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There is a lot to learn about the creations of Beatrix Potter—not only is she the author of one of the world's most famous children 's books, The Tale of Peter Rabbit ,but also a pioneering conservationist(自然资源保护论者) with the spirit of a scientist.
“Potter grew up as the daughter of a wealthy Victorian family, but along with her brother who filled an entire floor of their large house in London with all sorts of animals, which contributed a lot to her works,” said Anne Lundin, a retired professor for the UW-Madison School of Library and Information Studies.
“As an adult, she was a frustrated botanical scientist. That field was not open to her because she was female,” Lundin said. Potter was urged to turn the charming stories she wrote in letters to children into books. She wrote 23 books in all--a body of work that has inspired plays, ballets, films and an astonishing amount of merchandise.
“The Tule of Peter Rabbit is probably the most famous children's book in the world, which was published in 1902 and has really stood the test of time. It's been translated into 36 languages. The parents and grandparents will share it with the next generation,” said Lundin.
Potter also made a mark on the world through her land conservation.“In many ways, she was like Peter Rabbit, risking into a world of adventure. She withdrew from London as soon as she started making some money on her books to the Lake District and became an extremely important farmer and conservationist. She preserved and passed on 15 farms and over 4,000 acres, which were given back to the country as gifts in the 20th century,” said Lundin.
Even though she was born 150 years ago, she was amazingly modern--her embracing of the natural world, commented Jennifer Blatchley Smith, an artistic director of the show Peter Rabbit Tales to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Potter's birth.
