Margins
Half Hours book cover
Half Hours
2000
First Published
3.55
Average Rating
224
Number of Pages
This book presents a rich exploration of the archetypal comedic character, Pantaloon, from the traditional English harlequinade, a farcical theatrical performance. The author delves into the on-stage and off-stage existence of Pantaloon, examining how the boundaries between performance and personal identity blurred for this beloved figure. Through insightful analysis, the book reveals the depth of Pantaloon's character, showcasing his unwavering optimism and genuine love for his craft, despite the often-capricious nature of his life in and out of the limelight. This fascinating study not only illuminates the significance of Pantaloon in the history of comedic performance but also explores the broader themes of identity, artistry, and the enduring power of laughter.
Avg Rating
3.55
Number of Ratings
20
5 STARS
25%
4 STARS
20%
3 STARS
40%
2 STARS
15%
1 STARS
0%
goodreads

Author

J.M. Barrie
J.M. Barrie
Author · 72 books

Sir James Matthew Barrie, 1st Baronet, OM was a Scottish author and dramatist, best remembered today as the creator of Peter Pan. The son of a weaver, Barrie studied at the University of Edinburgh. He took up journalism, worked for a Nottingham newspaper, and contributed to various London journals before moving to London in 1885. His early works, Auld Licht Idylls (1889) and A Window in Thrums (1889), contain fictional sketches of Scottish life and are commonly seen as representative of the Kailyard school. The publication of The Little Minister (1891) established his reputation as a novelist. During the next 10 years Barrie continued writing novels, but gradually his interest turned toward the theatre. In London he met the Llewelyn Davies boys who inspired him in writing about a baby boy who has magical adventures in Kensington Gardens (included in The Little White Bird), then to write Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up, a "fairy play" about this ageless boy and an ordinary girl named Wendy who have adventures in the fantasy setting of Neverland. This play quickly overshadowed his previous work and although he continued to write successfully, it became his best-known work, credited with popularising the name Wendy, which was very uncommon previously. Barrie unofficially adopted the Davies boys following the deaths of their parents. Before his death, he gave the rights to the Peter Pan works to Great Ormond Street Hospital, which continues to benefit from them.

548 Market St PMB 65688, San Francisco California 94104-5401 USA
© 2026 Paratext Inc. All rights reserved