Under no circumstances will I ever read this "children's classic" to my grand children unless I want to drive them into deep despair. Children forever separated from their parents, some by early death, some by other circumstances, feature prominently in this story of Peter Pan's beginnings and sets a dark tone which overrides scenes of whimsy and imagination.

On the other hand, Calla Editions' pleasantly crafted volume of "Peter Pan In Kengsinton Gardens" is worth keeping for the beauty of its presentation, especially for the illustrations that are those of the original artist and king of Edwardian children's illustrations, Arthur Rackham. For Rackham fans, it is a must have. ( )

In 1902, nine years before the publication of the classic novel Peter Pan and Wendy, Peter Pan made his first appearance in several chapters of another book by Sir James M. Barrie, called The Little White Bird; theses stories were later published as a separate book, Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens. In this fragile victorian fantasy, Barrie gives us our first glimpse of the impish sprite who escaped through the nursery window and danced with fairies in London.

From the intro:
Never, in the history of children's literature, has there been a more enchanted combination than Arthur Rackham and Peter Pan.
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I read the story over 2 decades ago when I thought I'd start with the Peter Pan story from the top but I didn't enjoy this story.

Here in 2019, I re-found the book to look at the illustrations. Many full page illustrations by the master but unfortunately the tones are more muted than they should be. Perhaps this version's printing hasn't held up well.

{novelette} ( )

Not the plot or characters of the later play by J.M Barrie. Interesting to see how the story evolved into its modern version. ( )

1926 American edition. Love, love, love these illustrations! ( )