Recent Reads: Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
Narrated by: Adeel Akhtar, Rupert Everett, Gerran Howell, Eleanor Worthington-Cox

Length: 3 hrs and 17 mins
Original Recording Audiobook
Publisher: Audible
Publication Date:  December 5, 2019

 

Format: Audible Audiobook
Source: Audible Subscriber Freebie 

Rating:

Goodreads Synopsis:

This Audible Original Drama of Peter Pan takes listeners on a magical adventure with Peter, Wendy, Michael and John as they arrive in Neverland and take on Captain Hook with the help of Tiger Lilly and Tinker Bell.
The story begins at home in London during The Blitz, and Mary Darling is planning to evacuate her children to the countryside. However, her plans take an unexpected turn when a familiar face from her childhood returns...the one and only Peter Pan, the mysterious boy from Kensington Gardens. Intrigued by their mother’s friend, Wendy, Michael and John seek Peter Pan out, resulting in them being whisked off to Neverland and setting up home with Peter, Tinker Bell and the Lost Boys.
As Peter and his gang come up against the wickedly evil Captain Hook, their friendships and relationships are put to the test - can Wendy be honest with Peter about how she really feels, and will Michael and John return home without their sister?
Rupert Everett (The Happy Prince, My Best Friend’s Wedding) stars as Captain Hook alongside Adeel Akhtar (Four Lions, Killing Eve) as Smee, Gerran Howell (Catch-22, Emerald City) as Peter Pan and Eleanor Worthington Cox (Maleficent, Britannia) as Wendy alongside a full cast.
To mark the launch of this drama, Audible will be donating to Great Ormond Street Hospital, to whom J.M. Barrie unexpectedly and generously gifted his copyright of Peter Pan.

Review: 
I have never read or listened to the J.M. Barrie version of Peter Pan. I have seen Hook and watched the Disney animated versions but that is it. This story was very different from the one I know and it was darker and more interesting than the adapted tales (granted Hook is still one of my favorite movies). 

In the book, Mary Darling (the mother) is trying to move her children away from the war, but before she can do so, she tells them the story of meeting Peter Pan. Wendy writes a letter to Pan to get his attention and before you know it the children are off to Neverland.

Like I mentioned the book is darker, there is the war and the children's  knowledge of what that means for them, there are Lost Girls (!) who often battle the Lost Boys, there is violence that leads to characters almost dying, and there is the story about Pan and the changeling. 

I am not sure how the Audible Original full-cast version of this audiobook compares with the original, but it was very good, a very quick listen, and I was pleasantly surprised by not knowing most of the original story.