When a Man's Single: A Tale of Literary Life

"When a Man's Single: A Tale of Literary Life" by J. M. Barrie is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story centers around Rob Angus, a young saw-miller who becomes a reporter in Silchester after a personal tragedy that leaves him 'single.' The narrative explores themes of ambition, independence, and the literary life as Rob navigates the challenges of his new career while dealing with his past and caring for a child he has raised. At the start of the book, readers are introduced to Davy Dundas, a four-year-old girl who wanders away from her guardians in the town of Thrums. The community buzzes with concern as she goes missing, sparking a search that highlights the interconnectedness of the townsfolk. Through the lens of everyday life in Thrums, Barrie paints a picture of a close-knit community reacting to the crisis, all while hinting at Rob’s internal struggle with grief and responsibility—elements that set the stage for his eventual move to the bustling literary world of Silchester. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Sir James Matthew Barrie, 1st Baronet, was a Scottish novelist and playwright, best remembered as the creator of Peter Pan. He was born and educated in Scotland and then moved to London, where he wrote several successful novels and plays. There he met the Llewelyn Davies boys, who inspired him to write about a baby boy who has magical adventures in Kensington Gardens, then to write Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up, a 1904 West End "fairy play" about an ageless boy and an ordinary girl named Wendy who have adventures in the fantasy setting of Neverland.