Reader discussion: Peter and Wendy

Public reader discussion about Peter and Wendy in the WeRead Catalog by J. M. Barrie.

My thoughts on Peter and Wendy (so far)

By Apron21

I really like picking up older, classic books to read—especially when they’re the inspiration for a more modern movie. I always find it fascinating because you can kind of see what the time period was like just from how the story is written. And if it’s one of those older, kind of more obscure books that turns into a Disney film, it usually ends up way darker than what you’re used to. I’m reading **Peter and Wendy** by J.M. Barrie, and I’m a few chapters in. I looked into it a bit and it’s pretty interesting: Peter Pan didn’t show up out of nowhere—there were earlier versions, like the character appearing in **The Little White Bird** (1902), then getting used in a stage play that premiered in **1904**, and later Barrie adapted that into the novel we know as **Peter and Wendy** (1911). So I’m not reading the very first appearance of the character, but it’s still got that earlier play vibe in it. I’ve heard there are darker things coming later that Disney doesn’t include, and even so, I’m honestly enjoying it a lot already. Barrie’s writing feels different—like it’s both calming and kind of makes you stop and think. There are some really good lines too. I keep thinking about the opening paragraph (“All children, except one, grow up”), and also the idea about Peter possibly helping dying children along so they’re not so scared about what’s next. I’m definitely looking forward to reading more.

Peter Pan The Story of Peter and Wendy

By patience53

Book nerds, what’s the deal with this printing? Anyone know anything about it?

Is Peter Pan Public Domain?

By tealPath

I really don’t get it, and I could use some help. I’ve seen people say he is, but other posts act like he isn’t as a whole—maybe only certain parts count? It’s all over the place, and I’m honestly confused. So can someone just tell me straight: is that little punk PD or not?

TIL that a Wendy House is named after the young protagonist Wendy featured in the tales of Peter Pan and first seen in J M. Barrie's play Peter Pan, or the boy who wouldn't grow up

By midnightcarrot1972

Just learned today that “Wendy house” is a UK thing—like a little playhouse for kids. I had no idea.

Thoughts on Neverland?

By starlightScene1996

Sorry this is probably gonna be a super long, kinda pointless post before I even get to the question 😅 I’m working on something and I kept getting sucked into ADHD rabbit holes, and now I’m stuck thinking about Neverland. In Peter and Wendy, it definitely reads like Neverland is a real place on Earth. They travel through hot/cold, light/dark, over the ocean, and they’ve been flying long enough that they’re eating stuff an eagle brings and they even have to learn how to lay flat in the air to sleep. So it doesn’t feel like it’s just “somewhere magical,” like, where did all the animals even come from? There are magical creatures, sure, but also everything from turtles and flamingos to bears and wolves. How is that all living on one island? I *get* that it’s supposed to be shaped by kids’ imaginations, but I still can’t stop wondering about logistics. My half-baked theory is that it’s somewhere in the Mediterranean near Turkey, and that the animals got there via migration from Mount Ararat after Noah’s Ark landed. And then there’s the “Redskins” / “Piccaninny tribe” wording—since that’s a slur the English used for Aboriginal children and people of African origin (and Peter Pan originally being English makes it feel like he heard that word from English stuff), I’m wondering if it’s not even meant literally as “Native Americans,” but just a people/group living in tents and hunting with spears. Also the tiger lily mention bugs me. That plant’s native to China, Japan, Korea, and the Russian Far East, not really America, so it seems like the “tribe” might be somewhere in Asia instead. And if it’s Asia, it’s weird because tigers aren’t native to North America either, so the names don’t really line up. The pirates could basically be from anywhere, but location-wise I keep landing on the Mediterranean (or maybe the Arabian Sea). Anyway, does anyone have thoughts on this, or am I just overthinking it?

TIL Wendy wasn't really a name until J.M. Barrie used it in Peter Pan, and it was originally a boy's name.

By AnchorCalm1985

I’m not 100% sure, but I think the full version is something like “Welcome to Jamaica and have a nice day.”