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Linda J. Lear
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Beatrix Potter: A Life In Nature Hardcover – 19 Dec. 2006

by Linda Lear (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 490 ratings
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Beatrix Potter, the twentieth century's most beloved children's writer and illustrator, created books that will forever conjure nature for millions. Yet though she is a household name around the world, her personal life and her other significant achievements remain largely unknown. This remarkable new biography is a voyage of discovery into the story of an extraordinary woman. At a time when plunder was more popular than preservation, she brought nature back into the English imagination. Beatrix Potter: A Life in Nature reveals a strong, humorous and independent woman, whose art was timeless, and whose generosity left an indelible imprint on the countryside.
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  1. Print length
    608 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Allen Lane
  4. Publication date
    19 Dec. 2006
  5. Dimensions
    15.7 x 5.4 x 24.6 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    0713995602
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0713995602
  8. See all details
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Product description

About the Author

Linda Lear has always been intrigued by how the lives of artists and writers have been influenced by the natural world. She discovered quite by accident that before Potter began her legendary series of 'little books' for children she had been an avid student of natural history. A professor of environmental history and author of the prize-winning biography Rachel Carson: Witness for Nature, Lear is an enthusiastic horticulturalist and collector of botanical art. She and her husband live in Bethesda, Maryland.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Allen Lane; First Edition (19 Dec. 2006)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 608 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0713995602
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0713995602
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 15.7 x 5.4 x 24.6 cm
  • Customer reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 490 ratings

About the author

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Linda J. Lear

Linda J. Lear

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Linda Lear is an environmental historian and the author of two prize-winning biographies: Rachel Carson: Witness for Nature (2009) and Beatrix Potter: A Life in Nature (2007). She has written the introduction to the 50th anniversary edition of Rachel Carson's Silent Spring (2012) and edited an anthology of Carson's unpublished writing, Lost Woods: The Discovered Writing of Rachel Carson (1998). She maintains www.rachelcarson.org. Linda lives in Bethesda, Maryland and Charleston, South Carolina.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
490 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book easy to read and well-researched. They appreciate the attention to detail and useful information provided. The book is described as a great biographical study with good condition.

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ReadabilityDepthResearch qualitySturdinessValue for money
19 customers mention ‘Readability’19 positive0 negative

Customers find the book readable and interesting. They say it's a good read for fans of Beatrix Potter.

"...She loved the book and has now started adding the occasional small animals in her cottage garden scenes." Read more

"...Potter deserves to be brought back into the spotlight as a great Englishwoman." Read more

"...This book would be of great interest to anyone interested in pioneers of science, art, conservation or literature...." Read more

"Who knew she had done so much and knew so many artists? Very readable." Read more

11 customers mention ‘Depth’11 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's depth. They find it detailed, with attention to detail and a well-written work. The prose is economical, with each phrase carefully chosen to move the story forward. The illustrations are beautiful, with precision and truth in the animals' depictions. Overall, readers praise the author's natural writing style and knowledge of the subject matter.

"...Beatrix Potter's books so much, I would have to say it is the attention to detail - the simply beautiful precision of the anthropomorphic drawings,..." Read more

"...about a multi talented woman you will thoroughly enjoy this well written book." Read more

"...At the beginning, you really do have to persevere as it discusses in extraordinary detail, Beatrix's research into spores and fungi...." Read more

"This is an exceptionally well written work, worthy of the genius." Read more

9 customers mention ‘Research quality’9 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's research quality. They find it well-researched, with a good knowledge of the subject. The book provides useful information and details about Beatrix Potter's life and family background. It is described as an interesting and detailed biography that is worthy of the author's genius.

"This is a carefully researched and very interesting book on the author Beatrix Potter, her life growing up with a very close-knit family and her own..." Read more

"Very detailed book about her life and her family background. Still reading......very interesting." Read more

"...Rather over descriptive of location in parts but generally useful information." Read more

"This is an exceptionally well written work, worthy of the genius." Read more

3 customers mention ‘Sturdiness’3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's sturdiness. They say it's in good condition and new.

"Perfect condition and arrived early. Totally brilliant, thanks :)" Read more

"Good condition. Lovely book." Read more

"Brand new!" Read more

3 customers mention ‘Value for money’3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's value for money. They find it an excellent purchase and say it's well-written.

"Very good price but this item should not be listed as condition "very good"." Read more

"Great transaction, wonderfully written book. Thanks!" Read more

"Excellent purchase,really in depth account ." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Benjisdad
    5.0 out of 5 stars Bought as a gift for a delighted recipient
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 January 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I bought this for an old lady who lives near me who is 93 years old. She likes painting and we live quite close to the Lake District ... which is of course where Beatrix Potter lived. She loved the book and has now started adding the occasional small animals in her cottage garden scenes.
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  • Richard Newbold
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Life Well-Lived in Exquisite Detail
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 April 2014
    Verified Purchase
    If I was to try to explain why I love Beatrix Potter's books so much, I would have to say it is the attention to detail - the simply beautiful precision of the anthropomorphic drawings, the "truth" in the animals' characterisations which whilst whimsical are by no means idealistic and show nature to have a hard edge, the economy of the prose, each phrase carefully chosen to propel the story forward at the correct pace - and of course the humour.

    Well, Linda Lear manages to emulate her subject - the accompanying photographs not only give us Beatrix's drawings of her pets and woodland fungi but also courtesy of her father's keen interest in photography, portraits of the young Beatrix of astounding quality. What can't be done in such a rich life is do it justice in anything less than the 450 pages of text and 75 pages of references - but stick with it, it tells of a curiously compartmented life - through a cosseted childhood which unfortunately becomes stifling to the highly intelligent young woman - the almost accidental emergence of the author of hugely successful children's books - and finally personal and intellectual fulfilment through a late marriage, a passion for hill farming, and her other lasting legacy, the conservation of the landscape of her adopted home, the Lake District. Can't recommend this book too highly.
    9 people found this helpful
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  • hilaryt
    4.0 out of 5 stars Well-Researched and Readable
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 May 2016
    Verified Purchase
    This substantial work reveals a huge amount about the author of the little books. She steps out of the biography as a rounded character, with a few weaknesses. But the reader is left full of admiration at all she achieved at a time when women were often expected to do very little with their lives. In this anniversary year Beatrix Potter deserves to be brought back into the spotlight as a great Englishwoman.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • JennyM
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Gem of a Book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 31 May 2022
    Verified Purchase
    This is a carefully researched and very interesting book on the author Beatrix Potter, her life growing up with a very close-knit family and her own contributions to her local community and it's natural surroundings which have been passed down to current times. This is one of the best biographical studies I have ever read and I came away with a new found respect for the author, as well as for her children's stories. I have bought two hard back copies to pass on to each my children.
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  • Malachite
    5.0 out of 5 stars An easy read about an amazing woman
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 September 2015
    Verified Purchase
    An easy read about an amazing woman. There is so much more to her than most people are aware of. This book would be of great interest to anyone interested in pioneers of science, art, conservation or literature. She was way ahead of her time and the book covers all the interesting parts of her life.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Anna
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant biography makes Beatrix come to life.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 August 2021
    Verified Purchase
    If you love nature the Lake District and reading about a multi talented woman you will thoroughly enjoy this well written book.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • k gotheridge
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 April 2018
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    Who knew she had done so much and knew so many artists? Very readable.
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  • LittleMan
    5.0 out of 5 stars FANTASTIC!!!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 March 2010
    Verified Purchase
    A brilliant book from start to finish - there's so much more to Beatrix Potter than her children's books - I never knew quite how gifted and knowledgeable she was until I read this excellent book. Highly recommended!
    7 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • EDDI
    5.0 out of 5 stars ottima biografia
    Reviewed in Italy on 28 September 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Una delle poche biografie su Potter che consiglio.
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  • Louise Sliger
    5.0 out of 5 stars Intéressant
    Reviewed in Canada on 18 December 2020
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    Complet
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  • Linda
    5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely gift
    Reviewed in France on 19 August 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Perfect for my friend who loves gardening and fighting for women's rights!
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  • Tina Müller (www.buchnotizen.de)
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, great woman ...
    Reviewed in Germany on 19 July 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I love the stories about Peter Hase and his friends and love also the film about Beatrix Potter ... also I must read all the autobiography books about her wonderful life ... What a great woman!
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  • ママ
    5.0 out of 5 stars 素晴らしい
    Reviewed in Japan on 1 October 2023
    Verified Purchase
    最後まで夢中で読める作品でした。
    とても詳しく書かれていて、ますますベアトリクスポターが好きになりました！
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