Barrie biography CAPTIVATED

[mikey2573]

Has anyone read this? It is supposedly about Barrie's intrusion into the DeMaurier family --not sure if they mean Sylvia or....?

Here is the description from Amazon:

Product Description
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.
 I had never heard of this before. THOUGHTS?

[Westh76]

See Robert Greenham's post on 19 September under the heading 'New wonderfully batty book about JMB" (page 2 on the section on JMB). I'm still ploughing my way through Dudgeon's book - so far, everything in it seems to be based on conjecture and what-ifs.

[TheWendybird]

I don't like reading "Barrie's victims" *shudder*

[MLD]

Actually the authour has done his research  and any conjectures are drawn upon what he has found. Dudgeon has a few disturbing facts or details taken from Barrie's leters which I did not find in Andrew's book.  And the book is more than just a weaving together a life of letters. You can appreciate his talent and still see that he was a strange little man.

[andrew]

Dudgeon and I emailed one another several times while he was writing his book, but I haven't read it (just don't have the time!). I'm curious to know more about the "disturbing facts" - can you remember what they were?

[MLD]

Michael's nude photos as Peter Pan are disturbing Andrew.  I wish I had not read that.  Michael was 6 at the time I believe.  Why would Barrie need nude photos of Michael?  Barrie himself writes of them in a letter to Silvia so please do not suggest I made this up. 

You may not consider this disturbing, Andrew.  I do and I am not really asking for an explaination from you.  I can explain as well as you using Barrie's letters.  I would like to know what a profession doctor who deals with this might add.

[andrew]

I'm beginning to think you're a total fake, MLD, and that this is some sort of wind up. Either produce your evidence - the date and location of Barrie's alleged letter to "Silvia" [sic] - or shut up. If others disagree with me, please say so.

[MLD]

1.  Stop with the slander

2.  READ before you accuse.  I have given the book and the page number .  If you can't read have someone read it to you. 

3.  In my edition this is on page 178.

[MLD]

Andrew.  I think you need to get off the platform and research before you open your mouth.  I also did an online search and found the same information from another source.  How difficult could it be to discover this? 

[TheWendybird]

MLD- TAKE YOUR OWN BLOODY ADVICE!!!!!!!!!!

[AlexanderDavid]

WHOA.   

"If you can't read"?

I'm sorry, I don't want to contribute to this atmosphere of anger any more, but that was uncalled for, especially to the administrator for this forum.  I don't want to be doing his job, and I'm not trying to, but MAN.

Anyway, you can hardly blame him for saying what he did when you say something that shocking and then when people ask for evidence you get indignant and turn it around on them like they're the ones being mean to you for even asking, as if that constituted doubts about your veracity and you consider that an insult.  Not a good way to get people to believe you.

And by the way, stop with the double posting and the insulting of the administrator before you get in trouble.

[TheWendybird]

WHOA.   

"If you can't read"?

I'm sorry, I don't want to contribute to this atmosphere of anger any more, but that was uncalled for, especially to the administrator for this forum.  I don't want to be doing his job, and I'm not trying to, but MAN.

Anyway, you can hardly blame him for saying what he did when you say something that shocking and then when people ask for evidence you get indignant and turn it around on them like they're the ones being mean to you for even asking, as if that constituted doubts about your veracity and you consider that an insult.  Not a good way to get people to believe you.

And by the way, stop with the double posting and the insulting of the administrator before you get in trouble.

AMEN! Voice of reason!

[andrew]

What is Dudgeon's source? What is the date of the alleged letter from Barrie to Sylvia?? Where is the original?? I do not claim to be the sole authoirty on Barrie, nor have I ever done so - but I have read every single letter from Barrie to Sylvia that exists in the Beinecke collection at Yale, or as transcribed by Peter Davies in his Morgue, and I don't care what Dudgeon writes in his pot-boiler - without citing a verifiable source, his "quote" is worthless at best and defamatory at worst.

[MLD]

You are in contact with him.  Didn't he email you?  Ask him yourself.  I am sure there are letters you have not read.  Some sold at auction.  I know of 2 that were sold and I doubt you have read them. 

I just know the quote ois in print and to me it is upsetting.  I am aware what this suggests and I don't really want to think of Barrie in that light.

[TheWendybird]

You are in contact with him.  Didn't he email you?  Ask him yourself.  I am sure there are letters you have not read.  Some sold at auction.  I know of 2 that were sold and I doubt you have read them. 

I just know the quote ois in print and to me it is upsetting.  I am aware what this suggests and I don't really want to think of Barrie in that light.

Do you think if it were to turn out to be true....that that automatically makes him a pedophile or something of the like? He did, supposedly after all, write the mother and tell her...to the best of my knowledge...people who do that kind of stuff...don't go around broadcasting it unless it was nothing. Which is why I also stuck by Michael Jackson..but we won't go there again