J. M. Barrie

Like A. A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh series, Scottish author Sir J. M. Barrie's most famous work walks a fine line between preciousness and genuine fun--and manages, most of the time, to keep its balance. Although Barrie began his career as a journalist, playwright, and highly successful adult novelist, he is best remembered as the author of the 1904 play (and 1911 novel) Peter Pan, the famous children's classic about an unchanging boy who lives and fights and plays in a fantastic place called Neverland.

In 1929, Barrie gave all the rights to Peter Pan to the Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity, thereby ensuring that the play would be produced indefinitely and cementing his reputation as a particularly classy guy.

Note: Barrie was on a cricket team with several famous authors, including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, P.G. Wodehouse, and Jerome K. Jerome. Conan Doyle was apparently the only one who could play worth a damn, but it must have been a fun group to accompany for post-game drinking.


Aftertaste:
In one word: Hook. Bleagh. And the 1953 Disney movie (of course) but even that isn't as bad as some of their "adaptations". On the other hand, I quite liked P. J. Hogan's 2003 film version of Peter Pan.

Availability:
In bookstores and libraries everywhere.

(Availability Note: While we here at Wordcandy always encourage you to buy books (in fact, buy them through us! We're a very worthy cause!) we understand that sometimes, alas, one is flat broke. If that's the case, you can read copies of some or all of this author's books at this fine site for FREE.)

Other Recommendations:
Daddy-Long-Legs, by Jean Webster

Alice in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll

The Winnie-the-Pooh stories, by A. A. Milne

Website:
http://www.gosh.org/about_us/peterpan/index.html -