The tale of Mrs William Heelis, Beatrix Potter by Heelis, John - 1999

Stroud, Glos., United Kingdom: Alan Sutton, 1999. Much has been written about the life of Beatrix Potter, the celebrated children's author. Yet one area of her life that has been relatively undocumented is her relationship with Willie Heelis, to whom she was happily married for nearly 30 years. In this account of the Heelis family, which draws on a wealth of anecdotes from family and friends, the author, Willie's great-nephew John Heelis, casts a welcome perspective on this relationship - as well as tackling such controversial questions as whether Beatrix really did like children. Among the strengths of this edition are first-hand reminiscences of family and Lake District friends of the couple, including extensive extracts from some previously unpublished letters. These with the correspondence between Beatrix and Miss Louie Choyce written in the 1920s and 1930s, add to the information about Willie's and Beatrix's life together in Sawrey. Contents: Beatrix marries Willie Heelis; the Heelis family of Appleby; Willie's generation; Battlebarrow house, Appleby; the Hawkshead Heelises; tea with Aunt Beatrix; did Beatrix really dislike children?; Mrs Heelis, farmer; looking after an invalid - Arthur John Heelis, Rector of Brougham; visits to Sawrey by the Nicholson nieces; getting older - Mr and Mrs Heelis of Sawrey; a little cry from the back of the Town Hall at Hawkshead. 112 p. : ill. ; 25 cm. Lovely copy. [ Loaction: BR2 / 1 ]. Soft Cover. Fine. 8vo.