Potter mania — Beloved author found success at a time when women's opportunities were limited

"Once upon a time there were four little rabbits, and their names were — Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail and Peter."

With those words, English author Beatrix Potter created a character that has charmed children and adults alike for more than a century — and launched a career that added dozens more whimsical characters to her repertoire.

Potter, who was born in 1866 and died in 1943, lived an interesting life and left a lasting legacy not only in children's literature but in other areas, as well.

She found success at a time when options for women were severely limited; she was active in the conservation movement; she survived personal sorrow and the disapproval of her family.

Her books have become some of the best-selling children's classics of all time. "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" alone has sold more than 40 million copies worldwide and has been translated into more than 35 languages — including a recent heiroglyphics edition produced by the British Museum.

Her characters have been turned into collectible figurines, stuffed animals and other such forms. Her art has been shown in famous art galleries. Potter herself introduced a Peter Rabbit board game, and other accessories have come along.

Her stories have always been out there, but in recent months, her life has received new attention with the publishing of some new biographies and the release of a theatrical movie.

"Beatrix Potter: A Life in Nature," by Linda Lear (St. Martin's Press, $30) focuses on the strong connections Potter had with the natural world, from the time she was a young girl through her years living in England's Lake District as a country farmer. "At a time when plunder was more popular than preservation, she brought nature back into the English imagination," writes Lear.

"Beatrix Potter: A Journal," (The Penguin Group, $19.99) is a picture book of sorts based on the journal Potter started at age 16 — and written in a secret code that was not decoded until years after her death.

"Miss Potter" (now playing at the Trolley Square Regency Theatre in Salt Lake City) stars Renee Zellweger, Ewan McGregor and Emily Watson and tells the story of Potter as she becomes a published author and struggles to overcome a domineering mother and the chauvinism of Victorian England.

The woman who has sparked all this interest was born in London, the daughter of wealthy and socially aspiring parents. Her parents tended to be overprotective and discouraged contact with other children. A younger brother, Bertram, was born when Beatrix was 6, and the two of them were educated at home by a succession of governesses. When Bertram was old enough, he went off to school, but Beatrix stayed at home, learning reading, writing, music and art.