Beatrix Potter: The End Of The Reviews, The Best Ones, And A Little About Miss Potter Herself

THE BEST ONES:

So to recap I thought I'd list what I think are (WARNING: STRONG OPINIONS EXPRESSED HERE) the top five Beatrix Potter stories to start with if you are buying them on the installment plan.  Also, this is just a good way to start reading them if you've bought the set and now feel like you should start with book one and go through them all.  You shouldn't.  You really shouldn't.  See? I told you I had an opinion.

#1The Tale Of Peter Rabbit 

(seems obvious but it is a good one)

#2 The Tale of Benjamin Bunny  

(Helps later on when you meet the Flopsies)

#3 The Tale of Gloucester 

 (My actual favorite Potter story)

#4 The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies  

(Probably the cutest story illustrated)

#5 The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher 

 (Quite possibly the characters I'd like to meet the most)

And Now For Something Completely The Same: 

A Little Bio On Beatrix Potter 

In Case You Hadn't Had Enough 

Of My Extensive Reviews

Helen Beatrix Potter, born July 28, 1866 and died December 1943, was an English author, illustrator, mycologist (the branch of biology that deals with fungi) and conservationist.  Potter and her brother Walter both grew up among numerous animals and spent many holidays in the Lake District and Scotland.  It was through these holidays that she grew to love plant and animal life and studying and painting the things around her with great detail.  In her twenties Beatrix studied and painted fungi mycology and became known for her excellent scientific illustrations.  Between 1902 and 1918 she published over twenty children's books.  With the proceeds from her books and a legacy from an aunt, Beatrix purchased several farms in the Lake District to preserve them.

  Beatrix Potter's first story was actually in a letter sent to the five year old son of her last governess while he was ill.  Her former governess recognized the story as a work of literary accomplishment and encouraged Potter to publish it and the rest, as they say, is history.

 When she died in 1943, Potter left almost all of her property to the National Trust--4,000 acres of land, cottages, and 15 farms.  The legacy has helped ensure that the Lake District and the practice of fell farming remain unspoiled.  Her properties now lie within the Lake District National Park.

This long series of reviews has now come to an end.  If you have discovered a Potter book that can live in your library contentedly, I am satisfied.  I hope you have found B.P.'s illustrations as enchanting as I have.  Happy reading and on to the next!