BARRIE, Snt James Matthew, British novelist and dramatist: b. Kirriemuir, Scotland, 9 May 1860. He was graduated at Edinburgh University in 1882. His sketches and stones of country life in Scotland soon brought him to the attention of the British public and within a few years he was the recognized master in his field. He published 'Auld Licht Idylls' (18&S) ; (A Widow in Thrums> (1889); (The Little White Bird) (1892); (Sentimental Tom my> (1892). These four books assured the success attained earlier by his work in papers and periodicals and gained him a vast host of readers. He is unexcelled in his portrayal of Scottish peasant life, with its tricksy wit and overflowing with pathos and the author's poetic fantasy. Many others in like vein followed such as (My Lady Nicotine) (1890) •, (The Little Minister> (1891) ; (Margaret Ogilvy) (1896) ; (Tommy and Grizel> (1900) ; (Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens> (1906) ; (Peter and Wendy> (1911). In 1892 he won his first success in another field with his farce, (Walker, London.) This was followed by many other plays, several of which were based on his work in fiction. These include (The Professor's
Love Story) (1895) ; (The Little Minister) (1897) ; (The Wedding Guest) (1900) ; (Qual ity Street); (The Admirable Crichton) and (Little Mary) (1903); (Peter Pan) (1904) ; (Alice-Sit-by-the-Fire) (1905) •