Captivated: J.M. Barrie, the Lost Boys and Daphne Du Maurier - Couverture souple

Dudgeon, Piers

Couverture souple

ISBN 10 : 0701182172 ISBN 13 : 9780701182175

Editeur : Chatto & Windus, 2008

A propos du livre

Présentation de l'éditeur

An extraordinary book about the imagination — and the astonishing force of its creative power . . . for evil as well as good.

Captivated is a true story of genius and possession. The central character is the creator of Peter Pan, the novelist and playwright J.M. Barrie, a man tormented by inner demons since childhood.

Barrie developed a consuming interest in the family of George du Maurier, author of Trilby, a bestselling novel featuring his creation Svengali. Barrie made his move on the du Maurier family immediately after George’s death, assuming George’s mantel. Soon Barrie was “Uncle Jim” to George du Maurier’s eight grandchildren, playing romping games of adventure and make-believe and inviting the children into the transcendental world of Neverland. Four of the boys (the “lost boys” of Peter Pan) and one of the girls (the imaginative tomboy Daphne) were captivated.

This fascinating book delves deep, makes links and yields up secrets. It tells how Barrie’s victims — whom he would have not grow up — were lost to breakdown, suicide or early death. Daphne du Maurier, author of Rebecca emerges as the lost boys’ companion and the enigmatic chronicler of their fate. Captivated is about writing and the world of the imagination: it is a singular example of art being used not only to imitate life, but darkly to transform it.

From the Hardcover edition.

Quatrième de couverture

J. M. Barrie has long been a controversial figure; as D. H Lawrence wrote, the writer 'has a fatal touch for those he loves. They die' and this was certainly true of the Llewellyn Davies boys, who provided the inspiration for Peter Pan; George was killed in action, Michael drowned whilst at Oxford and Peter, plagued by his life-long identification as 'the real Peter Pan' and other personal troubles, committed suicide.

However, what is less well known is Barrie's relationship with the Du Maurier family, particularly with George du Maurier, the creator of Svengali, who showed how it was possible to gain control over the mind of another; and Daphne du Maurier, his enigmatic granddaughter, cousin to the Llewellyn Davies boys, and author of Rebecca. In Piers Dudgeon's fascinating book Barrie emerges as a Svengali without conscience, driven by a compulsion to dominate and destroy.

À propos de cette édition

• Éditeur: Chatto & Windus
• Date d'édition: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0701182172
• ISBN 13: 9780701182175
• Reliure: Broché
• Nombre de pages: 320