Frederick Warne & Co., an imprint of Penguin Random House Children’s, will this September release a previously unpublished children’s story by Beatrix Potter, with new illustrations by Quentin Blake.

The Tale of Kitty-in-Boots, penned by Potter in 1914, was found by publisher Jo Hanks in the archives of the V&A museum in 2013.

“When I was working with Emma Thompson [on The Further Tale of Peter Rabbit, published in 2014] I read a book by Leslie Linder about Beatrix Potter, and came across a reference to Kitty-in-Boots,” she told The Bookseller. “That led me to the V&A, where many of her writings are archived.”

At the museum Hanks found three manuscripts of the tale, which is about a cat who encounters the villainous fox Mr. Tod [from The Tale of Mr. Tod] whilst out hunting, along with sketches of Kitty and Mr. Tod. “The tale really is the best of Beatrix Potter. It has double identities, colourful villains and a number of favourite characters from other tales — most excitingly, Peter Rabbit makes an appearance, albeit older, slower and portlier.”

She said the story, which was probably lost when PRH acquired Frederick Warne & Co in the 1980s, needed only “light editing,” adding: “Beatrix Potter obviously meant to finish the story but things like World War One, getting married and her desire to start running a farm got in the way.”

Read the article “The Tail of Kitty-in-Boots: ‘Lost’ Beatrix Potter Story to be Published in September” on thebookseller.com.