From my bookshelf: Peter Pan and beyond…
I’d like to share a book from my shelf by Sir James Matthew Barrie — Peter Pan, of course! With its magical elements—the boy who never grows up, pirates, fairies like Tinker Bell, and the enchanting realm of Neverland—it’s a timeless classic. If you haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend you do.
But today, I stumbled upon something unexpected. While exploring contemporary playwrights, I came across a one-act play by Barrie titled The Twelve-Pound Look. At first, I wondered: Could this be the same man? And indeed, it is! This short but brilliant piece is no more than 25–30 pages (though I can’t say exactly, as I’m reading it on my e-reader). Despite its brevity, it packs incredible depth and wit—far from the whimsical world of Peter Pan, yet equally masterful.
How can one writer be so versatile? Barrie’s skill as a playwright differs from his storytelling for children, but both are extraordinary. If you’d like to read The Twelve-Pound Look, I’ve included a download link below—it’s available for free on Project Gutenberg, so no need to worry about royalties!
Without spoiling too much, here’s a hint: The play revolves around a woman who leaves a wealthy man, and the key to her freedom lies in a typewriter machine. That’s a simplified version, of course, but I won’t give away more—read it yourself and enjoy this hidden gem!
Now, let me read you an excerpt…
A Twelve Pound Look by J. Barrie.
