J.M. Barrie

Rosie Gamgee · 02-02-2005, 11:04 AM

Well, I don't know if anyone on this board has read anything by or about J.M. Barrie besides what he's best known for- Peter Pan, but Barrie's life and works are up for discussion here.

I've always loved the story of Peter Pan since I first saw the Disney animated version when I was a kid. When I got older I read the book, and was a million times more enchanted. I read it at least once a year, it's a delightful book. I thought at the time that Barrie's only significant work was Peter Pan.

About a month ago, however, I went to see the movie Finding Neverland, and, as is usual with me, I wanted to see how much of the true story was actually portrayed in the movie (as it turns out, not very much. But that's okay, I still think it's a good movie--- did I just say that?). I read a biography by Andrew Birkin called J.M. Barrie and the Lost Boys, and I find myself very intrigued by the story of Barrie's life, as well as his own mind.

I've also read a few of his plays since then, which I find charming, and also The Little Minister, which is probably a better work than Peter Pan (although the latter still remains my favorite).

If you are like me, and haven't really thought of J.M.B. further than Peter Pan, I encourage you to look into some of his other works- they are quite good and shouldn't be missed. For those of you who have read any of Barrie's works, here's the place to discuss them- as I am aching to do. Any takers?

sun-star · 03-05-2005, 08:39 AM

I heard two radio plays a while ago by Barrie about WW1, though I haven't actually read them. One was about a father being visited by the ghost of his son who died in WW1, while his wife tried to contact him through a seance, and the other was about an old man being visited by his grandson and his fiance (I can't remember the second one very well). I'm afraid I don't know either of the titles, but they were both very moving.

Apart from that, I've always been a big fan of Peter Pan and also of Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens, which in some ways I prefer. It makes Kensington Gardens a magical place to me anyway! I loved Finding Neverland, too, even though it's not historically accurate.

cee2lee2 · 03-06-2005, 12:27 AM

I'm one of those who knows nothing about J.M. Barrie other than he was Peter Pan's author. However your recommendation encourages me to look further. I've only seen the animated or televised stage versions of Peter Pan(loved them!), but will look for the book now. I would not have thought it to be a book that someone would read every year. (I read Pride and Prejudice and the Narnia books every year.)

Rosie Gamgee · 03-09-2005, 10:32 AM

Peter Pan is a beautiful book. Very whimsical and sentimental, but mostly entirely serious- which is what gives it it's charm. Do read it!

Sunstar, the first play you described is A Well-Remembered Voice. It is indeed very touching. I can't place the second one, though.

02-02-2005, 11:04 AM	#1
Rosie Gamgee The Lovely Hobbit-Lass Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bounded in a nut-shell Posts: 1,593	J.M. Barrie Well, I don't know if anyone on this board has read anything by or about J.M. Barrie besides what he's best known for- Peter Pan, but Barrie's life and works are up for discussion here. I've always loved the story of Peter Pan since I first saw the Disney animated version when I was a kid. When I got older I read the book, and was a million times more enchanted. I read it at least once a year, it's a delightful book. I thought at the time that Barrie's only significant work was Peter Pan. About a month ago, however, I went to see the movie Finding Neverland, and, as is usual with me, I wanted to see how much of the true story was actually portrayed in the movie (as it turns out, not very much. But that's okay, I still think it's a good movie--- did I just say that?). I read a biography by Andrew Birkin called J.M. Barrie and the Lost Boys, and I find myself very intrigued by the story of Barrie's life, as well as his own mind. I've also read a few of his plays since then, which I find charming, and also The Little Minister, which is probably a better work than Peter Pan (although the latter still remains my favorite). If you are like me, and haven't really thought of J.M.B. further than Peter Pan, I encourage you to look into some of his other works- they are quite good and shouldn't be missed. For those of you who have read any of Barrie's works, here's the place to discuss them- as I am aching to do. Any takers? __________________ It's New Years Day, just like the day before; Same old skies of grey, same empty bottles on the floor. Another year's gone by, and I was thinking once again, How can I take this losing hand and somehow win? Just give me One Good Year To get my feet back on the ground. I've been chasing grace; Grace ain't so easily found One bad hand can devil a man, chase him and carry him down. I've got to get out of here, just give me One Good Year!

03-05-2005, 08:39 AM	#2
sun-star Lady of Letters Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Either Oxford or Kent, England Posts: 2,476	I heard two radio plays a while ago by Barrie about WW1, though I haven't actually read them. One was about a father being visited by the ghost of his son who died in WW1, while his wife tried to contact him through a seance, and the other was about an old man being visited by his grandson and his fiance (I can't remember the second one very well). I'm afraid I don't know either of the titles, but they were both very moving. Apart from that, I've always been a big fan of Peter Pan and also of Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens, which in some ways I prefer. It makes Kensington Gardens a magical place to me anyway! I loved Finding Neverland, too, even though it's not historically accurate. __________________ And all the time the waves, the waves, the waves Chase, intersect and flatten on the sand As they have done for centuries, as they will For centuries to come, when not a soul Is left to picnic on the blazing rocks, When England is not England, when mankind Has blown himself to pieces. Still the sea, Consolingly disastrous, will return While the strange starfish, hugely magnified, Waits in the jewelled basin of a pool.

03-09-2005, 10:32 AM	#4
Rosie Gamgee The Lovely Hobbit-Lass Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bounded in a nut-shell Posts: 1,593	Peter Pan is a beautiful book. Very whimsical and sentimental, but mostly entirely serious- which is what gives it it's charm. Do read it! Sunstar, the first play you described is A Well-Remembered Voice. It is indeed very touching. I can't place the second one, though. __________________ It's New Years Day, just like the day before; Same old skies of grey, same empty bottles on the floor. Another year's gone by, and I was thinking once again, How can I take this losing hand and somehow win? Just give me One Good Year To get my feet back on the ground. I've been chasing grace; Grace ain't so easily found One bad hand can devil a man, chase him and carry him down. I've got to get out of here, just give me One Good Year!

03-06-2005, 12:27 AM	#3
cee2lee2 Elf Lord Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: 2nd star to the left..... Posts: 566	I'm one of those who knows nothing about J.M. Barrie other than he was Peter Pan's author. However your recommendation encourages me to look further. I've only seen the animated or televised stage versions of Peter Pan(loved them!), but will look for the book now. I would not have thought it to be a book that someone would read every year. (I read Pride and Prejudice and the Narnia books every year.)