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.