The Little White Bird by James Matthew Barrie

The Little White Bird is a whimsical tale by J.M. Barrie that intertwines fantasy and reality as a father figure reflects on his bond with a boy named David, exploring the enchanting world of fairies, dreams, and the adventures of childhood in Kensington Gardens. Through the eyes of Peter, the story captures the bittersweet nature of growing up and the longing for a magical connection that transcends time.

By James Matthew Barrie · First published 1902 · Genre: Fantasy, Children's Literature, Adventure · 26 chapters · 77,118 words

Editions

• Edition 1
• Edition 2

First lines

Sometimes the little boy who calls me father brings me an invitation from his mother: "I shall be so pleased if you will come and see me," and I always reply in some such words as these: "Dear madam, I decline. " And if David asks why I decline, I explain that it is because I have no desire to meet the woman.

"Come this time, father," he urged lately, "for it is her birthday, and she is twenty-six," which is so great an age to David, that I think he fears she cannot last much longer.

• Open reader

What this Textopian page supports

The Little White Bird is listed on Textopian as a novel by James Matthew Barrie, dated 1902 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

• Work type: Novel
• Author: James Matthew Barrie
• Date: 1902 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Fantasy, Children's Literature, Adventure, Literary Fiction, Coming-of-Age
• Length: 77,118 words
• Structure: 26 chapters, 1,153 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for The Little White Bird by James Matthew Barrie
• Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
• Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
• Readability and classroom-planning context
• Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

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• The Beginning Of The Armadillos by Rudyard Kipling
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• The Man With The Pan Pipes by Mary Louisa Molesworth
• Little Hero by James Mcintyre
• The Boy And The Wolf by James Baldwin

Genres

• Fantasy — The book features magical elements and fantastical characters, including Peter Pan.
• Children's Literature — It is primarily aimed at children, exploring themes of childhood and imagination.
• Adventure — The narrative includes adventurous escapades and explorations in a whimsical setting.
• Literary Fiction — The writing style is rich and nuanced, appealing to adult readers as well.

Tags

Coming-of-age · Fiction · Literary Fiction · Psychological Insight · Social Commentary · Childhood Innocence · Loss of Innocence · Growing Up · Self-Discovery · Friendship · Love · Loneliness

Contents

• David and I Set Forth Upon a Journey
• The Little Nursery Governess
• Her Marriage, her Clothes, her Appetite, and an Inventory of her Furniture
• A Night-Piece
• The Fight for Timothy
• A Shock
• The Last of Timothy
• The Inconsiderate Waiter
• A Confirmed Spinster
• Sporting Reflections
• The Runaway Perambulator
• The Pleasantest Club in London
• The Grand Tour of the Gardens
• Peter Pan
• The Thrush's Nest
• Lockout Time
• The Little House
• Peter's Goat
• An Interloper
• David and Porthos Compared
• William Paterson
• Joey
• Pilkington'S
• Barbara
• The Cricket Match
• The Dedication

More by James Matthew Barrie

• Peter Pan (1911)
• Margaret Ogilvy (1888)
• Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens (1906)
• David and I Set Forth Upon a Journey (1917)
• The Little Nursery Governess (1871)
• Her Marriage, her Clothes, her Appetite, and an Inventory of Her (1908)
• A Night-Piece (1895)
• The Fight for Timothy (1912)
• All works by James Matthew Barrie