The enduring Beatrix Potter books

Beatrix Potter

This year is the 150^th anniversary of the birth of Beatrix Potter which is being celebrated in a variety of ways especially by the National Trust who benefitted from her generous bequest of her home, Hill Top and 4000 acres of land in the Lake District. She bought up much of the land to stop unwelcome development and protect the farmland and fells which she loved. By giving the land to the National Trust she has protected it in perpetuity.

However she is mostly remembered for her beautiful children’s books. It is fascinating that these old fashioned, little books full of Victorian and Edwardian morals and values are so enduring. They are still in print over 100 years after being published.  How is it that children today are able to engage with these books?

Children love animal stories from picture books to the exploits of Babe and Magnus Powermouse by Dick King Smith or Joey the War Horse by Michael Morpurgo. The difference is that modern animal stories often focus on the animals having super powers or overcome great odds or beating either villainous animals or humans. 

The delightful Peter Rabbit

This is not so with Beatrix Potter books. Her animals do occasionally outwit humans but the books feature much more animals in human, domestic situations. For instance Mrs Tabitha Twitchit trying and failing to dress up her kittens to look their best for a tea party. Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny getting up to mischief and trouble in Mr McGregor’s garden. The difficulties for Ribby the dog being invited to tea with Duchess the cat who she is certain will offer her mouse pie and all the drama of trying to swap pies.

In addition the settings of Beatrix Potter’s books are far removed from life in 21^st century Britain. No cars, motorways, planes, phones or domestic appliances feature – it is about walking or maybe driving a pony and trap, ranges to cook on and huge chimneys to climb and get lost in. Vegetables are grown or taken from Mr McGregor’s garden and all food is cooked at home. 

Squirrel Nutkin

However the beautiful illustrations of the wonderful characters of Peter Rabbit, Benjamin Bunny, the naughty Squirrel Nutkin and the foolish Jemima Puddleduck take you right back to that era. It may be unfamiliar but the frequent and lovely pictures instantly recall that time.  The animals wear appropriate clothes for the early 20^th century and the houses, gardens, streets and villages evoke those days.

However it was Beatrix Potter’s amazing ability to depict emotions in her animals that is fascinating.  Kittens look gleeful and mischievous, rabbits trail their ears in a forlorn manner and Peter Rabbit looks both scared and curious. Even Mr Bunny struts along the wall in an authoritarian way looking for his errant son. No surprise that he whips the cat and rescues Benjamin.

Mr Bunny strutting along the garden wall

Animals of course do not have these emotions but Beatrix Potter portrays them in this way to highlight the morals of her stories. Being good is a virtue and being bad leads either to trouble or punishment. The rude and wayward Squirrel Nutkin loses half his tail. The foolish Jemima Puddleduck nearly comes to a sticky end.  Adult figures are often needed to restore errant children.

The foolish Jemima Puddleduck

Modern animal picture books are so different with their huge colourful, double page spreads and they focus far more on the virtues of being good friends, being helpful, being kind and they often have a good sprinkling of wit and what I call wackiness; unusual drawings or offbeat humour. Children love it. 

Benjamin Bunny wearing Mr McGregor's
tam o shanty

Given all of this, it is surprising that Beatrix Potter books have endured and are still purchased today.  However despite their vintage and the different morals they are accessible. Children today can identify with the animals so when the disobedient Peter Rabbit and his mischievous friend Benjamin Bunny get into trouble children can be a little scared in a safe way. In fact re-reading Peter Rabbit still evokes childhood anxieties of being trapped in a hostile environment with no way home.

The situations may be rather different but children’s behaviour even portrayed by dressed up animals hasn’t changed much. Children are still children, naughty and foolish and though they may no longer be beaten or sent to bed with no tea, children do understand that being naughty should be punished even if the punishment is rather different today.

Mr Bunny taking Benjamin and Peter home after beating them.
Note the forlorn ears!

I suspect that each generation will pass on their love of these little books to the next. They have survived and flourished all through the social changes of the 20^th century so I am confident they will continue for many years to come. I hope so.