Beatrix Potter

[leituras]

“Once upon a time there were four little Rabbits, and their names were – Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail and Peter.” 

Beatrix Potter, The Tale of Peter Rabbit

Beatrix Potter (1866 –1943) was an English author, illustrator, natural scientist and conservationist having published over 23 books.

“Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-tail, who were good little bunnies, went down the lane across the field and through the wood together to gather blackberries…”

As it seems Beatrix lived a happy childhood. Being of artistic nature, her parents fostered her interest in nature and her curiosity.  As children, Beatrix and her brother had many animals as pets which they closely observed and drew endlessly, such close contact to nature most certainly made Beatrix even more keen on nature.

Beatrix studied languages, science and history, but it was her artist talent that was early recognized. Her drawings of animals, insects, fossils, archaeological artifacts, and fungi expressed the utmost imaginative skills. Although she enjoyed art lessons from a very early age, Beatrix developed her own artistic style.

Fig. 1 - Desenhos de Beatrix Potter

Beatrix is best known for her ingenious and creative children's books, featuring farm animals such as those portrayed in The Tale of Peter Rabbit.

Besides the simple stories, these books celebrated the English landscape and the English country life.

Having spent most of her summer holidays in the English Lake District, Beatrix developed a love of the natural world and grew fond of the inspiring landscape. The region is indeed one of the most breathtaking regions of Britain...its landscape is absolutely stunning. A real treasure.

Besides her soft colour illustrations and her quaint children’s stories, Beatrix Potter is known as a defender of one of the most beautiful regions in England: the Lake District.

The proceeds from her books allowed Beatrix to buy Hill Top Farm in a tiny village in the English Lake District near Windermere. In the following decades, she became keenly interested in land preservation.

She died of pneumonia and heart disease in 1943 at her home in near Sawrey (Lancashire) at the age of 77, leaving almost all her property to the National Trust.

She is credited with preserving much of the land that now comprises the Lake District National Park, one of England most unique region. 

Ilda Camarneira

References:

BBC News. (s/d) Lake District. Disponível em http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/cumbria/7167680.stm

BBC News. (s/d) Beatrix Potter. Disponível em http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1708750.stm

Lake District. (s/d) The Lake District. Disponível em http://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk

Peter Rabbit. (s/d) Disponível em http://www.peterrabbit.com