As awesome as it is to be introduced to new, fantastical worlds, it can be equally amazing to learn about people that exist in our world, and how that knowledge can inform fictional tales. Author Pat Murphy explores this idea in the Big Idea for her newest novel, The Adventures of Mary Darling. Follow along to get glimpse into the research that went into turning an old tale into something new.
PAT MURPHY:
When I was in fourth grade, I read J.M. Barrie’s novel, Peter Pan. The story fascinated and annoyed me in equal measures.
I wanted to go on an adventure to Neverland. Who wouldn’t want to fly away to a magical island? But I didn’t have much use for Wendy, who seemed obsessed with being a mother and getting a kiss from Peter. Fourth-grade me had no use for all the stuff about Wendy and Tinker Bell and Tiger Lily mooning after Peter Pan. It was all about the adventure.
As an adult rereading Barrie’s novel, the character who captured my attention was Mary Darling, mother of the children who flew away with Peter. From Mary’s point of view, the story of Peter Pan is a child abduction story. Mary comes home from a dinner party and her children have been snatched from their beds.
Now if you were the victim of a crime in Victorian London, where would you go for help? To Sherlock Holmes, of course…
Source: The Big Idea: Pat Murphy | Whatever
