Previously unpublished Beatrix Potter story discovered

“I think it’s the best of Beatrix Potter”.

“It’s obvious that Beatrix fully meant to publish this book”, Hanks said in a Q&A on the publisher’s website.

The story, which features popular character Peter Rabbit, has been revived with illustrations by celebrated artist Quentin Blake, and it is set for release in September (16).

The story will be published to coincide with what would have been Potter’s 150th birthday, according to The Bookseller.

Potter’s only known color illustration for the book shows the heroine, Miss Kitty, wearing a tweed jacket, shirt and tie, and carrying a rifle over her shoulder.

The drawings for the story will be done by illustrator Quentin Blake, who worked on Roald Dahl’s books.

Potter’s first children’s book was The Tale Of Peter Rabbit, based on a real rabbit named Peter Piper.

It will tell the story a well-behaved cat which leads a double life, and involves double identities, colourful villains and characters from other Potter tales.

She was already an established children’s author when she sat down to write and illustrate Kitty-In-Boots.

Potter began the story late in her career.

Was Beatrix Potter a part of your childhood? A self-taught naturalist, she impressed those who encountered her with the breadth of her knowledge of flora and fauna in Great Britain.

“She was a fierce campaigner on local conservation issues and passionate about preserving a way of life”, the National Trust writes of Potter.

Blake was excited to accept the job after taking an instant liking to the story.

Publisher Jo Hanks rediscovered the manuscript two years ago and chose Blake to illustrate it because he “understands the rebelliousness of animal characters and doesn’t patronise children, which was one of Potter’s bugbears”.

“I have a unusual feeling that it might have been waiting for me”, he said.