"Inspired by the twenty-three "tales," Matthew Dennison takes a selection of quotations from Potter's stories and uses them to explore her multifaceted life and character: repressed Victorian daughter; thwarted lover; artistic genius; formidable country woman. This dramatic narrative charts her transformation from a young girl with a love of animals and fairy tales into a bestselling author and canny businesswoman--so deeply unusual for the Victorian era in which she grew up. Including photographs of Potter's life as well as her own illustrations, this biography will delight anyone who has been touched by Beatrix Potter's work"--Dust jacket.