'We have a society edition which includes 'Better Dead', 'Echoes of the War' and 'Farewell, Miss Julie Logan'

'Better Dead' was Barrie's first, self-published, novella, written in 1887 and published in 1888. 
In a later introduction to the work Barrie wrote: 
'I have a sentimental interest in 'Better Dead,' for it was my first - published when I had small hope of getting anyone to accept the Scotch - and there was a week when I loved to carry it in my pocket and did not think it dead weight.' 
Our Honorary President Andrew Nash wrote an article about it in 2015 for the Scottish Literary Review, titled 'Better Dead: J.M.Barrie's first book and the shilling fiction market.' 

2018 saw the anniversary of the publication of 'Echoes of the War,' four short plays about the First World war. These are both funny and poignant as well as hugely revealing as regards the experience of ordinary people during that time.  'A Well Remembered Voice' was given a 'scratch' reading at our 2018 Barrie Birthday celebrations and Cally Phillips gave a talk on the collection at Wigtown Book Festival later in the year.

Farewell, Miss Julie Logan' is Barrie's last short prose fiction. It is still well received where it is read and offers an interesting juxtaposition with his earlier works as well as revisiting some familiar themes. 

The Society edition is available at www.unco.scot HERE or at Amazon (UK)  and worldwide .  Make sure you buy the Society editions as all profit goes directly back into promoting the J.M.Barrie Literary Society. 

Barrie's birthday was celebrated in Kirriemuir once again. 
This time we visited the National Trust property at 9 Brechin Road in the morning. 
As I heard the clock ticking upstairs I couldn't help but think both of the crocodile's tick from Peter Pan, and the fact that this very solemn ticking might have welcomed JMB into the world 158 years ago. 
One of our members gave a very moving rendition of 'On the Day that I was born' (you can find it in the Resources section) and then we moved on to the Pavilion/Camera Obscura for the afternoon where we took part in a 'scratch' reading of 'A Well Remembered Voice' (again, you can find it in Resources) 
It was a good day, despite somewhat inclement weather which meant we couldn't enjoy the views from the Camera Obscura Barrie gifted to the  town.