Peter and Wendy

Barrie, J. M. (James Matthew), 1860-1937Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

4.7

Word count: 256K words
Chapters: 26

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Peter and Wendy by J. M. BarrieAuthor: Barrie, J. M. (James Matthew), 1860-1937,Language: English, Class: PZ: Language and Literatures: Juvenile belles lettres, Release Date: Sep 18, 2008

Editor's review

Peter and Wendy is James Matthew Barrie's novel adaptation of his play Peter Pan, and the most widely circulated prose form of this classic story. The book keeps such fantastical elements as Neverland, pirates, fairies, and the Lost Boys, while the narrator's voice repeatedly interjects gentle reflections on childhood, growing up, and family responsibility, giving the fairy tale a wistful yet clear-eyed adult perspective. Its language has a theatrical feel and an oral rhythm, making it suitable for reading aloud; the plot moves briskly and is also suitable for children with adult company. For adult readers, the book reads more like a fable about refusing to grow up, with both childlike charm and a touch of melancholy. As a public-domain e-book from Project Gutenberg, it is easy to access at any time and can be used for parent-child reading, as an introduction to English literature, or for studying fairy-tale motifs. Note that the original bears the marks of its era, and a few expressions require adult guidance in discussion.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Parents who want to read classic fairy tales with their children
Readers who want to know the original form of the Peter Pan story
Middle school students who need an introduction to English literature
Adult readers interested in themes of childhood and growing up

Not a good fit for

Toddlers who only want light stories in the style of Disney animation
Readers expecting the pace and expression of modern children's literature

Reading tips

For parent-child reading, read aloud chapter by chapter and discuss the characters' choices afterward.
Pay attention to the narrator's interjections; they are the key to understanding the book's main theme.
English learners can first read a Chinese translation and then do close reading against the original.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

What is the relationship between this book and Peter Pan?

Peter and Wendy is the novel version that Barrie rewrote from his own play Peter Pan, telling the same core story in prose narration. It is not another sequel but the presentation of the classic fairy tale in novel form, and it is often regarded as an important textual form of the story.

What age of child is it suitable for?

As a full-length fairy tale, it is better suited to upper-primary children with some reading patience, or to shared reading with a parent. The book contains pirate conflicts and slightly melancholy reflections on growing up, which younger children may find hard to understand; adults are advised to explain or to choose an adapted simplified edition.

Is there anything in the book that parents should note?

The original bears the marks of its era, and a few expressions about characters or groups look inappropriate today. When reading together, parents can discuss these places with their children to help them understand the work's historical background while building a more inclusive reading perspective.

Why is it worth reading for adult readers too?

The narrator constantly interjects reflections on the passing of childhood, responsibility, and refusing to grow up, giving the fairy tale a wistful yet clear-eyed adult perspective. Adult readers can find in it a fable about the cost of growing up, which is one reason it has been read repeatedly for more than a century.

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About the author

Barrie, J. M. (James Matthew), 1860-1937 Author

J. M. Barrie (James Matthew Barrie, 1860–1937) was a British writer best known for creating the literary figure of Peter Pan. Thirty of his works are held in this collection, including Peter and Wendy, Peter Pan, Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens, The Little White Bird, and Sentimental Tommy. The Peter Pan stories are the most widely known, telling of a boy who refuses to grow up and his adventures in Neverland; they combine the wonder of fairy tale with gentle reflections on childhood, growing up, and loss, and have been adapted for stage and screen many times. Barrie's writing is delicate and tinged with sentiment, moving between everyday life and fantasy, and his works are often grouped under inspirational coming-of-age reading. Public information on the details of his life is limited, so no conjecture is offered here.