Peter Pan in the Catskills and Other Historical Essays (Purple Mountain Press, 2026) is a collection that evokes the magic of the region, from Rip Van Winkle to Maude Adams, whose renowned portrayal of Peter Pan made her famous.
This illustrated volume celebrates all that is extraordinary about the Catskill Mountains. In 33 essays, 28 writers dig into Catskills culture and history, bringing to light fossils, flora, and fauna, as well as art, railroads, baseball, and more.
Selected and with an introduction by Catskills writer Bill Birns, Peter Pan in the Catskills is the first original title issued by Purple Mountain Press since its new owners took over in January of 2025.
The essays originally appeared in the esteemed journal Catskill Tri-County Historical Views. A portion of the profits from its publication supports the Gilboa Museum.
Included in the book is “Rip Van Winkle at 200,” by Vernon Benjamin, which relates how Rip Van Winkle first came to be through the hand of Washington Irving and its enduring legacy.
The titular essay, “Peter Pan in the Catskills: Maude Adams, Actress,” by Elisabeth Henry, explores the fascinating theatrical history of Peter Pan and the role played by the Catskills High Peaks in its success.
Maude Adams owned the “Caddam Hill” estate in Tannersville, NY where she lived there from 1903 until her death in 1953. Today, the Maude Adams Theater Hub at the Catskill Mountain Foundation keeps her legacy alive.
“Freddy Goes to Roxbury” by Michael Cart looks at author/illustrator Walter R. Brooks’s beloved children’s book character, Freddy the Pig (1927-1958).
“Bluebirds, the Catskills & John Burroughs” by Ed Renehan, Jr. describes our Catskills bard at the dawn of John Burroughs‘ writing career.
“FDR and the Catskills” by the volume’s editor, Bill Birns, offers up some of the area’s presidential history.
Editor Bill Birns has lived and worked in the Catskills for fifty years. He taught a couple generations of Catskill Mountain kids, both at Margaretville Central School and Onteora High School.
A graduate of Union College, he holds a Ph.D. in rhetoric and linguistics from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. His 1986 dissertation was a study of the dialect of the Catskills. Birns is also the author of A Catskill Catalog (Purple Mountain Press, 2011).
Peter Pan in the Catskills is available here.
Upcoming Book Events
April 11: Hobart Exchange, Hobart, NY, book talk and signing with Bill Birns at 2:30 pm and 6 pm.
April 18: Delaware County Historical Association, Delhi, NY, book talk and signing with Bill Birns, 2 pm.
May 7: The Hound Books, Roscoe, NY, book talk and signing with Bill Birns, 6 pm.
May 9: Woodstock Library, book talk with Bill Birns and Leslie Sharpe hosted by The Golden Notebook, 4:30 pm.
May 23: Fleischmanns Memorial Day Street Fair, table and author signing with Bill Birns.
June 6: Mountaintop Library, Tannersville, NY Bill Birns in conversation with Elisabeth Henry, 11 am.
You can stay informed about new books and events at Purple Mountain Press at their website, where you can sign up for their newsletter.
Purple Mountain Press, based in the Catskill Mountains and a majority woman-owned business, specializes in local and regional books on the natural and cultural history of upstate New York. Founded in 1973, the Press has published more than 100 titles.
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