Beatrix Potter: The Complete Tales [Hardcover]

Beatrix Potter (Author)

Book Description

This deluxe volume brings all Beatrix Potter's twenty-three Peter Rabbit Tales together in one book. The texts are complete and unabridged and all the original illustrations, both color and black and white, are included. The stories are arranged in the order in which they were first published for, although each story stands alone, several are linked together by events and characters. Each story has a brief introductory note about its history. The revised edition of The Complete Tales includes two early narrative picture sequences, Three Little Mice and The Rabbits' Christmas Party, and two charming little stories, The Sly Old Cat and The Fosx and the Stork. These four pieces alone, not available in print elsewhere, make this an essential piece of any fan or collector's library.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"I cannot draw you a picture of Peter and Benjamin underneath the basket," writes Beatrix Potter in The Tale of Benjamin Bunny, "because it was quite dark, and because the smell of onions was fearful; it made Peter Rabbit and little Benjamin cry." Beatrix Potter's animal stories, the first of which was published in 1902, have been a joy to generations of young readers. This deluxe volume collects all of Beatrix Potter's 23 Peter Rabbit tales and verses together--complete and unabridged--in one book. All the original illustrations, both color and black and white, are included. The stories are arranged in the order in which they were first published to enable them to be read in the proper sequence, from A Tale of Peter Rabbit to The Tale of Little Pig Robinson. Beatrix Potter's tales were often connected with real places, people, or animals, so each story also includes a brief introductory note about its history. For example, "The story of naughty Peter Rabbit in Mr. McGregor's garden first appeared in a picture letter Beatrix Potter wrote to Noel Moore, the young son of her former governess, in 1893." In addition to the original 23 tales, this edition contains two early narrative picture sequences, Three Little Mice and The Rabbit's Christmas Party. And, there are two charming little stories, The Sly Old Cat and The Fox and the Stork, which were originally intended to be worked up into books, but remained unpublished. This beautiful introduction to the world of Beatrix Potter is sure to remain on the family bookshelf for generations to come. (Baby to Preschool)

About the Author

Potter was the author of the 23 Peter Rabbit Tales as well as many works of natural and scientific importance

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Warne; Revised edition (October 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0723244049
• ISBN-13: 978-0723244042
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 7.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,101,351 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Beatrix Potter (1866-1943)was a writer and illustrator. The Lake District where she lived for the last thirty years of her life as a farmer and conservationist was a particular source of her inspiration, and her passion for the natural world lay behind the creation of her famous little books.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Irresistible cuddly animals with human personalities., July 14, 2000

By 

Rebecca Johnson "The Rebecca Review" (Washington State) - See all my reviews
(COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beatrix Potter: The Complete Tales (Hardcover)

Beatrix Potter acquired her love and knowledge of animals and the countryside during family holidays in Scotland. She also had animals as her constant companions as a child. She sketched and observed them for hours at a time.

Beatrix Potter's books have never lost their popularity. They are sold by the millions and have been translated into over fifteen languages. While her first story in 1902, "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" was published in a small edition by Frederick Warne, within a year it was an instant best seller.

This deluxe volume is a collection of all twenty-three tales and some previously unpublished works. The stories are arranged in the order of publication as several are linked together by events or familiar characters.

Both the watercolors and black and white illustrations have been included. Children will adore the rhyming names of goosey gander and pig-wig. The animals seem to almost take on human personalities. In fact, these magical stories are often connected with real people places or animals.

Little girls who have a doll house will love "The Tale of Two Bad Mice," in which two hungry mice try to eat the artificial plaster doll food. Even at my age I found it irresistibly amusing. These little animals just have such great personalities.

~The Rebecca Review

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Timeless Classic, December 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Beatrix Potter: The Complete Tales (Hardcover)

These stories are a timeless classic meant as much for adults as children. Far from being dark stories (Grimm's Fairy Tales are far more darker and contain more unpleasant themes than Beatrix Potter's stories), they reinforce many important life lessons and will still be around long after Pokemon becomes a footnote of the past.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Illustrations and Wonderful Stories, August 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Beatrix Potter: The Complete Tales (Hardcover)

Beatrix Potter wrote wonderful stories for children! All of the books do have a subtle moral- which is good, imho. Disobedient children are punished in some books- but this does not mean they are dark stories. Her stories are so full of light, the children are not oppressed (in one story a young bunny is spanked- this is only because he went somewhere he'd been told not to b/c his life would be endangered). All of her characters are full of life and love- and so many stories portray great imaginative fun. Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle is especially fun.

These books are true English classics- full of love for life and imagination.