J. M. Barrie: The Man Behind the Boy

J. M. Barrie, real name James Matthew Barrie, was a Scottish author and playwright who gave the world the beloved character of Peter Pan. But did you know that Barrie himself was quite the character too?

Born in 1860 in Kirriemuir, Scotland, Barrie was the ninth of ten children. Growing up, he was known for his wild imagination and playful antics. Legend has it that he and his siblings would play “Pirates” in the local cemetery, with James serving as the captain and his two older brothers as his trusty crew. We can only assume that they didn’t actually bury any treasure, but who knows?

Barrie’s love for storytelling led him to pursue a career as a writer, and he eventually hit it big with the publication of his novel, “The Little White Bird,” which introduced the world to the character of Peter Pan. But Barrie’s real-life adventures were just as entertaining as Peter’s.

For example, there’s the story of the time Barrie met the famous acrobat and performer, Lillian Lietzel. He was so taken with her that he invited her to tea, and then promptly fell out of his chair in a fit of nerves. Later, he asked her to marry him, but Lietzel turned him down, citing their 20-year age difference. Barrie was undeterred, however, and continued to send her romantic letters for years afterwards. Talk about persistence!

Then there’s the matter of Barrie’s friendship with the Llewelyn Davies family, who would go on to inspire the characters in “Peter Pan.” Barrie was very close to the family, and even adopted the five boys after their parents died. Some have speculated that Barrie’s relationship with the boys was more than just platonic, but there’s no concrete evidence of anything inappropriate.

In any case, Barrie’s legacy lives on through the eternal youth of Peter Pan, and his own lifelong love of adventure and imagination. As Barrie himself once said, “Every time a child says ‘I don’t believe in fairies,’ there is a fairy somewhere that falls down dead.” Let’s hope that somewhere, J. M. Barrie is still fighting for the existence of those fairies.