Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
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"All children, except one, grow up".
This is the opening to a children's classic that needs no introductions. 
For over a century, the adventures of the immortal Peter Pan have been told and re-told to different generations of enthralled children. For many their first visit to the theatre has been to see Peter Pan come to life on stage.
Peter Pan tells the story of Peter, a somewhat cocky boy, who one night flies in through the nursery window of the Darling household, looking for his shadow. There he meets the Darling children - Wendy, Michael and John and their adventures begin. With some help from Tinkerbell, Peter's bright and possessive fairy, the children learn how to fly and they are soon heading off to Neverland following Peter's instructions of "Second to the right and straight on 'til morning".
Left, and right: Cover and image from Peter Pan & Wendy illustrated by Gwynedd M. Hudson.
The Darling children enjoy countless adventures with Peter and the Lost Boys, in the 'snug' Neverland (see image left). They encounter mermaids, pirates, Indians and wild animals. However, danger lurks in the shape of evil Captain Hook, who wants to see an untimely end to Peter and the lost boys. He puts into action a cunning plan to kidnap Wendy and the lost boys and finally get rid of Peter Pan. However, with Tinkerbell to save Peter from the poison, they go to the rescue aboard the pirate ship. Here Peter Pan and Captain Hook fight their last duel to the end.
After all their adventures in Neverland, the Darling children return home to their open window, with the lost boys in tow. Only one 'lost boy' refuses to stay - Peter, who stares at the reunion through the window at the 'one joy from which he must be for ever barred'.
Above: Images from the Rackham illustrated Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens
History of Peter Pan
Peter Pan's character first appeared in 1902 in a novel by J.M. Barrie called "The Little White Bird". Barrie wrote "The Little White Bird" after regular encounters with the Llwellyn boys on his walks in Kensington Gardens. The central chapters of this book introduce us to Peter Pan, who "escaped from being a human, when he was seven days old" and "flew back to Kensington Gardens", to live amongst the birds and the fairies.
These chapters were later extracted and used in the popular "Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens" published in 1906 and superbly illustrated by Arthur Rackham.
1904 saw Barrie write the definitive play "Peter Pan or the boy who would never grow up". It was accepted by manager Charles Frohman and premiered at the Duke of York's theatre on 27 th December 1904 .
Barrie then set about writing "Peter Pan" in novel form, with the full story that most children grow up with today. It explains how the Darling children knew of Peter Pan before he visited them in the nursery and at the end tells how Wendy's children would take her place in visiting Neverland for "spring-cleaning time"."Peter Pan and Wendy" was first published by Hodder & Stoughton in 1911, with illustrations by F.D. Bedford.
In 1929 Barrie donated the gift of all the rights of Peter Pan to the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children. The royalties from the book continue to raise money for the hospital today.
Many further versions of Peter Pan have been published and re-published over the years with illustrations by famous illustrators such as Edward Ardizzone, Edmund Blampied, Mabel Lucie Attwell and Gwynedd M. Hudson. Please view our stock to see what copies we have at present.
Submitted by Joanne Hill
(Published on 12th Dec 2014 )
