You have heard of Peter Pan, but do you know the story behind the author, J.M. Barrie, who used real life experiences to write the classic story? Learn all about J.M. Barrie’s real life inspiration and test your Finding Neverland knowledge below. Then get your tickets to see Finding Neverland at The Hanover Theatre January 2 – 6.
James Matthew Barrie was born on May 9, 1860 in Scotland. He was the seventh of ten children and the third boy. They were a poor family, but their mother loved books and read classics like “Robinson Crusoe” to her children around the hearth. James loved to hear stories and wrote many stories of his own for his amusement. Growing up, James was diminutive in height, with high-pitched boyish voice. Even as an adult, he stood only five feet three inches tall.
In January of 1866, tragedy struck the Barrie family. The second oldest brother and favorite son, David, fell while playing on the ice, hit his head and died. His death filled the family with sadness, and their mother fell into a deep depression. To help his mother with her grief, James dressed in David’s clothes and pretended to be David around his mother. This was James’ first foray into acting.
In addition to play-acting for his mother, James wrote and performed plays for the neighborhood children. From 1873-1878, James attended the Dumfries Academy and it was here that he saw his first professional theater performance. This performance inspired him to start a theatrical society at his school. After Dumfries, James attended Edinburgh University from 1878-1882 with an intense desire to become a professional writer. After graduating, he wrote reviews of plays and books, furthering his love for the theater. Later, he wrote articles for London magazines, and by 1888, the St. James Gazette had published many of his articles under a pseudonym. In 1891 his novel, “The Little Minister,” was published and considered successful. In the same year, he wrote a play called “Isben’s Ghost” that received moderate success, and one year later in 1892, his play “Walker, London” was a huge success.
During the production of “Walker, London,” James met the star of the play, an actress named Mary Ansell. Mary was an intelligent and stylish aspiring actress. The two eventually married in 1894. While honeymooning in Switzerland, the newlyweds purchased a St. Bernard puppy and named him Porthos. The beloved Porthos eventually became the inspiration for the character of Nana.
Back in London, James walked every day in Kensington Gardens with Porthos. It was in Kensington Gardens that James first encountered the Llewelyn Davies family. Arthur and Sylvia Llewelyn Davies had five sons: George, John, Peter, Michael and Nicholas. James entertained the boys, told them stories, performed magic and created elaborate pirate games, often times involving Porthos in a key role. James grew closer to the Llewelyn Davies family, his marriage to Mary fell apart.
In 1904, James wrote his masterpiece, “Peter Pan.” From the beginning, James had a vision for the stage production of “Peter Pan,” and he knew he wanted his characters to actually fly across the stage. During production, several security measures were put in place to keep the flying and other special effects secret from the public until opening might. Before opening night, when the flying harnesses were complete, James invited the Llewelyn Davies boys for a test run to soar through the theater. The show opened on December 27, 1904 in London and was considered an immediate success. James constantly edited and reworked the production of “Peter Pan,” and, as a result, it was not until 1928 that the play version of “Peter Pan” was published.
In 1906, the novel “Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens” was published. One year later, Mr. Llewellyn Davies died of cancer. On his deathbed, Mr. Davies’ appointed James, now known as Uncle Jim, guardian of his sons in conjunction with their mother Sylvia. In 1909, James reluctantly granted his wife a divorce and in the following year, 1910, Sylvia Llewelyn Davies died. In 1910, James was the sole guardian and provider for all five Llewellyn Davies sons, now age seven to seventeen.
On June 19th, 1937, at 77 years of age, James died of pneumonia. Upon his death, James gifted the copyright of “Peter Pan” to the Great Ormond Hospital for Sick Children in London. This gift entitled the hospital to all the proceeds from the sale of any book, play or associated sale of “Peter Pan,” with the stipulation that the total sum earned never to be revealed. This is known as, “The Peter Pan Gift.”