Discover Peter Pan's Origin - The Real Story Behind the Legend of Peter Pan: New Book Reveals Historical Inspiration for the Fairy Tale

Peter: The Untold True Story offers new perspective on Peter Pan, one of the most beloved characters in fiction, known to children all over the world. Author Christopher Mechling believes he has found the historical basis for the legend of Peter Pan, and has crafted a novel to introduce readers to the fascinating character of Peter the Wild Boy.

The legend of Peter Pan has been retold many times, in books, stageplays, comics, movies and television shows, sometimes more faithfully than others. Most recently, ABC has recast the boy hero as a villain in their show Once Upon a Time. Peter: The Untold True Story is not a reimagining of the fairy tale, it is an account of the real-life adventures of Peter the Wild Boy, a feral child from the 18th century.

Christopher Mechling's imaginative dramatization of the life of Peter captures the joy, innocence and fire of a bright, feral child living in the midst of the Age of Enlightenment. The epic story of his life, spanning approximately 70 years, navigates a tumultuous and thoughtful period in English history, rich with characters. Breathing life into 18th century events, Peter: The Untold True Story takes readers on a journey of discovery, from the Enchanted Forest of Hamelin, to the grim House of Corrections at Celle, to the beauty of Herrenhausen Palace, to the banks of the Thames River, to the Royal Palaces in London, and beyond, with a cast including the British Royal Family and many of the brightest minds of the era.

In 1725, Peter the Wild Boy was discovered in the forest of Hamelin, having lived alone in the wild since he was very young. Immediately capturing the public imagination, he was taken to meet George I, Duke of Hanover and King of England. Peter's good nature won the appreciation of King George. As a result, he was brought from Germany to London where he was introduced and became a popular figure in court society, in the midst of an era when science and reason were conquering the unknown, the mysterious and the wild.

Peter's character captivated the imaginations of many of England's best contemporary writers and thinkers, including Daniel Defoe and Jonathan Swift. In the Age of Enlightenment, the feral child was a charming curiosity beloved by those who met him, including the Royal Family. For several years, Peter lived in the royal residences, and was the talk of London. He learned many things, but never grew up- he remained a wild youth, and was ultimately celebrated for this. Living through the reigns of three kings, Peter had a long life full of many adventures, and for all his years, up to 1785 when he passed away, he was known as the Wild Boy.

Throughout his life, even into his seventies, Peter maintained a youthful appearance and energy. Evolutionary theorist Lord Monboddo, who visited Peter in 1782, said of the Wild Boy, "He is of low stature, not exceeding five feet three inches; and though he must be now about 70 years of age, [he] has a fresh, healthy look. His face is not at all ugly or disagreeable, and he has a look that may be called sensible and sagacious, for a savage. [He] had always that gentleness of nature, which I hold to be characteristical of our nature, at least until we become carnivorous, and then hunters or warriors. He is said to have sometimes run seventy or eighty miles a day. His strength always appeared to be so much superior that the strongest young men were afraid to contend with him, and this strength continued almost unimpaired till about a year and a half ago."

Christopher Mechling's imaginative dramatization captures the poignant experiences of Peter and the people who interacted with him. Peter: The Untold True Story is available in hardcover from Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and at the author's website. It is also available as an e-book through the Apple iBookstore and Amazon Kindle.

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