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Peter Pan and the Only Children
A fantasy for grown-ups and not-so-grown-ups.
We are on a passenger steamer somewhere in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Ten-year-old Miranda Porter, only daughter of Major and Mrs. 'Lillibet' Porter, is drowsing in her cabin when the light of the full moon falls through the porthole and a strangely disembodied voice awakes her with the words: 'It's a braw, bricht, moonlicht nicht the nicht.'
Thus begins the adventure of Miranda Porter, an adventure which will lead her and the reader to a renewed friendship with the very same Peter Pan whom she and we already know (although he claims to remember nothing of a previous existence), to a near-deadly encounter with Captain Hook and to many wistful nights in the depths of the Indian Ocean.
In Peter Pan and the Only Children, Gilbert Adair has reinvented one of the world's most beloved heroes and given him an entirely new playground. Known for taking on literary challenges that other novelists would never dare touch, Adair has succeeded in creating a sequel to J.M. Barrie's play and book that both captures the spirit and poignancy of the original and lends it a new vigour for our time.
We are on a passenger steamer somewhere in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Ten-year-old Miranda Porter, only daughter of Major and Mrs. 'Lillibet' Porter, is drowsing in her cabin when the light of the full moon falls through the porthole and a strangely disembodied voice awakes her with the words: 'It's a braw, bricht, moonlicht nicht the nicht.'
Thus begins the adventure of Miranda Porter, an adventure which will lead her and the reader to a renewed friendship with the very same Peter Pan whom she and we already know (although he claims to remember nothing of a previous existence), to a near-deadly encounter with Captain Hook and to many wistful nights in the depths of the Indian Ocean.
In Peter Pan and the Only Children, Gilbert Adair has reinvented one of the world's most beloved heroes and given him an entirely new playground. Known for taking on literary challenges that other novelists would never dare touch, Adair has succeeded in creating a sequel to J.M. Barrie's play and book that both captures the spirit and poignancy of the original and lends it a new vigour for our time.
- GenresFantasy
135 pages, Hardcover
First published October 15, 1987
122 people want to read
About the author
Gilbert Adair
45 books160 followersGilbert Adair was a Scottish novelist, poet, film critic and journalist. Born in Edinburgh, he lived in Paris from 1968 through 1980. He is most famous for such novels as Love and Death on Long Island (1997) and The Dreamers (2003), both of which were made into films, although he is also noted as the translator of Georges Perec's postmodern novel A Void, in which the letter e is not used. Adair won the 1995 Scott Moncrieff Translation Prize for this work.
In 1998 and 1999 Adair was the chief film critic for The Independent on Sunday, where in 1999 he also wrote a year-long column called "The Guillotine." In addition to the films made from his own works, Adair worked on the screenplays for a number of Raúl Ruiz films. Although he rarely spoke of his sexual orientation in public, not wishing to be labelled, he acknowledge in an interview that there were many gay themes in his work. He died from a brain hemorrhage in 2011.
(source: Wikipedia)
In 1998 and 1999 Adair was the chief film critic for The Independent on Sunday, where in 1999 he also wrote a year-long column called "The Guillotine." In addition to the films made from his own works, Adair worked on the screenplays for a number of Raúl Ruiz films. Although he rarely spoke of his sexual orientation in public, not wishing to be labelled, he acknowledge in an interview that there were many gay themes in his work. He died from a brain hemorrhage in 2011.
(source: Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 3, 2014
What Child Is This?
Why, it is Peter – the Forever-A-Boy, the Only Child, Nature’s heir – the son of Pan! ‘Tis Peter Pan! He shall fly and swim, hither and thither, capturing other Only Children, children like himself. He has learned his lesson well, it shall only be Only Children this time. Under the sea they shall be brought, to romp and to play and to have adventures – to do the opposite of what they should! Peter will make them like himself. Peter the leader! O cunning and heartless Peter Pan!
What Adventure Is This?
This adventure is a sequel! Or perhaps a prequel? It matters not. The adventures go round and round – and round again! And who is that lurking? ‘Tis Captain Hook! The timeless villain returns! Peter “hates” him – he loves to hate him! He loves him! It is said that the apple does not fall far from the tree. Peter collects his own apples, luring them from the luxury liners above, to their fate down below. These Only Children shall live in a sunken schooner, a brotherhood with two sisters, all of them perched atop a volcano, busy with play until the end of the day, until bedtime – until two hours after bedtime! And then to snuggle together in their hammocks, the next day a new adventure, the world of parents and schoolyard bullies and lonely sibling-less lives left far behind. Children forever!
What Author Is This?
Who is this tricky man, this Gilbert Adair? Who dares to write a sequel – or a prequel – to a timeless children’s classic? Why, he is a Literary Author! But never fear, children – he does not come to condescend! He comes to romp and to play and to invent new adventures. His tongue may be planted firmly in cheek, but his heart is not a cynical one. He creates an adventure and he amuses himself in his own way as well, he amuses himself while playing right beside the children. He gives a weak-chinned character a strong chin – and refuses to take it back! He gives a goldfish a home at the bottom of the sea! He makes a suit of a crocodile skin! He makes Peter Pan a terrible being, a child who laughingly toys with lives and carelessly throws a friend aside – but he keeps Peter Pan delightful as well. A delightful little hero-villain! A delightful little book!
Why, it is Peter – the Forever-A-Boy, the Only Child, Nature’s heir – the son of Pan! ‘Tis Peter Pan! He shall fly and swim, hither and thither, capturing other Only Children, children like himself. He has learned his lesson well, it shall only be Only Children this time. Under the sea they shall be brought, to romp and to play and to have adventures – to do the opposite of what they should! Peter will make them like himself. Peter the leader! O cunning and heartless Peter Pan!
What Adventure Is This?
This adventure is a sequel! Or perhaps a prequel? It matters not. The adventures go round and round – and round again! And who is that lurking? ‘Tis Captain Hook! The timeless villain returns! Peter “hates” him – he loves to hate him! He loves him! It is said that the apple does not fall far from the tree. Peter collects his own apples, luring them from the luxury liners above, to their fate down below. These Only Children shall live in a sunken schooner, a brotherhood with two sisters, all of them perched atop a volcano, busy with play until the end of the day, until bedtime – until two hours after bedtime! And then to snuggle together in their hammocks, the next day a new adventure, the world of parents and schoolyard bullies and lonely sibling-less lives left far behind. Children forever!
What Author Is This?
Who is this tricky man, this Gilbert Adair? Who dares to write a sequel – or a prequel – to a timeless children’s classic? Why, he is a Literary Author! But never fear, children – he does not come to condescend! He comes to romp and to play and to invent new adventures. His tongue may be planted firmly in cheek, but his heart is not a cynical one. He creates an adventure and he amuses himself in his own way as well, he amuses himself while playing right beside the children. He gives a weak-chinned character a strong chin – and refuses to take it back! He gives a goldfish a home at the bottom of the sea! He makes a suit of a crocodile skin! He makes Peter Pan a terrible being, a child who laughingly toys with lives and carelessly throws a friend aside – but he keeps Peter Pan delightful as well. A delightful little hero-villain! A delightful little book!
Want to read
November 1, 2014I can't believe I still don't properly know the story of Peter Pan. I MUST read this!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews