1902 — the birth of Peter Rabbit
From my personal collection, original 1902 - Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter.
Who could not fall in love with the mischievous little rabbit known as Peter!
The little fellow with the blue jacket and tiny slippers who ignored his mother’s plea to not go into Mr McGregor’s garden for fear of befalling the same fate as Mr Rabbit, Snr, has captured hearts since Beatrix Potter introduced him to the world in 1902.
The Tale of Peter Rabbit is filled with adventure and gripping suspense, and not just for children - I continued to be drawn into dramatic pauses when I read these books to my children. My own standout childhood memory of reading Peter’s story was when he narrowly escaped being crushed by Mr McGregor’s boot as he ran swiftly down the steps!
Fortunately, Peter escaped the angry Mr McGregor who then chased him down the path vigorously waving his garden fork, and arrived safely back at home, immediately flopping onto the soft sand floor near where his mother was cooking dinner.
From my personal collection, original 1902 - Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter.
And who can ever forget the melancholic image of dear Peter as he stood on the doorstep, leaning against the locked blue door in the wall, and the little mouse scurrying in and out over the doorstep who couldn’t answer Peter when he asked her the way to the gate, due to the large pea she was carrying in her mouth.
The Beatrix Potter tales are perennial stories of life, no matter our age. They delight with the idea of grand adventures, while teaching of the dangers from wandering too far without an exit strategy.
They also give us entry into a world of innocence and comfort, where we can find solace away from the real and contemporary world of chaos and uncertainty.
And there is nothing wrong with that sometimes.