Mary Poppins was more fun and interesting than her author! Pamela Lyndon Goff invented Mary Poppins to fulfill her own dreams and romantic fantasies. "Mary Poppins", the much loved childrens' story has entranced children for more than 80 years and Walt Disney's movie of the early 60's, starring Julie Andrews, entranced a whole new generation of happy viewers of all ages. The real P.L. Travers was complex, frustrated, restless and in search of something that she never found.