Letter from George du Maurier, London, to Florence James Williams, 1894 February 16 : autograph manuscript signed.

Replying to her letter and explaining the genesis of Peter Ibbetson; saying "In answer to your kind & flattering letter, I can only say that 'Peter Ibbetson' is entirely a work of fiction as far as the dream part is concerned - very much to my regret! I will go so far as to say that I have frequently had, & have still, dreams of reminiscence, of going back to past scenes - and the keen pleasure of them is far beyond any waking pleasure I have ever felt - unfortunately the pleasure is so great that it wakes me; and then, on analyzing the dreams of such Transcendent Delight, I find that really everything was unlike the remembered scene - so that it is not a 'true dream' - altho' the sensation has been just what a 'true dream' would give. So that I have imagined & written what I wished were possible - what I (venture to) think might be possible!~ And that is the story of the genesis of 'Peter Ibbetson'. Perhaps it is possible - and perhaps there may be a way to it. Sometimes I can't help hoping & thinking so;" adding, in a postscript, "I have not read the poem you mention."