With thanks to netgalley and Pen and Sword for granting my wish and allowing me to read The real beatrix potter before publication day.
What an honour it was to read about a lady we have all grown up knowing about and her Fantastically beautifully presented books.
It was like stepping into the past and living the often lonely life of this OUTSTANDING Author it was intriguing and whimsical in many parts sheet hard work and determination were her solicitude one remarkable lady I just loved everything about this book.
If I have one small grip I would have liked if there had been definined chapters as it all merged into one but did not take from this OUTSTANDING book.

WoW..........Wishes to come true...........Now, who doesn't love Beatrix Potter characters - Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddle-Duck and Benjamin Bunny when you were growing up?...............I know I did
and I still have all the books this day. So when this book The Real Beatrix Potter by Nadia Cohen I just wanted to learn more about the wonderful person who created these magical characters we all grew up and loved! and still do.

This book is a biography of one of the world's most loved children's author to this day. I am so glad this book has been written about Beatrix Potter so we can learn more about her. This book it vert detailed about her life and has photo's that have never been shown before of her home, inside her home, etc which I found very interesting just like this wonderful book.

I highly recommend this book.......You will bot be disappointed. I loved it

Big Thank you to the publisher Pen & Sword, Netgalley and Nadia Cohen the author for a ARC, in exchange for honest review.

The Real Beatrix Potter by Nadia Cohen is a fascinating insight into one of the world’s best known and loved children’s author. Beatrix Potter was so much more than just a famous author. She was a woman ahead of her time, caring little for the fashionable drawing rooms of Kensington and preferring the rugged outdoors of her beloved Lake District.
Even as a child Beatrix Potter was curious about nature and animals. She loved drawing them and also experimenting. These were activities which she shared with her younger brother.
The famous Tale Of Peter Rabbit was at first refused by the publishers Warne and co but after the success of a self-published run, they published it in 1902 and sold 200,000 in just a few months. The rest as they say is history.
Beatrix Potter was not just the Peter Rabbit Lady, she was passionately involved in conservation and a supporter in the setting up of the National Trust. It is said that “without Beatrix Potter, many experts believe, that the Lake District would not still be here today.” With her funds Beatrix Potter bought up huge areas of the Lake District in order to keep it in the hands of the local people. Her first purchase was her home Hilltop Farm in 1905. In the 1920’s she would buy a larger farm with Herdwick sheep on it and promote the breed.
Nadia Cohen calls Beatrix Potter a trailblazer. She was a woman ahead of her time, quintessentially English but with a world-wide appeal down the generations. Her books have been translated into 46 languages and she is very popular with the Japanese.
Beatrix Potter’s heart has always been for children. She wanted her books priced at no more than a shilling so children could afford them. Children wrote to her and she replied to their letters.
I have always loved Beatrix Potter’s books. I read them as a child. I read them to my children and I read them to my granddaughters. Beatrix Potter’s books are as much loved today as they have always been.
Thank you Nadia Cohen for a fascinating look into a favourite and much loved children’s author.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

It was a great book for those who are interested in learning about a remarkable woman.. I would like to thank netgalley for letting me review this book.

This biography covers the life of one of the most famous children’s authors of all time, Beatrix Potter. We meet her in her latch key childhood and say goodbye to her on her deathbed at her famous Hill Top Farm. This book does a great job at telling the story of her life, helping the reader to learn more about this extraordinary woman.

Like most people, I am a big fan of Beatrix Potter and only knew her through some fictional representations through a book series by Susan Wittig Albert and some adaptations of Peter Rabbit. I was surprised to learn that she had such a sheltered childhood and in her adult years ended up founding The National Trust. She was more than author, she was a trailblazer and a pioneer of sorts.

Restrained by her parents Victorian anxieties of having a disreputable eccentric daughter, Beatrix was very controlled by her parents. She was afraid of upsetting her parents, even as an adult, either because she lacked independence or because she was selfless. As a child she was intellectual and reclusive and only wanted to create a life that had purpose and would keep her occupied. Publishing took off because she was passionate about telling stories and literacy. She realized it could help her achieve the life she always wanted. Peter Rabbit happened by accident when she was mailing story letters to one of her former governess’ sick children. Writing from that point, took on a life of its own.

It was very interesting to read about how she navigated the copyright issues and trademarking in the early 20th century for the first time, which was something new, especially for a woman. I truly believe that Beatrix was a feminist because she fought back against gender stereotypes and learned how to live her life as she wanted to in a time of control and constriction. I also loved how she would respond to letters from readers who wrote to her from all over the world. She could be a little a witty in her letters but it was obvious that her characters and stories meant a lot to her, especially when they brought joy to children’s lives.

The most interesting part of Beatrix Potter was her passion for the country life. Purchasing Hill Top Farm where many of her books took inspiration and the surrounding countryside showed an earthy and practical side to her. Working on the land, tending sheep, and rearing animals gave her life a deeper meaning. Considering she grew up in such a controlling environment, getting her hands dirty and creating something real and tangible was very fulfilling for her. Writing books became a way to fund her acquisition of land and property in the Lake District. Environmental protectionism ended up being one of her biggest legacies. It’s a beautiful irony that books that featured mischievous little animals ended up funding land conservation for years to come.

I think Beatrix Potter has now become of one of my favourite women in history. I think her life is a lesson for us all, that we should pursue what we love even if society disagrees, and use it to make a difference in the world.

I found this to be an absolutely fascinating read and was engrossed by Beatrix Potter's life. I think this will be one of the best biographies in 2020. Will be recommending it highly in my library.

Description
The Real Beatrix Potter is a fascinating and revealing biography of one of the world's most cherished children's authors. Beatrix Potter's famous little white books have enchanted generations of young readers who adored the characters she created and of course her own distinctive illustrations. Born into a typically repressed Victorian family it was assumed that Beatrix would achieve little more than finding herself a rich husband, and so there was no point in bothering to educate her. But the Potters underestimated their daughter. Stifled by the lack of stimulation, she educated herself in art, science, and of course a great love of the natural world. The success of Peter Rabbit proved her to be creative genius who could have become the toast of the London literary scene, but when her fiancé tragically died Beatrix retreated to the Lake District where she reinvented herself as a successful farmer, a canny businesswoman and an early environmental pioneer. Passionately campaigning to save the area from development she helped establish the National Trust, and despite her great wealth Beatrix lived out her days in humble anonymity.

My Review
I received "The Real Beatrix Potter" as an ARC, in exchange for honest opinion and boy am I eternally grateful for the opportunity to read this book. As an avid fan of all things Beatrix Potter this book is now my number one favorite. It is very well written and adds some information to the life of Beatrix Potter I was not aware existed. It is interesting to see how many obstacles she had to overcome to get to where she finally felt valued.

I loved to see her perseverance above all. I am so thrilled to read about such a pioneer. As I continued to collect all things "Beatrix Potter" and her lovable characters I am definitely adding this to my collection.

This book is a must in your library. I highly recommend it for young and old! I give this a 5 star rating - higher if available.