Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens

J. M. Barrie

Nov 2019 · Good Press

About this ebook

In 'Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens' by J. M. Barrie, readers are transported to a whimsical world where young Peter Pan takes flight for the first time. The book, written in a charming and imaginative style, serves as a prelude to the beloved 'Peter Pan' story. Filled with enchanting descriptions and a touch of fairy-tale magic, Barrie's work captures the essence of childhood wonder and innocence. The fantastical setting of Kensington Gardens provides a fitting backdrop for the adventures of Peter Pan, offering readers a delightful escape into a world where anything is possible. Barrie's narrative style, characterized by its nostalgic tone and vivid imagery, makes 'Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens' a timeless classic that continues to captivate audiences of all ages. This book is a must-read for anyone seeking a charming and enchanting tale that celebrates the joys of childhood and the power of imagination.

About the author

James Matthew Barrie, the creator of Peter Pan, was born on May 9, 1860, in Kirriemuir, Angus, Scotland. His idyllic boyhood was shattered by his brother's death when Barrie was six. His own grief and that of his mother influenced the rest of his life. Through his work, he sought to recapture the carefree joy of his first six years. Barrie came to London as a freelance writer in 1885. His early fiction, Auld Licht Idylls (1888) and A Window in Thrums (1889), were inspired by his youth in Kirriemuir. After publishing a biography of his mother Margaret Ogilvy and the autobiographical novel Sentimental Tommy, about a boy living in a dream world (1896), he concentrated on writing plays. The Admirable Crichton (1902), the story of a butler who becomes king of a desert island, helped to establish Barrie's reputation as a playwright. Meanwhile, he began to relive his childhood by telling the first Peter Pan stories to the sons of his friend, Sylvia Llewellyn Davies. The play Peter Pan was first performed in 1904 and published as a novel seven years later. Its imaginative drama, featuring the eternal boy's triumph over the grownup Captain Hook, idealizes childhood and underscores adults' inability to regain it. These resonant themes made it a classic of world literature. Barrie's later work shows his increasingly cynical view of adulthood, particularly in Dear Brutus (1917). Often considered his finest play, it concerns nine men and women whose caprices destroy a miraculous opportunity to relive their lives. Barrie married the former Mary Ansell in 1894. They divorced in 1909, never having any children. Barrie died in London on June 19, 1937.