Why Do The Stories of Beatrix Potter Continue to Endure With Adults & Children Alike?
Beatrix Potter’s The Tale of Peter Rabbit was first published commercially in 1902, and since then has never been out of print. The fact that 4 Beatrix Potter books are bought every minute is a pretty common piece of trivia, however I would be keen to know how many of those 4 books have been bought for children, and how many were bought for adults. I was 25 when I read the first of Potter’s tales, and it did not take me long to realise why they are still so popular, and considered such enduring classics.
The Classic, Colourful Art Style
It’s hard to believe that Beatrix Potter did not always intend for her stories to be as they are now – filled with gorgeous watercolour drawings. Yet the original version, privately published in 1901, began as black and white illustrations. It was only under the terms of her new publisher, Frederick Warne & Company, that they were eventually published in colour. While it is fair to say Warne is relatively infamous for their unfavourable treatment of Potter, this condition that her books be published in colour is one that many readers will be grateful for. Each depiction of every colourfully illustrated creature lends an old-world charm to the series, a cosiness that is often inherent to anthropomorphic animals wearing period appropriate clothing, but also something that has come to be very characteristic of Beatrix Potter’s art style.
The Bitesize Nature of Each Book
Each Beatrix Potter story could be described as short, simple and sweet. Usually weighing in at approx 50 palm-sized pages, it’s obvious why this appeals to children, but I have found this is also a big appeal for adults too. In an age of 800 page fantasy novels and unrealistic Goodreads goals, sometimes the best remedy for a reading slump is a children’s book, and one that can be finished in under 10 minutes is a real bonus. Unfortunately for my purse, this has made them highly addictive to read and gather onto our bookshelf – watching the tiny, bright white series of books slowly grow over the past year has been highly satisfying, and speaks to the collectability of the books. There are 23 book in total, not to mention the vast amount of spin-off merchandise, which includes books penned by other authors such as The Further Tale of Peter Rabbit by Emma Thompson.
Harmless, Wholesome, Iconic
Given that these books are generally short, this means the stories themselves tend to be quite simple and have remained pretty inoffensive. Potter manages to include a host of woodland creatures, with enough variety for everyone to have a favourite – whether it’s the discreetly helpful tailor mouse of Gloucester or mischievous Peter himself. Their biggest problems tend to be along the lines of losing possessions or outrunning angry farmers, and the gentle humour infused into each story has resulted in a cast of iconic characters, their influence seeping into many cultural references that persist even today. It often feels like trying to avoid references to Potter would be an impossible task – only recently whilst reading ‘The Once and Future King’, I encountered a hedgehog whom T.H White takes care to clarify is ‘no common tiggy’, which I can assume only is a reference to the wonderful Mrs. Tiggywinkle herself. As an adult, I have found the Peter Rabbit series to be the perfect break between my heavier bits of reading and I strongly recommend treating yourself to a volume the next time you are looking for a gentle read!
Connection to Nature
Something I didn’t expect going into this series is how much they would make me want to get out and explore the English countryside (though it doesn’t often take much!). Not only was Potter an expert with watercolours, but it helps that she was closely acquainted with her subjects. In the first instance, her home in the Lake District is a clear influence on the settings of her stories – I was particularly struck while reading Mrs. Tigglewinkle by a certain page that depicts rolling hills that I feel must have been modeled on a real location. Beyond the locations, the animals themselves are depicted with remarkable accuracy. As someone who owns rabbits, I can’t help but notice how spot on the expressions and ‘movements’ of the bunnies in Potter’s stories are, and it makes complete sense knowing that Potter actually had many pet rabbits of her own, along with bats, mice, snakes and other small critters. Potter is known to have loved drawing animals and plants with special detail, and I think this clearly extends to the illustrations in her books, lending each character a little more authenticity, and making the magic of each story a little more real.
How old were you when you read your first Beatrix Potter book? What do you think has made these books endure for so long? Let me know in the comments below!
