A JOURNALIST visited the Lake District for a new TV series exploring the landscapes that inspired some of Britain’s most iconic pieces of literature by female writers.
Mariella Frostrup, for Channel 4’s Britain's Novel Landscapes, had already visited Cornwall to experience the landscape that inspired Daphne du Maurier as well as Hampshire to discover the places that influenced Jane Austen’s classic novels.
In her latest episode she headed to the Lakes to learn about Beatrix Potter, whose enchanting tales have sold over 100 million copies worldwide.
“As a child I was enchanted by the Potter stories that my parents read to me and when I in turn read them to my own kids I appreciated her tales on a whole new level,” said Frostrup.
“Beatrix Potter’s stories are not just for children, there’s lots in there for adults too.
“Alongside her hugely skilful observations of the landscape and the creatures here in the Lake District that she loved so much, there’s also piercing insight into human character and the nature of Victorian society.
“In fact, these books are anything but just about cute creatures, you’ll learn more about people in Beatrix Potter books, than you will perhaps animals themselves.”
Boarding a steam train at Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway, Frostrup met historian Dr Chris Donaldson where they discussed the young Beatrix Potter and her first visits to the Lakes.
She left the train at Lakeside on Windermere and headed out to find out what makes the Lake District unique and why Beatrix Potter fell ‘head over heels in love with it’.
On the shores of Windermere, Frostrup met geologist Louisa Brotherson to find out how the iconic Lakes landscape was formed.
They also considered the role the Lake District’s heavy rainfall had on Potter’s writing.
Next, Frostrup headed to the Armitt Musuem in Ambleside to look at some of Potter’s mycological drawings and hear about her scientific aspirations.
After, she travelled to the Lingholm Estate, where the Potter family holidayed, to discover how one of Potter’s best-known characters-Peter Rabbit-was created and shared with the world.
She then meets artist Alison Bradley to see how Potter achieved her beautiful images before exploring the impact the death of Norman Warne-Potter’s fiancé -had on her and her purchase of Hill Top.
Frostrup then followed the increasing popularity of Potter’s books and the ‘Golden age’ of children’s literature.
She finished the episode by focusing on Potter’s enduring conservation legacy which has helped safeguard the iconic Lakes landscape.
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