POTTER, (Beatrix)
The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin
"This is a Tale about a tail..."
Inspired by the red squirrels who inhabited the grounds of Lingholm, where Potter spent many holidays between 1885 and 1907. The story follows Squirrel Nutkin, his brother Twinkleberry and their cousins in their quest to harvest nuts from the owl Old Mr Brown’s island on the lake. The squirrels make offerings to the owl every day for six days. While the others gather the nuts the “incessantly impertinent” Squirrel Nutkin recites riddles at Old Mr Brown instead and plays games rather than working. Old Mr Brown ignores Squirrel Nutkin until the final day when he takes Squirrel Nutkin into his tree, which seems like the end of the tale. However, Squirrel Nutkin escapes, although with only half his tail.
The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin followed The Tale of Peter Rabbit and was popular with both British and American audiences, the riddles adding an extra element of amusement to the story.
Hinges cracked, about half upper joint separating, but holding, sympathetic and expert repair work to top and tail of spine panel. Some age-toning to pages. In protective mylar.
Linder, p. 423; Quinby 5. Judy Taylor, Beatrix Potter, 1866-1943: The Artist and Her World, 1987.
