J.M. Barrie and the Lost Boys is the story of James Barrie and how he created Peter Pan. Birkin presents a prologue that discusses the death of one of the lost Boys - Peter Llewelyn Davies. Davies, a publisher of a London publishing house, stepped in front of a train and was killed at age 63. Barrie relates Peter Pan to all five of the Davies' boys, who were also the inspiration for the Lost Boys, the troupe of boys that befriended Peter Pan. Like Peter, the Lost Boys never wanted to grow up and followed Peter's lead.
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The Davies' boys were always tied to Peter Pan and eventually became to hate the association with the world famous character. The book begins with the birth of James M. Barrie in Kirriemuir, Scotland in 1860. Barrie was the son of a weaver and a mother with a strong educational bent. Barrie idolized his mother and older brother, David, both of whom died when Barrie was young. Barrie was often treated as a child due to his diminutive size. Barrie made it through school and eventually obtained an M.A. degree. When Barrie returned home from university, his sister got him a literary job. Barrie realized his dream when he became a writer. Barrie was relatively successful with his first works. Barrie eventually married but his fondness for children would not be realized as he and his wife remained childless. Barrie managed to bestow friendship on other people's children, particularly those of Arthur and Sylvia Llewelyn Davies. As the relationship with the Llewelyn Davies' family grew, so did the inspiration for Barrie's lifelong dream of writing a story about a boy that never grew up. The family became the inspiration for the Darling family, and their five boys would become the Lost Boys. Peter Pan was an amalgam of the boys. Barrie once said that he rubbed the boys together savagely and the spark that came from them became Peter Pan. Barrie's work continued while he was writing Peter Pan and his success as an author and playwright grew. Eventually, Peter Pan would hit the London stage to rave reviews. It was during the 16th revival of Peter Pan when Michael, the youngest of the boys, drowned in the Thames. Barrie was devastated. J.M. Barrie died in 1937, with two of his Lost Boys at his side.J.M. Barrie and the Lost Boys
Best part of story, including ending:
I liked the story because it gives an inside view of the life of J.M. Barrie and how he was inspired by children.
Best scene in story:
I enjoyed the scene in which J.M Barrie adopts the children of his deceased friend. The scene shows great empathy and warmth.
Opinion about the main character:
I like J.M. Barrie's character because he shows a depth of understanding about children that he was able to transfer to the written word.
