The Tailor of Gloucester

5C Beatrix Potter. London: F. Warne & Co., 1903. First or Second edition. Notes Beatrix Potter’s The Tailor of Gloucester was published in 1903 and is often cited as her personal favorite among all her works. The story is set in the city of Gloucester, England, and was inspired by a local folktale she heard while visiting the area. It tells the tale of a poor but skilled tailor who falls ill before he can finish a beautiful coat commissioned by the mayor for Christmas Day. While he rests, a group of grateful mice—whom he once saved from his cat—secretly complete the coat for him, leaving only one buttonhole unfinished due to a lack of twist. Potter’s story blends realism and fantasy, with detailed illustrations of 18th-century dress and interiors, alongside talking animals who show loyalty, gratitude, and industry. The tale is rich in warmth and quiet magic, and its Christmas setting adds to its enduring charm. Potter herself cherished The Tailor of Gloucester, calling it “my own f