Spoiler leaks plot of Peter Pan sequel

The contents of an upcoming book that has been a closely guarded secret — the authorized sequel to Peter Pan — have been leaked.

Publisher Simon & Shuster, Oxford University Press and Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital, which holds the rights to J.M. Barrie's classic story, are investigating how the New York Times got access to a copy of the manuscript.

"It is unfortunate, but they haven't revealed everything and we will just have to live with it," said a spokesman for the hospital.

Barrie left the hospital the rights to his book in his will after his death in 1937.

The Times published a synopsis of the sequel, to be called Peter Pan in Scarlet, revealing that it will take place in a Neverland damaged by pollution.

The official sequel to Peter Pan was written by celebrated children's author Geraldine McCaughrean, who won an international competition for the right to create a new instalment of the story of Wendy, Peter Pan and the Lost Boys.

The book is scheduled for publication Oct. 5 and has been a closely guarded secret.

However, copies are circulating in the publishing world and among newspapers bidding for rights to serialize the story. All who have copies were asked to sign confidentiality agreements, according to a report from London's Independent newspaper.

The New York Times was not among the newspapers considering serialization and should not have had access to a copy.

In its report, the Times says McCaughrean captures Barrie's original style.

In Peter Pan in Scarlet, the Lost Boys have grown up, Wendy is a poet and all have dreams of Neverland. With the aid of a new fairy, Fireflyer, they become children once more, and return to Neverland, where Peter is still youthful.

J.M. Barrie originally wrote the story as a play in 1904 and later adapted it as a book, Peter Pan.

The copyright bequeathed to the hospitalby Barrie expires next year and the sequel gives the hospital one last chance to raise funds through the rights.