Beatrix Potter: The Secret Life Of A Victorian Genius | Beatrix Potter | Absolute History 

When I saw the drawings of the new illustrations, I said, "no, no, no, no, no!" They are wonderful and creative drawings by a clearly talented man, but they are not right for a Beatrix Potter book. They really need to find an illustrator who can make this last book look like Beatrix did the illustrations. It is just not right to change the style now.

Fun fact: Beatrix Potter kept diaries, between the ages of 15 and 30, in a secret code so impenetrable that it was not deciphered until the 1960s. Though the code itself was not too difficult, her handwriting was minuscule, and she wrote her code so fluently that it took superfan Leslie Linder 16 years to decipher all her writings.

"Is that our Hyacinth?" Patricia Routledge and Beatrix Potter..fantastic!

Very little mention is made of the fact that not only did Beatrix Potter write those famous children's books, she was also a champion sheep breeder, owning 14 hill farms and 4000 acres of the Lake District. Such was her experience and knowledge of the Herdwick sheep breed, she was often asked to judge agricultural shows in the area..... Once settled in the Lakes, she became friendly with Canon Hardwicke Rawnsley, who founded the National Trust. Upon her death in 1944, Beatrix Potter left her home, land and her farms to the National Trust. The Peter Rabbit books continue to sell in their millions, and are still published by the original publishing company, Warne....... Someone once turned up on the Antiques Roadshow with an original letter signed by Beatrix Heelis (her married name). Had it been signed Beatrix Potter, it would have been worth considerably more......

Oh what a treasure of a documentary! Patricia Routledge is amazing and really brought the story of Beatrix Potter to life. Its hard to believe she is 93!

Beatrix Potter I found out this week, she is in my family tree! I'm so honored to have such a wonderful , fascinating woman to be in my family! I'm so glad I found this beautiful documentary of her life . Just listening to this I marvel at how much she is like me! I'm also an artist , unstoppable person who pursues my goals . Beatrix 's love for animals and nature is dear to me so much. Like her I've recently purchased land that I had always hoped of owning one day. Yes steely determination ! So much we share! Wow!

The new Kitty in Boots looks like Pete the Cat. Don't think I can wrap my head around a manic looking cat while reading Beatrix's language. Plus the charm of her illustrations is that she was a naturalist & the illustrations ring true along with all their misadventures. This is another good example of how intelligent, scientific women were made to sublimate their talent into "acceptable" female pursuits. I think I would have loved her mushroom books as much as her stories and maybe had learned something, too.

when i was a baby my mom's friend gifted me a book of beatrix potter "The tale of MR. Jeremy fisher", it was the first book i've ever read and i keep it in a very special place of my heart

Two of my absolute favourites, Beatrix Potter and Patricia Routledge. Patricia's diction is amazing.😁💖💖💖👏🙏

What a pleasure to hear THAT VOICE tell this story.

I grew up reading her books, little treasures with thick, glossy pages and embossed covers that our mum would buy for our birthdays or Christmas. I have plaster models of Tom Kitten and Mrs Tiggywinkle that I made when I was about 10, and painted. Reading her life story as an adult and a gardener gave me so much respect for her as a country woman, environmentalist and farm owner. I am glad her work is still loved, so many years after her death.

Beatrix Potter's stories give me warm feelings of comfort. Memories of my grandparent's cozy home, with a fire going and a warm cup of milk.

Patricia Routledge will be 94 in February! God bless her!

This was excellent 🐇🦔🐀 One thing I love about Beatrice Potter’s books are her character illustrations: neat, precise and rather cute. They enhance the story. And what talent in her botanical illustrations of various fungi. Talking of talent, Quentin Blake, though talented, his illustrations (in my personal opinion) are rather messy, and opposite to the precision of Miss Potter’s. I wonder why out of all illustrators Quentin was chosen to illustrate Beatrice’s unpublished story, ‘Kitty in Boots’ when their styles are so vastly different. I’m not sure I’d be drawn to purchasing this book compared to something of a neater, cuter and more precise style, fitting with Beatrice’s work. Oh well. I suppose we may never find out, and it’s okay because we can continue to enjoy the 23 books Beatrice did illustrate 🐑🐿🐖🐕Thank you Absolute History for this documentary (thumbs up) 👍

OMG, Hyacinth Bucket on Peter Rabbit! I LURVE it!

I have loved her books since I was a little girl. I'm 66 years old now and I still love her works. She was awesome!

I grew up with Beatrix Potter books and Patricia in Keeping up Appearances! This doc is like a warm hug.

i have always loved the life works of Beatrix Potter. Mom majored in children's literature; our house was full of books, most prized among them Peter Rabbit and the Original Pooh.

Oh gosh. What an incredibly tragic love story. I’m so sorry for her loss, i can’t imagine losing the love of your life so soon. My heart breaks for her.

Makes me sad and warm to think of times of my gran and my mum growing up and reading them to me. And how much the books we’re part of growing up. Nice to learn her strong and hard worked story too.

I grew up with Beatrix Potter's books. I loved the stories, but the pictures were always my favourite. I love art, science and animals and I'm happy to see that Beatrix did too.

There is no one more I admire than Patricia Routledge to present this wonderful documentary. How I loved those books by Beatrice Potter as a child . A film did not represent what we needed to understand. Thank you.

How can someone attempt the perfection of this marvelous lady's illustrations... 🙏 Please, I respectfully ask the publisher's to respect her work and illustrations. I, for one, would love to see if nothing but the story on the page. She left us with some of the most important and memorable works of her art. Her illustrations are burned into my memories. I can read a story and see those characters of hers come to life again and again. So why not... those of us who love her work, use our collective imagination, and picture the new story as she would have drawn them. Sometimes, that can be the best gift an artist can give to her devoted fans. Asking us to live her world, as she saw it. To use our minds and hearts and remember her talents, she gifted them to us all... Thank you, Ms. Beatrice, for giving me a wonderful childhood and helping me to discover the world of my own imagination. May you R.I.P. 🙏 😇

Her art and stories sort of remind me of the Wind in the Willows, since it’s animals that are humanized and have adventures. I like how Patricia Routledge is the presenter. She was so funny on Keeping up Appearances.

Beautiful film, Patricia Routledge is the perfect person to make it. I’ve been to Hilltop Farm and walked around the cottage, such a joyful and inspiring experience!

I just purchased The Peter Rabbit Library for my 4 year old granddaughter. Jemima Puddle-Duck was my favorite, but I loved them all. ❤ Even as a child, I knew how special Beatrix's illustrations were. She captured all of her animals perfectly.

Her drawings at 9 are absolutely incredible! I can hardly fathom how good they are, even for an adult with artistic training!

She is one of my favorite artists , a very good botanical artist, and I love Peter Rabbit as a child, and still love the books.

One of the best videos I've every had the pleasure of watching. Patricia Routledge with her wonderful speaking voice, brought everything to life.

I saw the movie staring Rene Zellwager portraying Ms. Potter and I fell in love with the movie. I watch it often. I will say, it said everything that this documentary said. Just grand.

Patricia is perfect presenter for this feature about Beatrix Potter….I never tire of seeing it again

Ginger and Pickles was always a favorite of mine. The idea of the village general also being run by animals and it going about as well as you'd guess always tickled me.

I still have the Giant Treasury of Beatrix Potter book I was gifted in 1991. It has a handwritten note on the inside cover from my preschool teacher who gave it to me, which makes it more meaningful to me. I've let my children read it a few times and they really enjoyed it. My twins love the characters because we have bunch of animals.

Will be going to Grasmere in June 2023. I now have a new appreciation of this wonderful woman. I NEVER knew that she was partially responsible for saving the incredible Lake District.

Quentin's illustration style bears no relationship whatsoever to Ms. Potter's. There are thousands of English illustrators who would come very close indeed. What could they be thinking?!

Peter rabbit and the stories of his friends always seemed to make my day more exciting than they actually were. Thanks for making this video. You see when I was little it truly seemed as though her characters came to life. Stories can touch a person deeper than they ever knew no matter the subject, setting, or topic. Thanks to everyone who made this video possible.

i love all the different people reading her stories! the exuberance of some of the adults is so charming and the children's voices so adorable.

I've seen this twice now and plan to watch it again. What a wonderful documentary.

Béatrix potter created such magic. People like her are exceedingly rare. I wish we could have gotten more stories and all the stories had become animated

What a beautiful documentary!! Thank you, Patricia, you are an absolute treasure!❤

She and her stories will forever be one of my favorites! This is my childhood and I will always feel very sentimental about them! ❤️

Wonderful biography. I always though Peter rabbit was just one of those are old characters that no one really knew who came up with. I really enjoyed learning about this determined woman who succeeded at a time when things were mostly stacked against her.

My kids never liked her stories or the old cartoons, they thought they were creepy and scary but I have always loved them. I did our church nursery in Beatrix Potter and just adore it.

I was obsessed with this for my first daughter, her nursery was Peter rabbit. It’s so timeless. And my youngest daughter’s pet name from me is Miss Moppet.

Great video! I never knew that Potter's life was such an amazing tale! Also, I absolutely adore how Patricia pronounces the word squirrel. To my American ears, it sounds like she's saying "squiddle"! Fantastic!

Isnt Patricia wonderful in this shes so appreciative of Beatrix life and works 🙏 wonderful narration i love this xx

Beatrix potters seems to have been a very special,sweet and sensitive person,to love animals is a blessing.

Thank you so much for posting this video! I am currently reading a biography of Beatrix Potter. It was wonderful to view some of the locations mentioned in the book as well as have a look at some of her original drawings. Well done in every aspect!

I am grateful I grew up with her stories in Australia back then. After I became a mother of 4 children I continued her stories in Greece. I always loved her animal drawings.Thank you!

What an amazing documentary! Patricia Routledge did an amazing job, bringing, to life, of Beatrix Potter! Absolutely fascinating!

my god, what a fantastic documentary, it was such a pleasure to watch this... made with so much love. im happy to have found this channel, and also this writer which i was not aware of thanks to this amazing video. she was as much of a fascinating artist as she was of a person, so skilled, but also so passionate and honest about her creations. truly something i envy, from the deepest place of admiration and respect possible.

It was so nice to see the life of Beatrix Potter I have admired her work along time, Thank you.

Absolutely beautiful video. Thank you.

I love how the story is told - so heartwarming

I remember this program and I love this person's work.

Most enjoyable! Thank you for sharing this video with me and many others.

I love this. It is amazing how much influence one person can have on history, and in entertaining the minds of young and old alike.

What a most enduringly delightful broadcast. Thank you very much.

Love all of Ms. Potter's Books. Excellent naration by Ms.Rutledge.❤️

Patricia Routledge is a treasure....my favorite actor with no peer.

Just a purely lovely program. I am awed by her and by the wonderful program about her!! Thank you!

I don't fancy his drawing in the least. Beatrice's drawings were a sweet and loving depiction of animals, that Mr. Blake doesn't even vaguely approach. Not a fan and although we have all the Beatrix Potters books tucked away, that my kids now in their 30's , loved , I would NEVER purchase a book illustrated by Brooks.

I couldn't resiste the urge to go watch an episode of "Keeping Up Appearances" after this.

Brilliant documentary. Thank you !

Thank you for another great video 👌 I love Beatrix Potter tales ❤

One can never get enough of Beatrix Potter! A lovely production.

I love the Beatrix Potter stories to this day. I live in Brazil, and I had the opportunity to watch the stories of Peter the Rabbit on television, to this day I still get emotional remembering the opening and ending of the animations. A few years ago I found a book with all these stories, it was a huge emotion to find the book and it was also an exercise to improve my English. This universe she created is magical and enchanting.

What a lovely video! One of my favourites. 💕🥰

This Documentary Was So Beautifully Presented! I Loved It. Thank You! 💗💗📚📚💗💗

Fabulous, The movie was excellent and very informative but Patricia dud a superb job here, thank you for the upload 😘

Im not from UK but the British stories telling always being one of best exports to the world, wonder why? may be soild sense of history, bookworms & eccentricity etc.

So wonderfully done! Love Patricia Rutledge & Beatrix Potter & their works❣️

How on earth could Quentin Blake even be considered as a replacement for Ms Potter's work????? His work looks positively manic!!!!!

For some odd reason my parents never bought us any Beatrix Potter books. I think they might have cost too much. (The 1950s were not the best of times for low paid railwaymen) So I was an adult before I even heard of them. I am so glad, though, that her fungi drawings are noted. They are exquisite. And the Linnean Society might have benefitted fans of Peter Rabbit but what knowledge did we lose.

I enjoyed these wonderful stories and illustrations❣️

Thank you. Most enjoyable.

The story of a very creative woman, presented by a very creative woman.And Sir Quentin Blake. Thanks Absolute History.

Enjoyed this report very much.Until now really had only seen the movie.She was an amazing person and very gifted.

Superb video, thank you, happy 2023!.

Such an amazing programme. I am not English but i've always loved Beatrix, her warm, beatiful fairy tale world❤❤❤❤❤❤

Remarkable artist, woman, and human being.

❤ Fantastic documentary ❤️

Beatrix Potter & her precious Artwork & Animal Stories were unknown to me until my Adult Life which I came to Treasure & Adore. I so appreciate this film narrated by Patricia Rutledge and it's showing today when we all need a Breath of Fresh Air in these Troubled Times. God bless us Every One !!⚘🙏⚘

Admirable woman. Fascinating Life! Loved this! Thank-you.

A stunning video!

My introduction to Beatrix Potter's world is with the movies that came out. Still have them and when I feel like it, I'll stick a CD in the CD player and watch it all over again. So much nostalgia.

I can’t get enough of the stuff I love it!

Ich erfuhr von Beatrix Potter erst durch einen Spielfilm. Dieser Film ist einfach bezaubernd; und seither wandle ich ein bisschen auf ihren Spuren, um mehr über sie herauszufinden. Dieses Portrait ist großartig, ein richtiger Schatz, vielen Dank.

21:30 I'm from southern California, and hearing that little voice with her accent was so endearing. Oh my. SO cute! :D haha!

I've always thought the art made the story as much if not more than anything! Love the little stories

A remarkable Dame telling us about another great lady. We are blessed

I love these stories.

I LOVE PATRICIA ROUTLEDGE, been a huge fan of hers since Keeping Up Appearances but recognized her voice in the animated Peter Rabbit series from around the same time.

At minute 18:55, you said Beatrix was 32 in 1902; she was 36. Just thought that someone might care.

The Tale of Tom Kitten was the book gave to my 2 nephews, hoping it would make them love cats. Sadly when my sister divorced, her hateful husband destroyed all the books.

The Tailor of Gloucester was my favourite. To think those little mice had made such tiny buttonholes! I lived in Gloucester and took my children to the little shop in College Court.

I have a decorative planter with her illustration of peter rabbit on it i came to own quite randomly when someone left it at my work when they didnt want it, how lovely to see this!

What a lovely story with a wonderful host

Wonderful!!!Thank you for sharing...lovely!!!xxx

Wonderful story . Thank you .