Cricket … well I thought you'd like to know about a team of literary players … sorry if you don't! The Allahakbarries are the team, and its backstory c/o the author of Peter Pan …
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| J M Barrie in 1892 |
Peter Pan's author … J M Barrie (1860 - 1937) – had an elder brother, who died very young … sadly for JM that elder brother was his mother's favourite …
… so it has been mooted that Barrie had psychogenic dwarfism – a growth disorder caused by this emotional deprivation – he only grew to 5 ft 3 ½ inches (1.6 m) …
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| Michael Llewelyn Davies as Peter Pan (1906) |
Barrie was an amazing man – he wrote Peter Pan and before his death gave the rights to Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, which continues to benefit from them.
Cricmash suggests that he was a man with a quixotic sense of humour and an affinity for the unusual … his article is a great read …
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| Christopher Robin reading to Pooh |
Perhaps we aspiring authors look to join with others in search of other pursuits … Barrie did just that – he recruited a cricket team from many of his famous friends … captained by Peter Pan, with Sherlock Holmes as the star batsman and Winnie the Pooh at the wicket …
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| Peter Pan statue in Kensington Gardens |
… there were explorers – perhaps trying to find the boundary limits … artists, painting the sessions as a record, big game hunters making sure no pussy-cats were haunting the grasslands …
Very expensive! copy
from c/o Abebooks
Barrie's selection also didn't comply with what was considered to be normal … for instance he chose married men – because he liked their wives! Or as far as the single men were concerned – it was for the oddity of their personal appearance …
Cricmash's article is a fun read … while the Wiki page gives an overview …
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| Wordsworth edition of Three Men in a Boat |
Where else would Three Men in a Boat meet Andrew Lang's Fairy Book illustrations …
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| An illustration from The Orange Fairy Book |
Notable figures to have featured …
Rudyard Kipling - novelist
H G Wells - writer
Arthur Conan Doyle – writer and physician
PG Wodehouse – writer and humorist
GK Chesterton – writer and philosopher …
Jerome K Jerome - author
A A Milne – author and childrens' author
E W Hornung – author (Raffles – gentleman thief)
Henry Justice Ford – artist and illustrator
A E W Mason – author and politician
Walter Raleigh – scholar, poet and author
E V Lucas – talented writer and essayist
Maurice Hewlett – historical novelist
Owen Seaman – editor of Punch
Bernard Partridge – illustrator for Punch magazine
Augustine Birrell – Politician
Paul du Chaillu – French traveller, zoologist and anthropologist (gorillas and Pygmy people)
Henry Herbert La Thange – realist rural landscape artist, associated with the Newlyn School
George Cecil Ives – poet, writer, penal reformer
and George Llewelyn Davies, (George had 4 younger brothers)
as well as the son of Alfred Tennyson – Poet Laureate …
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| Jack acting out a Pirate Adventure |
The Llewelyn Davies family were the inspiration for the Peter Pan story and its characters …
It's the season of the Ashes (Australia v England) … tennis is in the offing too – Queens next week, Eastbourne from the 26th, then Wimbledon in July …
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| Porthos, Barrie's Saint Bernard dog |
Enjoy your summer … I'm busy, trying to de-stress and sort life out … so my life goes …
Cricmash. com - cricket and literature through J M Barrie and his Allahakbarries
Wikipedia article on Allahakbarries ...
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| Art work c.o Scribd.com (see link below) |
Scribd.com - article on Barrie's Extraordinary Celebrity Cricket Team ...
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
37 comments:
Psychogenic dwarfism is a term new to me, Hilary - were you familiar with it before your research for this article? The concept of the celebrity cricket team is very appealing and that's quite the cast of characters he had on his side. Great fun! All the best - David
Just read this and your last four blogs, I am not keeping up very well, Re your blood pressure, I know that problem, but I seem to sort of have it under control. Rhubarb and asparagus, yes the best part of summer eating I have to agree.
As for Peter Pan I saw it on a visit to Pretoria from Rhodesia with my folks when I was about 12. A never to be forgotten film, and my very first time at a drive-in cinema. Sadly the latter now have all disappeared they used to be such fun I have now just learnt a whole lot about JM Barrie that I knew nothing about before. You always have the most educational blogs, well done.
I hope all is now well and you have the BP under control as well. Take care, cheers Diane
Hari Om
What a fun Sunday post! Am missing the cricket as haven't yet worked out the magic stuff on the Grey... Hooroo from Lanark and my first park up! YAM xx
That was fun! I liked “Should you hit the ball, run at once. Do not stop to cheer."
That's an impressive list of celebrities on the cricket team!
@ David - no, I hadn't come across the term ... nor did I know that Barrie might in this day and age have been classed as a dwarf - but he was talented enough to rise above the negative, and generous enough in his life. I just loved the list of characters and felt I needed to put them all in ... there were others too ... but not listed.
@ Diane - no worries - I know you've lots going on - I appreciate you being here and commenting. My BP has to take centre stage this week. Delighted to see you agree re the asparagus and rhubarb ...
Drive-in cinemas - those were the days - I only went to one or two - but obviously a great memory for you. I certainly didn't know anything about Barrie - except the Peter Pan story and his other successful writings, as well as his generous 'rights to the Peter Pan works' to Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children.
All well - other than the BP and getting rid of the stress ... but I'll get there.
@ Yam - oh well done - your first park up - that's brilliant news - looking forward to reading all about your Grey, when you've got time. Glad I've given you something else to think about ...
@ Janice - there were a few other phrases in the links I've given - it's just such a fun idea to run with ... like seven fielders in the same position!! One of the members took the field in his pajamas, rather than 'whites'!! Fun loving creatives ...
@ Ian - yes isn't it a wonderful team of celebrities, of whom only one knew how to play the game - that was Sherlock Holmes ...
Thanks so much - I just couldn't not write up this post - made me laugh - also a good list of celebrities to learn more about, or read their stories ... cheers to you all - it's raining here! Hosepipe ban in place ... so it's raining a fair few buckets!! Hilary
WHAT a team he was able to put together. I am not a cricket fan but might even watch that team - though I would rather talk to many of them.
What a grand team that was! Indeed, in those days cricket had a connection with English literature. Neville Cardus is one name that comes to my mind - an author who was a cricket correspondent.
(My latest post: What happened to my previous post)
Hi EC - by the sound of it ... the team would rather talk to you - than actually play the game ... seven fielders in one spot quite often - but it was obviously a fun get together for some seriously educated men - and one encounter with a woman - see Wiki link ... cheers: I'd love it if we were all able to get together and chat about their works. Hilary
@ Pradeep - oooh ... you slipped in and I hadn't realised - great to see you! I had heard of Neville Cardus ... I see he was the Manchester Guardian's cricket and music correspondent before WW2. Certainly India loves its cricket ... I'm aware of that. Yes - these authors would be fun to talk to ... so glad you enjoyed the post - cheers Hilary
Wait. I'm confused. Was this a real team that played or a fictional team he wrote a story about? The dwarfism makes me think that perhaps Peter Pan was an interesting way of working through "never growing up".
Hi Liz - it's a real team - the links tell all the story. Barrie had all these friends he could call on ... so he did.
The Peter Pan character came from the Llewelyn Davies family ... the boys' parents died in an accident and Barrie became their guardian ... that was the connection, and the fact Barrie's elder brother had died aged 11 or so ... hence the not growing up. Barrie had met the boys in Kensington Gardens and befriended them ...
Hope this helps ... cheers Hilary
How fascinating, Hilary, and how wonderful that Barrie donated the rights of Peter Pan to Great Ormond street. That's the kind of gesture that keeps on giving. I love the eclectic cricket team as well. He sounds like such an interesting and quirky man.
The celebrity cricket team was quite the panel of skills (perhaps not so much at the game) but certainly for any post game party and chat. Ha! I can just imagine the variety of subjects and creative opinions. Wow. You do find the best stuff for this blog.
Slow down for summer and take time to relish the season. Plenty of lemonade or whatever cools you. We just spent this Father's Day at a baseball game - that can kill time and induce laziness. Take care and enjoy.
What an amazing team--never predictable, that's for sure. Nor is your curiosity. The places it takes you!
Hi, Hilary - Somehow I no longer receive email notification of your blog posts. I'm not sure how that happened or how to rectify that. I am happy to re-register for your blog but am unsure how to do that. Any hints that you can give me will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for I super fun and informative posts. I've missed your writing
I hope that you are doing okay, and managing to destress.
xx Donna
@ Val - that's great to hear ... I knew many commenters would find the post fascinating. Barrie donated the rights to Peter Pan and affiliated products (eg play) ... so it's a very generous ongoing thought. You're right he does sound quirky doesn't he ...
@ Joanne - certainly no skills for the game - only Sherlock Holmes was capable of playing well! I imagine their conversation wold be quite extraordinary and so eclectic. Oh gosh - happy day for you and Ray - the baseball game and yes one can relax into watching such a game. Mind you sitting on the grass round a village green idly watching friends and family play is great fun ...
@ Jacqui - this just seemed such an appropriate team to write about - and I love the learning about the other participants ...
@ Donna - I know ... I must get 'my subscription' sorted out - I think I'm going private ... I'll be in touch shortly. Blogger things seem to be going somewhat haywire, but at least the blog is there.
I have the summer to concentrate more on the BP and de-stressing - equally lots going on too ...
Thanks everyone - so pleased to see you and to read your comments ... our weather is interesting - thundery, damp and 'heavy' ... take care - cheers Hilary
So interesting hearing more about Barrie, Hilary! Awful about his mother playing favorites, but interesting how it manifested in his height (and, maybe, also his writing).
That was quite the celebrity cricket team! I’d never heard about that before.
Oh my gosh, I had no idea. What an extraordinary author and human being.
Thanks for sharing.
@ Elizabeth - yes ... I'd never heard this story before. Very sad upbringing in the circumstances - but story telling and creative abilities certainly shone throughout his life.
I'd never heard of the medical condition psychogenic dwarfism, which was another interesting subject to learn about. He certainly didn't let his condition hold him back ...
@ Anabel - that's great ... I knew many here would be fascinated by this team! So pleased you did too ...
@ Sandra - yes he certainly made his mark on life ... and created the best he could be with his authorship ...
Thanks to the three of you ... cheers Hilary
I too find the concept of the celebrity cricket team is very appealing. This must have been very flattering to the writers, poets, artists and philosophers who were "raised up" to the star level of cricketers. At first I thought this was ironic. But after all, we know every famous cricketer from every country.. their fame is endless.
What a fun cricket team.
Wishing you a stress free day.
Cheers,
I've read a bit about Barrie. He was an unusual and interesting man.
Love,
Janie
Is that why Peter Pan never grew up?
@ Hels - I think they were just friends and gathered for the fun of it - I'm fairly certain knowing very little about the game and how it's played etc. The members didn't think of it as ironic ... but probably we could now looking back .. also it's given us something to laugh at.
The other thing is - we can be curious about the other members of the team - hence I've added their main occupations for information purposes. We have celebrity teams today ... while there are certain players whose names are known about ...
@ Sandra - it's been fun finding out about them ... I've just bought a recent book on the Allahakbarries to read.
@ Janie - great to see you here ... I'm glad you've come across Barrie before ...
@ Sandi - thanks for coming by ... it is thought that JM Barrie used his brother's early and sad demise as the basis for the character of Peter Pan.
Thanks for visiting ... so lovely to see you all here - cheers Hilary
As is often the case with me, I am familiar with stories but know little about the people behind them! Interesting. With a team like that, I might even enjoy watching a cricket match. As for tennis, bring it on!
I'm not convinced that Winnie The Pooh would make a good wicket keeper - but I reckon Tigger would be an excellent fielder and I can see Eeyeor as umpire.
@ Keith - yes I didn't know many of the authors - let alone the others ... especially the Newlyn artist. Cricket on the green can be fun - mostly socialising by those of us watching!
Tennis - are you coming over? - enjoy if you do ... I'm not going down, but will be around - a cousin comes down to line judge, so we get to catch up.
@ Patsy - actually I'd have thought Winnie-the-Pooh with his honey pot might be a good magnet for some outstanding catches? Now I'd also be anxious about Tigger darting in and out of the surrounding bushes and hedges ... he can run though. Eeyeor would make the perfect umpire, as long as he wasn't asleep at his post! Actually great idea for a story at some stage ...
Thanks to you both ... interesting comments - cheers Hilary
That was an interesting read. Thanks for sharing.
When looking back, I remember playing cricket years ago, which was quite fun.
Take good care.
Love the illustration from the Orange Fairy book.
I wasn't familiar with Psychogenic Dwarfism - what a sad condition! But Barrie more than made up for it, didn't he? Another fascinating read, Hilary. I hope you have a stress-free summer. Cheers!
I didn't know Doyle was a physician.
Fascinating stuff, Hilary. I'd never heard of psychogenic dwarfism, though I guess it makes some sense. And had no idea that Barrie was a cricket fan. Very interesting read - you have a wonderful summmer!
Hi Mike - I'd too had never heard about most of this ... but knew it'd really interest many of you from various points of view. Great to see you here - you too enjoy Summer. Cheers Hilary
@ Anonymous - apologies I'm not sure who you are! But I'm glad you have memories of playing cricket years ago ... it can be fun, I'm sure - I enjoy listening to it ... or being at a village cricket green.
@ Sandra - we had all the Fairy books ... my mother at some stage sold or gave them away: having no grandchildren, such can be life!
@ Debbie - I'd no idea about that condition - it was interesting to find out about. He got through it ... I'm reading the book about this scenario and the history about the Allahakbarries - fascinating stuff ... particularly about the other members.
@ Sandra - I think we all forget that Conan Doyle was a doctor and a surgeon, he also studied Botany ... he's an interesting character - worth knowing more about.
Apologies - I thought I'd replied to comments here ... but now have caught up! Cheers and appreciate you being here - Hilary
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