Beatrix Potter (1866-1943) created some of the best-loved characters in children's literature. On September 4th, 1893, she sat down to write a picture letter to the five-year-old son of her ex-governess. Potter wrote: "My dear Noel, I don't know what to write to you, so I shall tell you a story about four little rabbits..." Some years later, Beatrix thought of publishing the story as a book. Six publishers rejected it before she finally printed the book herself.