have been.

Peter Rabbit and friends may be late Victorian yeomen and gentry wearing blue coats and selling peppermints in shops, but they also have no absolutely no compunction about eating, skinning and wearing one another. "Would you care for a piece of pie, Duchess?" Ribby asks. "It WAS Mrs. Tittlemouse." Some of them also, horror of horrors, smoke (albeit rabbit tobacco). Some of these stories go absolutely no where, fast ("The Tale of Pigling Bland", for example) and don't really work all that well as stories - but when they do work, they are brilliant little gems; it's no wonder they are still in print, and will continue to be in print, until Peter Rabbit is a folk character the same as his cousin Br'er Rabbit. So long live the stories of Beatrix Potter! Jan 28, 2012 Helen rated it liked it These are kids' books?!?!?! Seriously?!?! I have no problem with anthropomorphic personifications, talking rabbits etc, but surely if you're making the animals talk you should stay away from making them eat each other!

It may be because I was 'reading' the complete series on audiobook, one after the other, but do we have to have one story telling the tale of the mice that 'live' in the dolls house when the kids aren't playing with it and then in the very next story have the dog eating mouse pie? These are kids' books?!?!?! Seriously?!?! I have no problem with anthropomorphic personifications, talking rabbits etc, but surely if you're making the animals talk you should stay away from making them eat each other! It may be because I was 'reading' the complete series on audiobook, one after the other, but do we have to have one story telling the tale of the mice that 'live' in the dolls house when the kids aren't playing with it and then in the very next story have the dog eating mouse pie? Or the cat running the general store refuse to serve the mice because his mouth waters too much?!?! If we're personifying the creatures surely that's canibalism? And yes, I'm aware these are classics and have been around for close to 100 years, this is only my take on it.

...more Shelves: 2012 , read-aloud This was a read aloud book to Emma. I think I loved the stories as much as she did! I read most, if not all, of these when I was little, but I had forgotten much of the stories. Children's stories certainly are not written like this anymore. I love that Beatrix Potter uses brilliant and colorful language. Her characters and descriptions were simple, endearing, and full of life. The illustrations are simple but there is something about them that captures your heart. She was a gifted lady to be sur This was a read aloud book to Emma. I think I loved the stories as much as she did! I read most, if not all, of these when I was little, but I had forgotten much of the stories. Children's stories certainly are not written like this anymore. I love that Beatrix Potter uses brilliant and colorful language. Her characters and descriptions were simple, endearing, and full of life. The illustrations are simple but there is something about them that captures your heart. She was a gifted lady to be sure.

Shelves: children-s-books-and-literature , classics You might think that the big words and adult phrasing in these books would deter a child's interest... not so! Children love stories about animals, and even if they don't understand every word (or -sometimes - even the plot!), they enjoy the rhythm of the language, the pictures and the funny situations. Besides, reading books like this with more advanced vocabulary and sentence structure teaches them how to speak with more advanced vocabulary and more complex sentences. Oct 01, 2010 Joanne Valiukas rated it really liked it I adore these little stories which are always so delightfully engaging and fun. I used to make my husband read them to me when I couldn't sleep and my favourite was always The Pie and the Patty Pan. Just like Ribby or Mrs Ribston as she is known in the tale, my husband came home to a chicken pot pie that had just underneath the crust...yes, you guessed it...a patty pan. Me and our children roared with laughter at the delighted shock on his face. Ms Potter and I...we got him good. Dec 12, 2007 W.B.

rated it it was amazing Recommends it for: Everyone I love her art and her writing is very funny. I've been reading a lot of children's lit lately...things like The Brothers Grimm and just weird contemporary children's lit...this is a splendid volume...I hear the Cocteau Twins when I read her books...the places between the sentences sort of turn into Cocteau Twins chiming tunes....usually ones from Treasure... Aug 11, 2009 Karen B rated it it was amazing Beatrix Potter remains one of my favourite authors. I discovered her tales when I was about 7 years old and have revisited her stories over and over. I love the illustrations in particular. Having visited Beatrix Potter's Lake District I have become even more fascinated by her stories. The places in her tales remain largely unchanged even today. Dec 06, 2008 Stacey rated it it was amazing Recommends it for: anyone with children or those interested in perfecting a British accent... How do I love this book? Let me count the ways...

Children of all ages adore it, the tales of peter rabbit (and friends) are incredibly clever, the illustrations are charming, and perhaps best of all it's fun reading these stories in a faux British accent (I'm actually getting quite good). A perfect little book! Oct 15, 2015 Elijah Libert rated it it was amazing · review of another edition There is a lot of mice in this story. The story of Piggy Robinson reminded me The Owl and The Pussycat by Edward Lear and Robinson Crusoe. I liked that all the stories were related to each other. Feb 28, 2016 Bridget rated it really liked it Great book. Took me back to my own childhood. I love reading these to my kids, especially my eldest who really enjoyed the wee characters, cute names etc Shelves: favorites , vinkkaukset Oh Beatrix Potter, where do I start? She has been my idol since childhood and her work inspired me to start drawing at a young age which lasted until little before high school.

I stopped drawing because of my lack of talent and time, but I still read Potter's stories over and over again or watch The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends (1992). Last year I got the best Christmas present ever and it was this complete tales collection in original English with bigger pictures than translated Finnish ed Oh Beatrix Potter, where do I start? She has been my idol since childhood and her work inspired me to start drawing at a young age which lasted until little before high school. I stopped drawing because of my lack of talent and time, but I still read Potter's stories over and over again or watch The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends (1992). Last year I got the best Christmas present ever and it was this complete tales collection in original English with bigger pictures than translated Finnish edition and it's in a cute blue and green box! I thought I would list my top five favourite tales and explain a little why I like them. The stories are in the order they were published (just like in this collection).

The Tale of Peter Rabbit (1902) Who doesn't know the mascot character of the world of Beatrix Potter, I list him in the same category with Mickey Mouse and Totoro because he's that popular. The animation series and the official website is named after him and usually the place where the tales are happening is called The World of Peter Rabbit (and other animal friends). I was also enchanted by the story and Peter himself, that cute little rule breaker. The story of Peter stealing vegetables from Mr. McGregor’s garden would quickly seem like a basic tale where bad little boy doesn’t listen to his parents and learns his lesson the hard way but that’s not the case. Peter isn’t punished that badly by her mother. He just gets sick and has go to bed while her sisters eat the berries they collected while being nice and obedient, but I didn’t even remember that as a child. I think that’s because Beatrix Potter didn’t write her stories to teach children. She just wanted everyone to enjoy the tales about her animal friends which everyone could understand just with her illustrations so even the smallest children in the family can keep up.

The part everyone remembers from Peter’s tale is the chase between our rabbit with a little blue jacket (which is cutest thing ever) and scary Mr. McGregor which is exciting every time. The Tailor of Gloucester (1903) This story is also Beatrix Potter’s own favourite and it’s a wonderful Christmas story (Christmas is my favourite holiday too btw) which should have the same popularity as the Christmas Carol and The Snowman. Story is quite basic: in a town there lives Tailor who has to finish dresses and gowns for the party but he gets sick and it seems he can’t finish them on time. Lucky for him the mice who live in the house notice this, finish Tailor’s work for him and Tailor is praised by his great work which is so detailed. I also like the pictures in this story so much because there’s snow and cold but also warmth and light which makes Christmas such a great holiday in my opinion. The Tale of Two Bad Mice (1904) Again, characters who behave badly and just mess around the place.

It’s simple story but it’s also has great humour when the mice don’t understand that the house they are visiting isn’t a real house but a doll house so everything is plastic, even food. My favourite part is when they try several foods just to throw them away in a childish rage. In the end the mice weren’t that bad and they paid for the damages to the dolls with a crooked sixpence they found. I also chose to read this story to a group of little children and they enjoyed it a lot and we just love these mischievous characters because they’re so funny. The Tale of Mrs. Tittlemouse (1910) Mrs. Tittlemouse is one of my favourite characters because she is so hard-working and wants to keep things in order which is quite uncommon in the world of Peter Rabbit. Usually the characters live like animals and don’t care so much are their nests tidy or not. Mrs. Tittlemouse in other hand doesn’t want any dirty footprints inside her house and every guest who is even a little bit dirty is not welcome. The story starts with several insects walking inside her house, which is rude but Mrs.

Tittlemouse sends them outside (even the cute spider who has walked in the rain to the wrong house). Then she notices a huge bee called Babbitty Bumble who is quite angry and Mrs. Tittlemouse tries to send her away too but then she finds out that there's a full nest of bees in her tidy little house! Now Mrs. Tittlemouse needs help from Mr. Jackson, who (oh dear) DOESN’T WIPE HIS FEET! The Tale of Mr. Tod (1912) I still remember this as the most exciting episode of the whole animated series because this time there wasn’t just one enemy to fool, but two and one of them is the most feared animal of the whole Peter Rabbit universe, Mr. Tod! I like Mr. Tod a lot and always have. I've never thought of him as the main villain of this story but more as a protector of his own house because Tommy Brock was really awful, disgusting and rotten character who first tricked babies from the bunnies and then intruded to Mr. Tod’s house and even slept in his bed (eww, I get your anger Mr. Tod).

In this story Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny are already grown up and have their own families but Benjamin’s children, the Flopsy Bunnies, are taken by Tommy Brock the badger so they have to run for the scary rescue mission. The story actually two sides to it: the two villains, the badger and the fox fighting for the house (and just because they hate each other) and then Benjamin and Peter waiting for the chance to save the little bunnies, while fearing that the villains find their hideout. Mr. Tod actually appears only in three stories: in The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck (where he isn’t even given a proper name), The Fox and The Stork which is a version of Aesop fable and in this tale which is even named after him, but his character design is just wonderful. I think he might be one of the best of all the fox characters in children’s literature. He dresses like a gentleman with his tweed jacket, black thigh boots, cane and not mention his handsome “sandy” whiskers while being polite as ever until the point he just snaps.

Then to finish this (kind of) review with the honourable mentions: The Tale of Samuel Whiskers Scariest one of them all and rat trying to bake a kitten to a pie is quite disturbing. Love it. The Tale of Johnny Town-Mouse Another Aesop fable version but country and city setting is great and Beatrix Potter’s love for the country side is shown so well. The Rabbits Christmas Party Rabbits having a Christmas party, what could be cuter? Dec 11, 2016 James Perkins rated it really liked it · review of another edition Ms Potter's stories about Peter Rabbit are a staple for almost all native-English children learning to read. My sister had the first, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, with a list of the others in the back; I'd read about Peter Rabbit many times, and always wondered about those titles, so I decided to finally read the full set of stories collected together in this volume. Each animal in the stories has its own personality and apart from being anthropomorphic, acts mostly according to its species. The wa Ms Potter's stories about Peter Rabbit are a staple for almost all native-English children learning to read.

My sister had the first, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, with a list of the others in the back; I'd read about Peter Rabbit many times, and always wondered about those titles, so I decided to finally read the full set of stories collected together in this volume. Each animal in the stories has its own personality and apart from being anthropomorphic, acts mostly according to its species. The watercolour paintings and ink sketches by the author are exquisite in their detail and illustrate her tales with early 20th century charm. Even as an adult, I enjoyed reading them, and if I had children, I am sure I would have fun reading them out loud and playing the role of each character with a different voice. The only disappointment is that some of the stories are terribly bland, with goody-goody characters that do very little; the story notes indicate that even Ms Potter became tired of this format, so she then wrote about Mr Tod, a wily fox. Unfortunately the less entertaining stories really stand out because some of the better tales are very well-written, with a definite plot structure, progress for the characters, excitement and a final denouement, like in any book for older readers.

Overall, the book stands very well even today, and is well worth the time of both you and your children. ...more Jan 04, 2017 Orbi Alter rated it really liked it · review of another edition Ilustracije su famozne, a price i ne bas (izuzev tri bas predivne). Iznenaduje me njezina beskompromisnost u oslikavanju seoskih prizora s obzirom na njezne ilustracije. (Neki ostanu traumatizirani, netko bez repa, brkova ili mrkve, nekome pojedu djecu, a netko zavrsi u piti). Jedna od prica mi je bas bila jako strasna, sto nisam ocekivala... Ali ovo je ljubav <3 " Sam macak bio je osujecen u ljubavi. Njegov mrzovoljni i mracni svjetonazor djelomicno je bio posljedica razdvojenosti od sove.

Ta Ilustracije su famozne, a price i ne bas (izuzev tri bas predivne). Iznenaduje me njezina beskompromisnost u oslikavanju seoskih prizora s obzirom na njezne ilustracije. (Neki ostanu traumatizirani, netko bez repa, brkova ili mrkve, nekome pojedu djecu, a netko zavrsi u piti). Jedna od prica mi je bas bila jako strasna, sto nisam ocekivala... Ali ovo je ljubav <3 " Sam macak bio je osujecen u ljubavi. Njegov mrzovoljni i mracni svjetonazor djelomicno je bio posljedica razdvojenosti od sove. Ta mila ptica, snjezna sova iz Laponije, plovila je na sjevernjackom kitolovcu na Grenland.

A "Funta svijeca" plovila je na tropska mora." Nisu li sve ljubavi opreke izmedu zime i ljeta? :D Srecom, macak i sova proveli su medeni mjesec na pustom otoku kod prascica Robinsona :) ...more Dec 03, 2016 Stacie rated it it was ok I enjoy Peter Rabbit, but none of the other tales grabbed me. Most likely because they are short stories and they can easily be missed when I'm listening to them at work or it could be that I find them bland with all the new fresh weird stories out there. All in all a cute collection for little readers and their parents. The Tale of Beatrix Potter | The Public Domain Review ..or BROWSE BY TAG The Tale of Beatrix Potter This year, the works of one of the most successful and universal writers of all time came into the public domain in many countries around the world.

The Tale of Peter Rabbit, The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin, The Tale of Benjamin Bunny, The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck – in all, thirty-three books bearing the name “Beatrix Potter” have sold close to 200 million copies. Frank Delaney enquires into the more complex woman behind the safe and warm-hearted stories. A teenage Beatrix Potter with her pet mouse Xarifa, 1885, from Cotsen Children’s Library, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Princeton University – Source . Her appeal is so powerful that museums hold her in permanent exhibition – and some of them even commemorate her solely. Hollywood has trawled through her life, if somewhat on tiptoe. The great and the good have acknowledged her influence and the affection she inspires. Pottery, apparel, wallpaper – all kinds of domestic accoutrements bear her quaint, unthreatening drawings; her inescapably fluffy image has driven a licensing industry that has been worth millions. Yet Beatrix Potter was a sharp-edged, and reclusive woman, serious and complex, and her “nursery” reputation does her scant justice; she was much more than a “mere” children’s writer.

Which, however, is where and how her famed “product” began – with the famous letter from Beatrix aged 27 to Noel Moore, aged 6, the little son of her final governess; Sep 4th 93 My dear Noel, I don’t know what to write to you, so I shall tell you a story about four little rabbits whose names were – Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail – and Peter. They lived with their mother in a sand bank under the root of a big fir tree… She called it a “picture letter.” In among the words she had sketched each character in the tale, with Peter unquestionably the perkiest: he’s the only one standing upright. As adults’ novelists do, she had taken him from life – Peter Rabbit was based on a Belgian buck, she’d given him the name “Peter Piper” and described him thus: “Whatever the shortcomings of his fur, and his ears and toes, his disposition was uniformly amiable and his temper unfailingly sweet.” Letter from Potter to Noël Moore, dated 4th February 1895, from the Morgan Library and Museum – Source (NB: no indication of license on digital copy).

The daughter of Manchester Unitarians rich out of the cotton trade, Helen Beatrix Potter, born Saturday, 28 July 1866, grew up in a fully-serviced Kensington house. Notwithstanding the butlers, governesses, grooms, nurses and maids she suffered early that writer’s boon, the angst of loneliness. A cold, uninterested mother raised the child at arm’s length, and the warmest early companionship came from pets – lizards, guinea-pigs, newts, birds, mice, bats and rabbits, cats and dogs. And since the coldness of the household bred no sentimentality, Beatrix was happy in time to put down any little creature who fell ill, skin it, and boil the carcass to extract the skeleton for drawing. Does this – let’s call it “objectivity” rather than “ruthlessness” – does it explain why she gave her stories such raw edges? Benjamin Bunny received a whipping from his father.

Amid the “barking, baying, growls and howls, squealing and groans,” did the collie-dog and the foxhound puppies, Jemima Puddle-Duck’s rescuers, actually eat “the foxy-whiskered gentleman” of whom “nothing more was ever seen?” And what about The Tale of Two Bad Mice, vandals who wreck a doll’s house? Legion readers may still find Beatrix Potter rosy and twee: she had no such compromising intent. We can trace her talent. The gorgeous paintings bubbled up from clear springs (let’s not any more diminish them with the word “illustration:” just look again at the owl in Squirrel Nutkin). To begin with, the dysmaternal mother fobbed off the nursery with picture books: Hans Andersen; the brothers Grimm; an illustrated bible – the usual suspects. But the lonely child savoured the drawings more than the text; for instance, when she got around to Alice in Wonderland, Beatrix, of her own later admission, became much more compelled by the pictures of Sir John Tenniel than the whimsies of Lewis Carroll.

By the age of seven, she herself was already drawing with individual line, tone and competence. A still life of a vase and pomegranates, painted by Potter in 1881 when she was 15 years old, from the Victoria And Albert Museum – Source (NB: digital copy not openly licensed). As prime material she made life drawings of her pets. She commented on her hedgehog model, the real Mrs Tiggy-Winkle, “So long as she can go to sleep on my knee she is delighted; but if she is propped up for half an hour she first begins to yawn pathetically, and then she does bite. Nevertheless, she is a dear person.” Her dear creatures opened a portal into the widest and most powerful arena of all – the natural world. In the year she was born, her Potter grandfather purchased a 300-acre Capability Brown estate at Hatfield in Hertfordshire. How enchanting to a child with a sketch-pad and burgeoning powers of observation; “The oaks moaning and swaying close to the bedroom windows in winter… trees in every hedgerow… in summer the distant landscapes are intensely blue…” Annual family trips to the Lake District and Scotland clinched the deal.

She recorded “the night-jar’s eerie cry, the hooting of the owls, the bat [that] flitted around the house the roe-deer’s bark…” Back in London, she used the solitude of the playroom to recollect in tranquility the cool woods of summer, and in a very short time the universe of wild nature, whence, after all, her pets had originated, became the permanent home of her spirit. Another influence grew alongside. Her father, a barrister and club gentleman, had always longed to paint but could scarcely draw a straight line. So he indulged, as did many excited Victorians, in the new art form of photography; he bought all the latest equipment, and hired a servant to hawk it about for him. Naturally he photographed his family without ceasing, and no matter what her age or pose, his daughter always looks as serious as a century. Left: Beatrix in about 1874, aged 7 or 8 – Source . Right: Beatrix, aged 9 or 10, and her mother Helen in a photograph taken by Beatrix’s father Rupert in 1876 – Source .

He also rendered her an even greater service than keeping her record. His friend, the painter John Everett Millais, deputed Rupert Potter to photograph landscapes that Millais could use as backgrounds in canvases. He also asked him to take, for reference, “likenesses” of the more important sitters (Gladstone, for example), to save them having to sit so often and long. On some of these forays Beatrix went along with her father. She met Millais in his studio, he perceived her talent and interest, and he bared to her the very soul of working in oils – how to mix paint. The creatures, the countryside and its enchanting details, the smell of the palette – by and large, this jigsaw of childhood experiences pieces together Beatrix Potter’s early adult portrait. That same leaning toward science that she practised in dissections and anatomical drawings, also led her into botany; look at the rich and accurate flora alongside her rabbits and pigs and foxes.

Several years ago, an Irish agricultural scientist, Fionnbhar O’Riordain, alerted me to the game of finding where mushrooms appear in Beatrix Potter, because she had served a self-taught but distinguished apprenticeship to mycology. He described her botanical work as “brilliant,” and authenticated his faith in her by making slides of her drawings. A study of Hygrophorus puniceus, one of the many watercolours of mushrooms created by Potter and now residing at the Armitt Musuem – Source (NB: no indication of license on digital copy) At 31 years of age, she had submitted a scientific paper to the respected Linnean Society in London. The Society’s practice was to have its papers read aloud by other than the authors, even if it were Darwin. One April night in 1897, “Miss H.B. Potter’s paper, On the Germination of Spores of Agaricineae [Mushrooms],” was presented to the Society by a principal of Kew Gardens. Later, in her development of her research, she mounted arguments connecting spores to lichens.

Dismissed at the time, she had the pleasure of eventual vindications, and by 1901 she had produced almost 300 water-colours of mushrooms, fungii, the world of spores. Through her donation they now reside in the Armitt Museum in Cumbria. Being, though, a dilettante, however serious and well-founded, was never going to settle her. She had always had earnings in mind, had been drawing greeting cards for art publishers – to earn money for microscopes and slides, for perhaps a printing press, and unquestionably for ways of escape. Pressed by Noel Moore’s mother (once a governess always a teacher), Beatrix now turned to the “picture letters.” For The Tale of Peter Rabbit she created extra drawings, added the mouse with the “large pea in her mouth,” the white cat “staring at some goldfish,” and printed Peter as a Christmas gift in 1901. The warmth of its reception from friends and family astounded her, so she then made an edition for sale, price one shilling, plus tuppence postage. All who received it enthused; Dr.

Arthur Conan Doyle had “a good opinion of the story and the words.” A rare unfinished version of a scene depicting rabbits dancing at a christmas party, one of a series of six that Potter created in 1892, a year before her letter to Noel mentioning the characters of “Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail – and Peter” – Source . Last watercolour from the rabbit’s christmas party series, depicting the rabbits’ departure – Source . This modest repute reached a publisher, Frederick Warne in London, who said he would take it on provided that Miss Potter’s drawings could be in colour. She refused: “I did not colour the whole book for two reasons: the great expense of good colour printing; and also the rather uninteresting colour of a good many of the subjects which are most of them rabbit-brown and green.” Her practical sense supervened. She provided colour, worked with the publishers on proofs and emendations – and then a great deal more. As The Tale of Peter Rabbit was published on 2 October 1902, she already had in the hopper The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin (look out for mushrooms) and The Tailor of Gloucester (her own all-time favourite).

She was 36 years old, and so began the universal author. In the intensity of the publishing experience over the next two years, she and her editor, the youngest Mr. Warne, began to take notice of one another; Norman was tall, thin and kind, with a benign mustache. The relationship flowered and in July 1905 – she was 39 – an engagement materialised, but marriage plans could not be discussed with any openness because to the Potters Norman Warne counted as “trade.” The two families agreed to keep it secret: there had been precedent: Beatrix’s brother was married eleven years before his parents were informed. A few days after this new happiness, however, Norman fell ill. Beatrix had just left for Wales to summer with her parents, where within three weeks she was to hear that, on the 25th of August, Norman Warne had died of pernicious anemia. To contain – and hide – her grief, Beatrix quit London and went to Cumbria, where she had already been arranging to buy a small farm, Hill Top, near Sawrey, in the fells.

It was to have been the summer home of Mr and Mrs Norman Warne, and despite all the poignancy, she yet completed the purchase. At Hill Top she gave birth to a host of later characters; Tom Kitten and Jemima Puddle-Duck and Samuel Whiskers and Pigling Bland, because even with – or perhaps because of – a heart breaking off at the edges, and even though writing into the void left by her loving, admiring editor at Warne, she continued to produce. In time, having already devised a Peter Rabbit doll, and a board game, she would develop further merchandise and help make herself a rich woman. She steeped herself in her new northern world; she made herself a significant figure in these steep fells that climb so close to the floor of Heaven. Farming took her into its deep embrace, and she became a champion of causes – Herdwick sheep, for instance, a local breed, had been dying out; she founded a breeders’ association to bring them back. She also began to buy tranches of this beloved land, assembling in time as much as four thousand acres, which she left to the National Trust.

Certificate of registration for a Peter Rabbit doll, 1903, from the Victoria and Albert Museum – Source (NB: digital copy not openly licensed). Early design for ‘The Game of Peter Rabbit’, December 1904, from the Victoria and Albert Museum – Source (NB: digital copy not openly licensed). ‘Peter Rabbit’s Race Game’ showing the top of the lid, made by Frederick Warne & Co Ltd., c.1930, from the Victoria and Albert Museum – Source (NB: digital copy not openly licensed). In 1913, eight years after Norman Warne’s death, she married the country solicitor who had been conveyancing the fells for her. His name was William Heelis, at 42 five years younger than Beatrix; “Dreadfully shy,” she said of him, “but I am sure he will be more comfortable married… he is in every way satisfactory, well known in the district and respected.” As with Norman Warne her parents objected again, and as with Norman Warne her new swain was also tall, thin and kind, with a benign mustache.

In Ambleside, I met an old man who had known Beatrix Potter, and who told me the “tramp story.” One rainy winter’s day, dressed as she liked to, in the opposite of high fashion, Beatrix encountered a tramp on a high road near Hill Top. He assumed her to be of his tribe, and greeted her with, “Brave hard weather for the likes of thee’n me, missus.” She had done the thing she’d always wanted – merged with her countryside. Some years ago, when I was presenting Radio Four’s Poetry Please, a listener left a message at the BBC with a question for James Fenton as to the meaning of one of his poems. I telephoned Mr. Fenton and he answered, “Don’t ask the poet, ask the poem.” Therefore – go thou and do likewise with Beatrix Potter, and you will find – to take some examples – a self-containment brought on by nursery loneliness; see the inner space in her work: note the predominance of interiors.

Her gallantly perfect language demonstrates the unwavering control with which she presented herself; “In the time of swords and periwigs and full-skirted coats with flowered lappets – when gentlemen wore ruffles, and gold-laced waistcoats of paduasoy and taffeta – there lived a tailor in Gloucester.” (In respectful observance of her constant mission to explain let’s note that “paduasoy” comes from peau de soie, literally “skin of silk,” and is a French medieval grosgrain fabric.) Hail her superb drawing of flora and fauna; note, however, that she had lesser skill drawing humans. But she rendered landscape with the true love of someone who understands the way the countryside stretches out under the sun, and who will one day want some for herself. In the work after 1905 you will find exquisite views of the Lake District.

In 1940, she was asked by a publisher “to tell again how Peter Rabbit came to be written.” Having first mentioned that Noel Moore, the Peter Rabbit boy, had grown up lame, and was now “an air warden in a bombed London parish,” Beatrix, not writing books any more – “My eyes are too weak” – offered, in effect, a thumbnail autobiography. “I do not remember a time,” she answered, “when I did not try to invent pictures and make for myself a fairyland amongst the wild flowers, the animals, fungi, mosses, woods and streams, all the thousand objects of the countryside; that pleasant, unchanging world of realism and romance, which in our northern clime is stiffened by hard weather, a tough ancestry, and the strength that comes from the hills.” Beatrix aged 25 with her rabbit, Benjamin Bouncer, 1891, from the Victoria and Albert Museum – Source (NB: digital copy not openly licensed). Frank Delaney is a writer and broadcaster.

Read his article on James Joyce for The Public Domain Review here , and learn more about his work at his website – – where his weekly podcast deconstructing Ulysses is past one million unique downloads. Links to Public Domain Works Various books by Beatrix Potter Beatrix Potter The Complete Tales (Warne, 2006) by Beatrix Potter A complete collection of Beatrix Potter’s Tales, with 23 stories including all the original illustrations and four additional works not published during her lifetime. The World of Peter Rabbit: Books 1-23, Presentation Box (Warne, 2006) by Beatrix Potter A beautifully designed presentation box including all the 23 original Tales by Beatrix Potter, including inside the lid a pop-up display of Peter Rabbit and friends. Beatrix Potter: A Life in Nature (St. Martin’s Griffin, 2008) by Linda Lear Lear’s biography of Beatrix Potter shows us the many sides of an unconventional woman; the artist, businesswoman, scientific researcher, and landowner who conserved acres of Lakeland countryside. Books link through to Amazon who will give us a small percentage of sale price (ca. 6%).

Discover more recommended books in our dedicated section of the site: Further Reading . AsIfUknow ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL article! I have LONG LOVED the works of Beatrix Potter, read them to my three children and now starting to read them to my first grandson. I had never looked into the life of the woman behind these stories and have an even great sense of appreciation for these beloved works. FOLLOW US ON: Acorn Stairlifts Acorn Stairlifts Tales from Beatrix that shaped our childhood Tales from Beatrix that shaped our childhood Posted: Jul 29, 2016 by Admin - Acorn Stairlifts UK & filed under News A new set of stamps issued by Royal Mail this week celebrates the life and work of one of Britain's most enduring and endearing authors, Beatrix Potter. Although written in the early 1900s, her series of 23 timeless and charming children's books continue to sell in their millions around the world, translated into countless languages. The first and best known of the series, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, has sold more than 40 million copies alone.

The books, which tell the stories of various small animals and their adventures, are especially popular in Japan, where their use in teaching English to young children has captivated generations of young learners. The new stamps feature six of her favourite characters – Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddle-Duck, Squirrel Nutkin, Tom Kitten, Benjamin Bunny and hedgehog Mrs Tiggy-Winkle. As well as a great storyteller, Potter was also a skilled artist who illustrated her own books, and the images on the stamps are her own drawings. Their launch marks the 150th anniversary of Potter's birth, with the Royal Mint also issuing a commemorative 50p coin. Born to wealthy parents in the London borough of Kensington on July 28th, 1866, Potter was educated at home by a series of governesses and grew up largely isolated from other children. She and her younger brother, Bertram, had several pets which would inspire her later writing. She also enjoyed family holidays to Scotland and the Lake District, where she developed a love of nature and the countryside. Both her parents were artistic and young Beatrix inherited their talent and love of painting, focusing particularly on plants and fungi, in which she became expert.

She also enjoyed sketching and painting small animals, often dressing them in clothing such as capes and hats and giving them human traits. By her late 20s Potter was a prolific letter writer who particularly enjoyed writing to children, especially those of her last governess, often illustrating her letters with quick sketches. It was while on holiday in Scotland in 1893 that she wrote just such a letter to her former governess's eldest son, Noel, telling the story of four rabbits named Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail and Peter. It was the earliest incarnation of The Tale of Peter Rabbit, although it wasn't published as a book until seven years later. Even then it was only in a very limited print run for family and friend, self-published by Potter at her own expense after the work was rejected by several publishers. It was a family friend who then took the self-published book around the London publishing houses, eventually persuading Frederick Warne & Co to give it a proper print run. Despite having previously rejected the work, the publisher was keen to break into the booming market for small format children's books and decided to take a chance on "the bunny book". It was a gamble the publishing house would never regret!

When it was finally published in October 1902, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter, became an immediate hit. It was followed the next year by The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin and The Tailor of Gloucester, both adapted from Potter's earlier picture letters, with the author then producing two or three stories per year for her now eager publisher. A canny businesswoman, in many ways ahead of her time, Potter also realised the potential of "merchandising" and many other products based on her books were made and sold, including character dolls, wallpaper, painting books, china tea sets and board games. She used the income from her work to pursue her love of country life, buying Hill Top Farm in the Lake District village of Near Sawrey, close to Hawkshead. Here she bred the local Herdwick Sheep, which had been threatened with extinction due to the rise of other non-native but more profitable breeds. Over the following decades she bought other farms in the district, determined to preserve the unique Lakeland landscape.

On her death in 1943, at the age of 77, she left almost all her land to the National Trust and is credited with conserving much of the landscape which is now the Lake District National Park, as well as saving the Herdwick sheep. Her home at Hill Top Farm is preserved just as she would have known it, run as a museum by the National Trust and attracting thousands of Beatrix Potter fans every year. Those fans have another treat in store later this year, when a 24th Beatrix Potter book will be published. The previously unpublished manuscript for The Tale of Kitty-in-Boots was only discovered last year in the Victoria and Albert Museum archive. It will be published on September 1st, with illustrations by Quentin Blake.

Question: Although humans feature in several Beatrix Potter tales, which is the only one to have a human as the title character?
Answer: 'THE TAILOR OF GLOUCESTER'