The Dark Side of Peter Pan (Hardback)
J. M. Barrie, the Man Who Couldn’t Grow Up
Imprint: White Owl
Pages: 200
Illustrations: 32 mono illustrations
ISBN: 9781399047555
Published: 4th October 2024
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James Barrie has been marked in recent years as manipulative, perverted and without the ability to love. Having authored the story of Peter Pan, which has been enjoyed by children and adults for over 100 years, many literary critics have been intrigued about where this story epitomising childhood joy and innocence came from. Most will associate Peter Pan with Disney’s colourful version, but the original story that Barrie penned is actually much darker, with a gloomier background in its making.
With humble beginnings from a small town in Scotland, Barrie’s childhood was filled with grief and loss, but also stories and play. He took his passion of storytelling to study English Literature at university before finding himself in the capital for all writers: central London. It was here that he came to meet the Llewelyn Davies family. His involvement with this upper-class family with relatives including Daphne du Maurier are what many say to be the sole inspiration for Peter Pan, and that his integration into the family was primarily with sinister intentions.
Much of his writing reflected his life, including his marriage and the unhappiness that spanned from it, all of which can be found in traces throughout Peter Pan. The Peter that Barrie wrote was not just a boy that didn’t want to grow up, but a being that was neither human nor not human, with complexities that can only be understood if Barrie’s life is also looked into.
This book aims to prove that much of the speculation and accusations surrounding Barrie and his nature have come from a time of misunderstanding, where many psychological terms were not coined and sexuality was a taboo subject. With the latest claims that Barrie was manipulative and perverted, these critics overlooked the likelihood that Barrie was asexual, as well as suffering from Peter Pan Syndrome. With a life littered with loss, it’s clear that Barrie did not go through his life unscathed, but is it fair to mark him as the bad man he’s recently been painted to be, especially after providing one of the most popular stories of all time?
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
NetGalley, Anita Wallas
As a child, I loved the Peter Pan story. I was fascinated by the concept of never growing up and loved the illustrations in the volume I was gifted. It’s a perennial theme and over the years it’s given name to a medical syndrome amongst other things. But I knew little or nothing about JMBarrie other than the fact that he was Scottish. I was intrigued by this title and I’ve enjoyed the insight into the man behind the timeless classic.
Olivia Camozzi appears to have undertaken meticulous research and much of the content is based on fact rather than conjecture. It’s very well written and places the man in context of time and place. I’d never considered many of the darker themes touched on or explored in his work, but clearly, there was a darkness within him and the reasons for this are objectively considered. This is a very readable account of a conflicted and brilliant individual. I’ve enjoyed it and will be revisiting his works with a rather different insight and eye. It perhaps explodes some of the innocence with which I’ve always approached the stories, but it adds rather than detracts from my appreciation. A fascinating biography.
Fascinating. I never knew about the actual life of the Peter Pan author. I had heard many takes on the original story and knew the Disney version to not be true to the tale. To hear so much about before, during, and after the creation of this enduring story was truly interesting.
NetGalley, Jessica Hembree
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
NetGalley, Rebecca Stewart
This was an excellent biography. I have listened to several podcasts about Barrie's life before but never read a full biography and learned so many new facts.
As seen in 'The dark side of Peter Pan's J. M. Barrie, the man who couldn’t grow up'.
British Heritage Travel
Read the article here!
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
NetGalley, Gemma Lynn
A really enjoyable read from a thoughtful writer. Everything you would wish for from a biography, little known stories along side the more well known. A perfectly balanced review of Barrie’s life, work and personality. It was evident that the writer had done a significant about of research. I felt she approached her subject with a neutral stance wanting to portray the real Barrie as much as possible without judgement. I would love to read further books from this author.
As seen in 'Peter Pan author JM Barrie ‘cleared’ of being a paedophile'.
The Times
Read the article here.
The Dark Side of Peter Pan: J. M. Barrie, the Man Who Couldn’t Grow Up by Olivia Camozzi offers a compelling and respectful exploration of J. M. Barrie’s life and his relationships, particularly with the Davies boys. Olivia Camozzi approaches the often-controversial aspects of Barrie’s life with a fresh, modern perspective that is more reflective and less burdened by outdated prejudices.
NetGalley, Natalia Weissfeld
What stands out is Camozzi’s dedication to accuracy and context, as she carefully assembles letters, journal entries, and well-established facts to bring a nuanced understanding of Barrie’s complexities. The use of primary sources and historical documentation lends the narrative a solid foundation, but it’s the author’s empathetic and measured tone that adds a layer of dignity to Barrie’s portrayal.
The writing itself is dynamic, making it not just an academic exploration but a well-paced, engaging read. Camozzi never rushes to judgment but instead allows the facts to speak for themselves, inviting the reader to consider Barrie in all his dimensions. For anyone interested in a fair and meticulously researched examination of J. M. Barrie, this book offers a valuable and thought-provoking journey into the life of the man behind Peter Pan.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
NetGalley, Kathryn McLeer
This was a fascinating book about J.M. Barrie, it had that concept that I was looking for and enjoyed from this type of nonfiction book. It was researched well and shared the dark side of J.M. Barrie. Olivia Camozzi wrote this perfectly and can't wait to read more.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
NetGalley, Rachael R
I found this book really thought-provoking and very well-researched. Although many people know the classic story of Peter Pan, fewer are aware of the sad life led by J M Barrie. It was interesting to see where some of his ideas for stories came from and the inspiration for the characters in Peter Pan and Wendy. An enjoyable read.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
NetGalley, Louise Gray
This is a fascinating account of the life and work of J M Barrie and the family which inspired what was arguably his greatest work. Reading about the tragic lives of the Llewlyn-Davies family was truly moving and the impact of WWI, mental illness and suicide on the family as a whole was simply devastating. To some extent, Barrie himself remains an enigma with so much of him known only through how he interacted with and felt towards others. The author’s careful research and sourcing of materials in invaluable in this respect.
About Olivia Camozzi
Olivia Camozzi has a BA degree in Creative and Professional Writing and Screenwriting from the University of Worcester, and a MA degree in Writing from the University of Warwick. She currently works as an author liaison and marketing executive for Pen and Sword Books and enjoys reading a range of genres and writing fiction.
Previously, she won the Black Pear Press Prize for Fiction in 2019 and her novella, The Bad Birthdays Club, was published in 2020, and she also released a short story in the Warwick University Anthology 2021: Chateau de la Mort. This is her first delve into writing non-fiction.
J. M. Barrie's birthday and ‘Peter Pan day’
9th May 1860
Sir James Matthew Barrie was born 9 May 1860, he was a Scottish novelist and playwright, best remembered as the creator of Peter Pan. Peter Pan Day happens on May 9th, celebrating the main character in the children's story written by the Scottish writer James Matthew Barrie. Always accompanied by the fairy Bell, Peter Pan lives in Never Land as the leader of the lost boys and opponent of the pirate group, Captain Hook.
J.M. Barrie weds British actress Mary Ansell
9th July 1894
Scottish "Peter Pan" creator J.M. Barrie (34) weds British actress Mary Ansell (33) in Kirriemuir, Scotland; divorce in 1909
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