Peter Pan's Shadows in the Literary Imagination [Paperback]

This book is a literary analysis of J.M. Barries Peter Panin all its different versions -- key rewritings, dramatisations, prequels, and sequels -- and includes a synthesis of the main critical interpretations of the text over its history. A comprehensive and intelligent study of the Peter Pan phenomenon, this study discusses the books complicated textual history, exploring its origins in the Harlequinade theatrical tradition and British pantomime in the nineteenth century. Stirling investigates potential textual and extra-textual sources for Peter Pan, the critical tendency to seek sources in Barries own biography, and the proliferation of prequels and sequels aiming to explain, contextualize, or close off, Barries exploration of the imagination. The sources considered include Dave Barry and Ridley Pearsons Starcatcherstrilogy, R?gis Loisels six-part Peter Pangraphic novel in French (1990-2004), Andrew Birkins The Lost Boysseries, the films Hook(1991), Peter Pan(2003) and Finding Neverland(2004), and Geraldine McCaughreans official sequel Peter Pan in Scarlet(2006), among others.

Acknowledgements  Abbreviations and References  Introduction: The Shadow of Peter Pan  1. Origins and Storytelling  2. Peter and Pantomime  3. Wendy and Peter  4. Before Peter Pan: Loisel 5. Imagining Barrie  6. Ending Peter Pan  7. Sequels  Bibliography  Index

Her analysis is compelling... [An] interesting and highly readable text. - Kayla McKinney Wiggins, Mythlore

Stirling's bibliography is a model of thorough research and her analysis offers fresh ideas for Peter Pan Studies. - Children's Literals,