Peter's letters to Mary Hodgson

[Dafydd]

You can access Peter's letters to Mary Hodgson under the Mary Hodgsen button in the Davies Family section of the site or follow this link: -

http://www.jmbarrie.co.uk/daviesfamily/?mode=pldmh

[andrew]

Many thanks, Dafydd!  These are my transcriptions of Peter's letters to Mary Hodgson, the originals being in the database. If anyone spots any typos or mis-transcriptions, please let me know.

[ecb]

These are wonderful, Andrew and Dafydd!  I read them in the database, but this makes it all the easier!  It really is sad that Mary H. refused to meet any of the brothers' wives in later years - you get the feeling in both Peter's and Nico's early "married" letters to her that they felt that she just might give in eventually.  Later this was replaced by an understanding that this was simply not to be - Mary H. knew her own mind!

Nontheless how touching that she kept all those letters - and how wonderful that we can read them today - thanks to all for the work involved in transcribing them. 

[tcarroll]

The letters from Peter to Mary Hodgson are some of the most moving that I have read on this website.  It seems to me that he must have been effected by the family circumstances more than the other boys.  Michael, if he had lived, probably would have been effected as much in his later years.  There is a sadness in these letters that is so heartbreaking.  It seems that even in later years, Peter suffered a great deal.  Sometimes we forget how childhood pain can continue into adulthood. 

I appreciate the efforts of both Andrew and Dafydd.  You guys are the best.

[tcarroll]

I don't know why it took me so long to take such an interest in Peter, but I have finally opened my eyes and heart to him.  I suppose I got so wrapped up in the tragic stories of George and Michael, I didn't realize there was so much information on the website about Peter.  The more I read his letters, the more I like him.  I think he cared a great deal for Mr. Barrie, but clearly his parents were his heros.  That is how it should be when you have such magnificent parents as Arthur and Sylvia.  I want to learn more and more about Peter, he was truly a fine man.

[andrew]

I feel much the same, and had I known about the existence of all those WW1 letters to Barrie, he might have featured more in both the TV and my book. "Peter takes a book on his own!" warned Nico early on. The problem is that in the Morgue he was so self-effacing, and I suspect censored most of his own letters both to Barrie and his family. About the only thing I liked about Neverland was making Peter the central child figure - and the boy who played him was superb.

[Hannah High]

About the only thing I liked about Neverland was making Peter the central child figure - and the boy who played him was superb.

Couldn't agree more. I always wanted to know more about him - the real Peter that is - and many thanks for the letters! Can't wait to get into them.