by J. M. Barrie
This annotated edition of "The Little White Bird" includes:
Explanations of historical context
Literary comments and analyses
Discover the origins of one of literature's most beloved characters in this charming work that introduces Peter Pan while combining whimsical fantasy with gentle social comedy and profound observations about childhood, imagination, and the relationship between adults and children. The narrator's friendship with young David and his family provides opportunities for both humor and serious reflection as the storyteller's bachelor perspective on domestic life reveals both the limitations and advantages of remaining outside conventional family structures while maintaining genuine affection for children and their parents.
Barrie creates a narrative that moves seamlessly between realistic social observation and fantastic adventure as the stories of Peter Pan's life among the fairies in Kensington Gardens provide escape from the constraints of adult life while offering insights into the psychology of childhood that illuminate universal human experiences of growth, loss, and the tension between security and adventure.
Through detailed descriptions of London park life and the social interactions that occur in public spaces, the novel provides both historical documentation and literary exploration of how urban environments can create opportunities for cross-class encounter and community formation that transcend the barriers imposed by social convention and economic inequality.
The Peter Pan episodes demonstrate Barrie's gift for creating fantasy that addresses serious themes about mortality, belonging, and the price of remaining outside normal human development while maintaining the wonder and magic that make his stories appealing to readers of all ages seeking escape from practical concerns and connection to imaginative possibilities.
The narrator's relationship with David's mother adds romantic elements that complicate his role as detached observer while revealing how adult relationships must navigate between desire for independence and need for connection, individual fulfillment and family responsibility, creative expression and social conformity that characterize mature emotional development.
Barrie's exploration of the boundary between childhood and adulthood reflects broader cultural anxieties about growing up and taking on adult responsibilities while his celebration of imagination and play suggests that maintaining childlike qualities can enrich rather than diminish adult life when properly balanced with practical wisdom and social engagement.
This delightful work demonstrates how children's literature can address universal themes through entertaining narrative while creating characters and situations that continue to inspire readers seeking both escape from mundane reality and deeper understanding of the psychological and social forces that shape human development and relationships across different stages of life.
Publication Date: July 29, 2025
Book Size: 5 x 0.38 x 8 inches
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 979-8289806895
*Ships within 2-4 business days
by J. M. Barrie
This annotated edition of "The Little White Bird" includes:
Explanations of historical context
Literary comments and analyses
Discover the origins of one of literature's most beloved characters in this charming work that introduces Peter Pan while combining whimsical fantasy with gentle social comedy and profound observations about childhood, imagination, and the relationship between adults and children. The narrator's friendship with young David and his family provides opportunities for both humor and serious reflection as the storyteller's bachelor perspective on domestic life reveals both the limitations and advantages of remaining outside conventional family structures while maintaining genuine affection for children and their parents.
Barrie creates a narrative that moves seamlessly between realistic social observation and fantastic adventure as the stories of Peter Pan's life among the fairies in Kensington Gardens provide escape from the constraints of adult life while offering insights into the psychology of childhood that illuminate universal human experiences of growth, loss, and the tension between security and adventure.
Through detailed descriptions of London park life and the social interactions that occur in public spaces, the novel provides both historical documentation and literary exploration of how urban environments can create opportunities for cross-class encounter and community formation that transcend the barriers imposed by social convention and economic inequality.
The Peter Pan episodes demonstrate Barrie's gift for creating fantasy that addresses serious themes about mortality, belonging, and the price of remaining outside normal human development while maintaining the wonder and magic that make his stories appealing to readers of all ages seeking escape from practical concerns and connection to imaginative possibilities.
The narrator's relationship with David's mother adds romantic elements that complicate his role as detached observer while revealing how adult relationships must navigate between desire for independence and need for connection, individual fulfillment and family responsibility, creative expression and social conformity that characterize mature emotional development.
Barrie's exploration of the boundary between childhood and adulthood reflects broader cultural anxieties about growing up and taking on adult responsibilities while his celebration of imagination and play suggests that maintaining childlike qualities can enrich rather than diminish adult life when properly balanced with practical wisdom and social engagement.
This delightful work demonstrates how children's literature can address universal themes through entertaining narrative while creating characters and situations that continue to inspire readers seeking both escape from mundane reality and deeper understanding of the psychological and social forces that shape human development and relationships across different stages of life.
Publication Date: July 29, 2025
Book Size: 5 x 0.38 x 8 inches
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 979-8289806895
*Ships within 2-4 business days
