The Tale of Hill Top Farm

by Susan Wittig Albert

Book Overview

The author of Peter Rabbitand other creature tales, Beatrix Potter is still, after a century, beloved by children and adults the world over. In this first Cottage Tale, Albert introduces Beatrix, an animal lover who has just bought a farm in England's beautiful Lake District. As Beatrix tries to win over the hearts of her fellow villagers, her animal friends set out to solve a mystery all their own.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0425196348
• ISBN13: 9780425196342
• Release Date: September 2004
• Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.89 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.6" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Cute Country Tale

This book was listed as a mystery and, although it begins with a suspicious death, this is not a whodunit. Rather, The Tale of Hill Top Farm is a country tale that follows the life of Beatrix Potter and the townsfolk. There is a very interesting group of people in the book and they are all fictional (with the exception of Beatrix and William Heelis). Basically, Beatrix purchases the Hill Top Farm in the small village of Near Sawrey, and the book follows her interactions and struggles. It is weird - at first - to read a fictional book starring a real-life person; plus, the small animals in the book have spoken lines. The animals talk to the humans, but they can't be heard except to other animals. While some reviewers were put-off by the talking animals, I thought it was a sweet addition, and the animals actually help move the plot along. The story is rather `slow' in the sense that there is no action, really. This is a character-driven book in the small country, so you won't zip through this book at the same pace as an adventure or typical mystery. The book reminded me (a bit) of the Mitford series by Jan Karon, but without the religious messages. Overall, the book is very charming and I'll continuing reading the series.

PRIORITY READ

I have never read any of Ms. Albert's other books - until I read this one. I am an avid art follower of Beatrix Potter - and Ms. Albert has capitalized on her original life story and added delightful little animal characters that speak (which I believe they actually do in life) and made a wonderful story and town in which to mentally dwell. If you are interested in the writing of Jan Karon, Mignon Ballard, Lori Copeland and Nancy Atherton then you will HAVE to have both of these books and then will wait with bated breath for the next in the series. Treat yourself to a mental vacation and purchase this book - followed by The Tale of Holly How.

Blended History and Very Imaginative Fiction

Beatrix Potter wrote such delightful stories and created such interesting characters that Ms. Albert has decided to bring them together in this the first of a series of mystery books. This is not a vicious and nasty mystery book. Indeed how can it be when the amateur detective (Beatrix Potter) has help in solfing the case from Tom Thumb Mouse, and Josey and Mopsy Rabbit. The story is an interesting mix of truth and very imaginative fiction. The truth is that Beatrix Potter did indeed buy Hill Top Farm in 1905, not a common thing for a lady to do in that period. In fact you can visit the house. When she died, she left it to the British National Trust with the proviso that it be kept exactly as she left it, complete with her furniture and china. For more information, just do a Google search. It's not unlikely that she may have talked to her mouse and rabbit creations. But it's pretty unlikely that they proviced much conversation in the other direction.

Wonderful book

One of the best by this always intriguing author. In the costumes of 100 years ago, Beatrix Potter grieves for an old love and finds that the greatest love of all comes from loving oneself within. A motley crew of animals aid her in her quest for self-realization. A missing painting case is brought to a successful conclusion. Seven more books are expected to follow this well-researched placement. Once you get started with one, you can't help it, you must follow this Texas author's trail wherever she decides to lead one, for she is the Pied Piper of literature.