Beatrix Potter’s tales and illustrations of Peter Rabbit, Tom Kitten and friends, set in quintessential English villages and on Edwardian farms, have charmed children for decades. But alongside being an artist and author, Beatrix Potter was a natural scientist, a conservationist, a farmer, sheep-breeder, and shrewd businesswoman.

So how did this shy, sheltered Victorian girl become a literary phenomenon? What did it take to succeed in the male dominated world of publishing? Why did she focus so much of her attention on the conservation of the Lake District? And what was the tragedy that might have stopped her career in its tracks? 

This is a Short History Of Beatrix Potter.

A Noiser Production. Written by Fiona Veitch-Smith. With thanks to Libby Joy, from the Beatrix Potter Society.

Get every episode of Short History Of a week early with Noiser+. You’ll also get ad-free listening, bonus material, and early access to shows across the Noiser network. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started. Or, if you’re on Spotify or Android, go to noiser.com/subscriptions.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices