Beatrix Potter's Favourite Tale
Philip Glassborow recounts the tale of The Tailor of Gloucester鈥檚 original version restored with its Christmas music. From 2012.
Philip Glassborow recounts the tale of the original version of The Tailor of Gloucester - Beatrix Potter's personal favourite.
He also learns about the author's attachment to the many traditional songs and carols which were included when the book was first published in 1901 but excised from the more familiar later version.
With Finty Williams as Beatrix Potter.
It was after a visit to Gloucester that Beatrix Potter became fascinated by the true story behind the miraculous tale of grateful mice stitching the mayor's wonderful waistcoat after the tailor himself had fallen ill and there was no "no more twist".
Potter transformed this into The Tailor of Gloucester and sent it as a gift to Freda, the little daughter of her old governess. She published this privately, including many local songs and carols associated with the old legend that on the stroke of midnight on Christmas eve, the animals are able to speak.
As she had anticipated - and in spite of the astonishing success of her first book, Peter Rabbit - Frederick Warne declined to publish this and eventually brought out a version stripped of most of its music.
Philip Glassborow tracks down the sources of this music and explores Potter's passion for it and the traditions at the heart of the story.
Producer: Beaty Rubens
First broadcast on 麻豆社 Radio 4 in December 2012.
Last on
Philip Glassborow talks about Miss Potter and her Gloucestershire adventure.
Clip
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Why Christmas was solemn and lonely for Beatrix Potter
Duration: 01:37
Mouse-Tailor of Gloucester at rest
Broadcasts
- Thu 27 Dec 2012 11:30麻豆社 Radio 4
- Fri 29 Dec 2017 06:30麻豆社 Radio 4 Extra
- Fri 29 Dec 2017 13:30麻豆社 Radio 4 Extra
- Fri 29 Dec 2017 20:30麻豆社 Radio 4 Extra
- Sat 30 Dec 2017 01:30麻豆社 Radio 4 Extra
- Tue 21 Dec 2021 14:30麻豆社 Radio 4 Extra
- Wed 22 Dec 2021 02:30麻豆社 Radio 4 Extra