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Here Be Dragons co-curated by Cressida Cowell and Toothless - opens 13 July. Admission included with ticket to the Galleries

1001 Stories Collection

Mary Poppins

1001 marypoppins
Added on 01st July 2020

Author P.L Travers
First Published 1934
Publisher Gerald Howe, London, UK

Enchanted Library Action and adventure Family Magic
1001

Mary Poppins, the magical nanny, blows in on the east wind to transform the lives of the Banks children.

Story

The world of the Banks children is turned upside-down when a strong East Wind blows a new nanny into their life. Mary Poppins is strict and sometimes cross, but the children soon learn she is also caring and magical. Mary Poppins takes the Banks children on adventures around the world. She brings order and good manners to the family and stays with them until the wind changes.

Why we chose it

A classic story, which inspired a much loved film. In our 26 Characters exhibition in 2014 storytelling laureate Katrice Horsley chose to be photographed as Mary Poppins. She chose the Mary Poppins from the book, who she says is a little darker and more sinister than she is in the film, but who creates magic for the children while allowing them the freedom to discover the wonder for themselves.

Where it came from

Born Helen Lyndon Goff in 1899, P.L. Travers grew up in Australia and worked as a dancer and actress, choosing Pamela Linda Travers as her stage name. When she was growing up, she often had to look after her younger siblings which inspired the creation of a magical Nanny called Mary Poppins. Mary Poppins was published in 1934, with illustrations by Mary Shepard, the daughter of Ernest Shepard the illustrator of Winnie the Pooh.

Where it went next

P.L. Travers carried on writing about Mary Poppins in a popular book series. For many years she resisted the idea of turning it into a film but in 1964 reluctantly agreed to let Walt Disney adapt it. She hated what Disney did with and although it became an enormous success she refused permission for a sequel. It was not until 2018 that Mary Poppins Returns brought Mary back to help the children of Michael Banks.

Associated stories

Other books in the Mary Poppins series include: Mary Poppins Comes Back (1935), Mary Poppins Opens the Door (1943) and Mary Poppins in the Park (1952).

The 2013 film Saving Mr Banks tells the story of P.L. Travers meetings with Walt Disney as he persuades her to grant him the rights to Mary Poppins.

In the museum

Find the Mary Poppins miniature world in The Enchanted Library.

Added on 01st July 2020

Author P.L Travers
First Published 1934
Publisher Gerald Howe, London, UK

Enchanted Library Action and adventure Family Magic
1001