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James Matthew BarrieScottish playwright and writer
Date of Birth: 09.05.1860
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
Biography of J.M. Barrie
James Matthew Barrie was a Scottish playwright and writer, best known for his play about a boy who never wanted to grow up.
Early Life
Barrie was born on May 9, 1860, in Kirriemuir, Forfarshire, Scotland. He was the ninth child in a weaver's family. He received his primary education in Kirriemuir and Forfar. After completing a preparatory course at Dumfries Academy, he was enrolled in the University of Edinburgh, which he graduated from in 1882.
Career
From January 1883 to October 1884, Barrie worked in the editorial department of the "Nottingham Journal" newspaper. On March 27, 1885, he moved to London, where he lived for the rest of his life. During the next 15 years (1885-1900), Barrie focused on his literary career. He wrote all of his novels during this period, including "Better Dead" (1888), "Little Minister" (1891), "Sentimental Tommy" (1896) and its sequel "Tommy and Grizel" (1900). These books contain many Scottish dialects and local expressions, eccentricities, humor, pathos, and hints of hidden bitterness.
After 1900, Barrie wrote books for children, including the narrative about Peter Pan, as well as plays, which brought him the most fame. The first success on stage for Barrie was the adaptation of his play "Little Minister" (1897). However, it was "Quality Street" (1901), a brilliant comedy that portrays England in the early 19th century, that established him as one of the outstanding playwrights of the time. His other successful plays include "The Admirable Crichton" (1902), "Peter Pan" (1904), "What Every Woman Knows" (1908), "The Twelve Pound Look" (1910), "A Kiss for Cinderella" (1916), "Dear Brutus" (1917), "The Old Lady Shows Her Medals" (1917), and "Mary Rose" (1920). These works possess the same qualities as his early novels and are often accompanied by detailed and verbose stage directions.
Peter Pan
Barrie gained true fame with the character of Peter Pan, a boy from Neverland who never wanted to grow up. The character first appeared in two early books by Barrie. In the novel "Tommy and Grizel," there is a mention of a boy who ran away from his parents and is thrilled to be lost but fears being found and forced to grow up. The story of the boy who didn't want to grow up was then detailed in six chapters of the children's book "The Little White Bird" (1902), which was later published as a separate book titled "Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens" (1906) with illustrations by Arthur Rackham. The play "Peter Pan" was first staged in December 1904 in London by Charles Frohman. The main characters were Peter Pan's friends - Darling children Wendy, her brothers John and Michael, the dog-nanny Nana, the mischievous fairy Tinker Bell, as well as the Lost Boys, the fierce pirate Captain Hook, who had a terrifying iron hook instead of one hand, and a group of Native American Indians, pirates, and various animals. Peter and Tinker Bell persuade Wendy and her brothers to run away to Neverland; they settle in an underground house, swim in a lagoon, experience numerous thrilling adventures, and after Peter's victory over the pirates, they return home. In 1911, Barrie turned the play into the novel "Peter and Wendy".
Later Years and Legacy
Barrie received many honors throughout his life. In 1913, he was made a baronet, and in 1922, he was awarded the Order of the British Empire. From 1919 to 1922, he served as the Rector of the University of St Andrews, and from 1930 to 1937, he was the Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh. He also served as the president of the Society of Authors from 1928. Barrie passed away in London on June 19, 1937.
