Peter Pan

The main focus of the book is the creation of Peter Pan, JM Barrie's legendary creation of the boy who would never grow up. Birkin tells the true tale of Barrie's inspiration, which came in the form of five small boys: George, Jack, Michael, Peter and Nico Llewelyn Davies.

According to Barrie, the idea for "Peter Pan" and the Lost Boys was created from parts of each boy. Barrie said, "I made Peter by rubbing the five of you violently together, as savages with two sticks produce a flame. That is all he is, the spark I got from you" (Prologue, page 2).

That spark created the boy who never grew up. The mischievous and brave Peter who taught Peter, Michael and Wendy to fly by thinking good thoughts, who cared for the magical place called Never Never Land, enjoyed the company of talking animals and mermaids, and...