NEVERLAND by Piers Dudgeon

[mikey2573]

I am assuming that this is the book previously titled CAPTIVATED (?) but now published in the USA as NEVERLAND. I am reading this book right now although it is called NEVERLAND --still the same author.  It is interesting to hear about the pre-Barrie lives of the people involved, especially the Du Maurier's.  While I am not finished with the book yet, the author does seem to leap to conclusions by stressing the facts which support his conclusions, and ignoring those which do not.  The example that comes to mind immediately is his conclusion that Michael's death was a suicide.  He points to the fact that this was a little swimming hole with very calm waters,("One has to wonder what, in a non-tidal pool, could lead to two fit lads drowning? A man bore witness that  the pool had been glassy calm."  But he ignores the fact that this very swimming hole was the setting for several other drowning victims--wasn't there already some sort of marker at the pool when Michael drowned?
He does point to the section of THE LITTLE WHITE BIRD, where little David has his "sleepover", as the "evidence" where Barrie supporters throw their arms up in exasperation; in other words, How do they explain THIS? And the descriptions of the man undressing David and how exquisite he looked and David crawling into bed with him...well, it is a bit "uncomfortable".
Still, a fascinating read so far.  I will comment further when I have actually read the whole thing!

[mikey2573]

I finally finished the book.  I found it quite fascinating when the author stuck to the facts and didn't veer off into speculation, which he does quite frequently.  He sees Barrie as responsible for just about everything negative that happens in the life of everyone who knew him --a bit hard to swallow at times.  Still, a very interesting read.

[JAQ]

You're absolutely right that Dudgeon cherry-picks only the facts which support his preconceived thesis, and interprets them in the most damning possible way. 

[tcarroll]

How can anyone believe such nonsense? Mr. Barrie was clearly a very loving man.  No one would have cared for the Llewelyn Davies boys and given them all that he gave who wasn't caring and devoted to both them and their parents.  No one will ever make me believe he was anything but a devoted "father" to those children.  He gave them everything their parents would have given if they had lived, including an education.  Some people will say anything to sell a book!!

[TheWendybird]

Sorry to be so blunt but this guy is a MORON!

[Westh76]

Totally agree with you, Wendy Bird! But Dudgeon is an expert in twisting facts and shoe-horning them to fit  his outlandish theories, as well as quoting Barrie's or other writers' words out of context. The NY Times reviewer picked on Dudgeon's accusation that Barrie took 'borderline pornographic' photographs of the boys, but the photos he's referring to are the ones you can find on this site's database, innocent shots of children enjoying a sunny day (yes, even in England) on the beach, with their mother. No-one would have thought any of it  at the time.

But in any case, this book has already been discussed extensively in several earlier posts, first started in July 08, then August 09 and again in October 09. No doubt there will be more, alas, as more people will buy and read Dudgeon's book following up spurious and sensationalistic reviews

[TheWendybird]

Funny..my mom took pics of me when i was 6 and under in the bathtub with my toys *shrug* Parental figures always did stuff like that...I don't really think anything of the photos as Barrie felt like they were his boys.

[AlexanderDavid]

Funny..my mom took pics of me when i was 6 and under in the bathtub with my toys *shrug* Parental figures always did stuff like that...I don't really think anything of the photos as Barrie felt like they were his boys.

Same here--why turn something innocent, heartwarming, and wholesome into something perverted just to throw the attention off your own perversions?