Peter Pan / Peter Pan
“>
Autor:
James Matthew Barrie
Country:
Italy (IT)
Book Theme:
Evergreen children’s book (8-12 years)
Publisher:
Gribaudo
Publishing Year:
2016
J.M. Barrie (1860-1937) was a Scottish novelist and playwright best known for creating Peter Pan. Born in Kirriemuir, Scotland, Barrie was the ninth of ten children. He studied at the University of Edinburgh and began his career as a journalist before turning to literature. Barrie’s works often explore themes of childhood and fantasy, influenced by his close relationship with the Llewelyn Davies family, whose boys inspired the characters in Peter Pan. First introduced as a play in 1904, Peter Pan became a novel in 1911, cementing Barrie’s legacy. Barrie was knighted in 1913 and continued writing until his death, leaving a lasting impact on children’s literature.
National Award for Children’s and Young People’s
Abstract
The story begins in the Darling household, where Wendy, John, and Michael Darling reside. One night, Peter Pan, a boy who can fly, and his loyal fairy companion, Tinker Bell, visit the nursery. Peter is in search of his lost shadow and ends up teaching the Darling children how to fly using Tinker Bell’s pixie dust. Peter invites Wendy, John, and Michael to Neverland, where they encounter the Lost Boys, a group of children who, like Peter, never age. Neverland is a fantastical island filled with mermaids, fairies, pirates. The children find themselves caught up in a series of adventures,centered around the battle between Peter Pan and his nemesis, Captain Hook. Captain Hook is a villainous pirate obsessed with capturing Peter, who once fed Hook’s hand to a crocodile. Hook’s character is defined by his maliciousness and his fear of the ticking crocodile that follows him, having swallowed a clock along with Hook’s hand. Throughout their adventures, Wendy assumes a motherly role for the Lost Boys, telling them stories and caring for them. The narrative explores themes of childhood innocence, the desire for eternal youth, and the bittersweet nature of growing up. Wendy and her brothers eventually start to miss their parents and the comfort of their home, leading to a longing to return to the real world.
In the climax, Peter rescues the children from Hook’s ship after a fierce battle, demonstrating his bravery and cunning. Ultimately, Wendy, John, and Michael decide to return to London, leaving Peter and the Lost Boys behind. Despite Peter’s attempts to convince Wendy to stay, she chooses to grow up, symbolizing the inevitable passage of time. He remains in Neverland, forever the boy who wouldn’t grow up, continuing his endless adventures. The story concludes with a poignant reminder of the transient nature of childhood, as Peter visits the grown-up Wendy years later, only to find that she now has a daughter of her own, Jane, who, like her mother, dreams of Neverland.
