Beatrix Potter’s lovely farmhouse, Hill Top, taught me how this children’s author worked. As an artist first, she would sketch scenes in her house and garden. And then she would add her little animal characters, so carefully drawn and lifelike, and make her story book.
There are plenty of places in the house or garden where a sign is posted with a page from one of her books. I could see that yes, it was a picture of this particular place. But then of course a kitten or a duck would be added. See this illustration of kittens having tea in the parlor, in these chairs, at this round table.
Beatrix Potter was an unmarried woman with some inherited wealth. She was able to buy this farm in the gorgeous Lake District and support the breeding of a dark-wooled local sheep whose wool, being dark, is hard to sell. But these sheep sure are cute.
Her writer’s magic happened with her little animal characters, who came to life in her mind with their trials. Funnily enough, it’s her own garden that’s (currently) planted like Mr. MacGregor’s. The garden must have put her in the role of chasing off critters competing for carrots. But I’m sure she never threatened to put any baby rabbits in a pie.
Her doll house has a memorable dinner plate with a plaster ham stuck to it, which two naughty mice tried to eat. Angry at the bad taste, they then destroyed it as they rampaged through the doll house, in A Tale of Two Bad Mice.
Peter Rabbit, especially, became famous in her lifetime. Personally I like the Puddle Ducks, featured in this drawing of her garden.
What’s your favorite Beatrix Potter tale?
