The Tale of Mr. Tod
Tommy Brock the badger has stolen the Flopsy Bunny children, and Mr. Tod the fox is asleep in his own bed — with a badger under it. Two old enemies, one very small hole, and a quiet rescue mission led by Peter and Benjamin, now grown up. This is the longest, strangest, and most grown-up of the rabbit stories.
By 1912, Beatrix had moved to Hill Top Farm and was feeling restless about her own work. She wrote to her publisher: "I am quite tired of making goody goody books about nice people. Now, for a change, I am going to make a story about two disagreeable people, called Tommy Brock and Mr. Tod." The result was the first book in a new sub-series — same shape and size, slightly more elaborate binding, full of small pen-and-ink drawings inside border lines.
She dedicated it to her cousin Caroline's baby boy, Francis William of Ulva — someday, meaning when he was old enough to enjoy a story this dark. He grew into a fine oarsman and swimmer, and died of wounds in Italy in 1944. The book remembers him still.
The cover shown is the original edition. Amazon carries the copies in print today.
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Particulars
- Trade edition
- 1912, Frederick Warne & Co. ("The Peter Rabbit Books, Series II, New Style")
- Setting
- Lake District, near Sawrey
- Dedication
- "For Francis William of Ulva — someday!"
- Format
- More elaborate binding with rounded back. Fewer coloured pictures, many small pen-and-ink drawings inside border lines.
- Famous opening
- "I am quite tired of making goody goody books about nice people."
Curiosities
- ❦"Tod" is an old English country word for fox, and "Brock" the same for badger. Beatrix gave her two villains the oldest names she knew.
- ❦Warne tried to soften her opening line. She refused: "If it were not impertinent to lecture one's publishers — you are a great deal too much afraid of the public, for whom I have never cared one tuppenny-button."
- ❦The dedication misprinted "Francis William" as "William Francis" in the first edition. It was corrected in later printings.
- ❦It is the longest and darkest of the original tales — the only book where the villains are villains and the heroes barely escape.
- ❦Warnes wanted to launch a brand-new series. Beatrix said no: "I feel convinced that children would prefer the same familiar size, and as little change as may be."
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