Captivated by Piers Dudgeon

Captivated by Piers Dudgeon

Regular price
Checking stock...
Regular price
Checking stock...
Zusammenfassung

J M Barrie has long been a controversial figure; as D H Lawrence observed in 1921, 'Barrie has a fatal touch for those he loves. They die'. The five nervous breakdowns, two suicides, one attempted suicide and numerous deaths that are associated with him blacken the reputation of a man adored by generations of children.

The feel-good place to buy books
  • Free delivery in the UK
  • Supporting authors with AuthorSHARE
  • 100% recyclable packaging
  • B Corp - kinder to people and planet
  • Buy-back with World of Books - Sell Your Books

Captivated by Piers Dudgeon

J. M. Barrie has long been a controversial figure; as D. H. Lawrence observed in 1921, 'Barrie has a fatal touch for those he loves. They die'. The five nervous breakdowns, two suicides, one attempted suicide and numerous deaths that are associated with him blacken the reputation of a man adored by generations of children. However, what is less well known is that Barrie's malign influence grew out of his infatuation with the du Maurier family, particularly with the hypnotist, George du Maurier, creator of Svengali; with George's daughter and grandsons (models for the Darlings in Peter Pan); and with his enigmatic granddaughter, Daphne du Maurier, author of Rebecca and Barrie's final victim, whose life and work can never again be considered without reference to 'Unlce Jim'.
Wonderfully batty..a rattling grisly read...I defy you not to be captivated * Sunday Times *
The pathology of the artist - the motivations, temperament, clashes between public and private behaviour - is the real subject of Dudgeon's meticulous and highly provocative study of three writers... Dudgeon knows what he's doing and builds his case with precision and coolness... A gripping read * Scotsman *
Dudgeon characterises [Barrie's] association with the Llewellyn Davies family... and with Daphne du Maurier, and her father, the actor Gerald, as the Kiss of Death and the embrace of mental illness. Barrie's shadow side, as a manipulative monster without conscience, is linked to the darker aspects of Rebecca, Peter Pan and Svengali, the hypnotic character created by Gerald * The Times *
He has written his literary biography, Captivated, from the heart...The subject matter is absorbing, disturbing and baffling in equal measure...offers a vivid picture of Barrie's and George Du Maurier's murky psychological environment, and in so doing proves a valuable addition to literary history * Glasgow Herald *
A fascinating account of the psychological web in which Barrie trapped the tragic du Maurier family -- David Lodge
Piers Dudgeon is the author of many works of non-fiction. He worked for ten years as an editor in London before starting his own company producing books with authors as diverse as John Fowles, Catherine Cookson, Peter Ackroyd, Daphne du Maurier, Shirley Conran and Ted Hughes. Subsequently, he left London for Yorkshire where he wrote a number of biographies as well as illustrated books evocative of the spirit of place.
SKU Nicht verfügbar
ISBN 13 9780099520450
ISBN 10 0099520451
Titel Captivated
Autor Piers Dudgeon
Buchzustand Nicht verfügbar
Bindungsart Paperback
Verlag Vintage Publishing
Erscheinungsjahr 2009-06-04
Seitenanzahl 352
Hinweis auf dem Einband Die Abbildung des Buches dient nur Illustrationszwecken, die tatsächliche Bindung, das Cover und die Auflage können sich davon unterscheiden.
Hinweis Nicht verfügbar