'Peter Pan' Is Actually Based on This Dark True Story

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By Rachel Sandell

Updated Oct 15, 2023

You know him as the boy who never grows up. His history is much darker than one would expect.

Image via Jefferson Chacon

Disney's Peter Pan may portray a mischievous boy who doesn't grow up, but the true origins of the character lie in J.M. Barrie's personal life.
Barrie's obsession with eternal childhood stemmed from the trauma of losing his brother and two infant siblings at a young age.
Barrie's novel, "The Little White Bird," provided the first introduction to Peter Pan and explored the darker aspects of eternal boyhood, including Peter's dangerous behavior and bitterness towards growing up.