Beatrix Potter's diary is a true insight into her life. Written in code with the belief that it would never be read, the only surviving entries date from 1881 to 1897. At times she corresponds with a girl called Esther - an imaginary person in Beatrix's life which perhaps points towards the inevitable moments of loneliness she must have felt, particularly whilst Bertram, her brother, was away at school.
Her diary takes us into her world and she writes not only of her day to day life - family visits, trips to art galleries and exhibitions, but also the turbulent side of the wider world - riots, mobs, murders and political and social upheaval.
It was not until 20 years after Beatrix's death that the diary code was cracked by the tireless work of Leslie Linder. On Easter Monday 1958, through recognition of a date mentioned and a little more research the first word was deciphered – 'execution'. This word marked the beginning of the enlightenment and Leslie eventually worked out the code, deciphering the symbols bit by bit.
