Title: ‘Over the Hills and Far Away’: The Life of Beatrix Potter
Author: Matthew Dennison
Genre: Non-Fic, Biography
About the book…
A biography of Beatrix Potter that looks at the entirety of her life.
What I think…
I’m a pretty big fan of Beatrix Potter (hence, the above box, which was an old school project) and this book did not disappoint. I loved that it looked at her not only from the perspective of her as a writer, but who she was as an individual outside of the realm of writing.
This book alternates from being narrative to being more serious and historically detailed. A lot of time is devoted to her childhood, which was dragged out well into her twenties by her parents who she struggled to be taken seriously by throughout her life. A good portion of this look at her childhood is spent examining individuals, such as her parents, grandparents, other extended relatives, and governesses, and how they shaped a young Beatrix in her worlds of isolation.
Dennison also does a good job of tying in the role art played in Beatrix's life and the way her father influenced her interest in it early on. Additionally, he addresses the way her detailed nature studies influenced later artwork in her books.
It does help to be familiar with her stories as they are quoted and referenced heavily and often have some connection to some aspect of her life whether it be her pets or some detail that inspired her.
To sum it all up…
An interesting look at Potter’s life that shows not only what influenced her writing, but who she was beyond being a writer. ♥
