Who was A.A. Milne?
A.A. Milne was an author and playwright most
associated with his character Winnie the Pooh. Chistened Alan Alexander
Milne.
Date and Place of Birth:
18th January 1882, London, England.
Family Background:
His parents were Scottish. He was the youngest
of three sons and his father taught in his own primary school Henley
House in London. One of the other teachers there was H.G. Wells
who became a firm friend.
Education:
Westminster School, London. Trinity College,
Cambridge.
Chronology/Biography of
A.A. Milne:
Edited the magazine “Granta” whilst at Trinity
College, Cambridge. Wrote freelance articles and stories after leaving
Cambridge for “Punch” and the “St. James Gazette”.
1906: February 13th.
Started work as Assistant Editor of the humorous magazine “Punch”
where he stayed until the outbreak of the First World War in 1914.
1915: February 12th.
Although noted for his pacifism he enrolled in the Royal Warwickshire
Regiment and served in France. Sent to Southern Command Signalling
School in Wyke Regis near Weymouth, Dorset. Sent to the Isle of
White as a signalling Officer.
1916: November 8th.
Contracted a fever in France and returned to England. After he regained
his health he was assigned his own company at the newly formed signal
school at Fort Southwick, where he stayed until 1919.
1920: August 21st:
Only son Christopher Robin (immortalised in the Pooh stories) was
born. His wife and son inspired him to write verses, short stories
and books particularly Pooh, although he wanted to be famous for
writing detective Stories and plays.
It is ironic therefore that the four Pooh books
went on to sell more than 7 million copies between 1924 and 1956
and have been translated into many other languages.
1940: Milne family
left London for Cotchford Farm.
1941: Wishing to
help with the war effort he joined the second Training Battalion
of the Royal Engineers.
1942: A.A. Milne
commissioned as an Officer and sailed to the Middle East during
the War demand was so high for the Pooh books that his publishers
Methuen were having great trouble obtaining enough paper to keep
them in print, although at the time he was beginning to regret that
Pooh’s popularity overshadowed his other works.
1948: Thirteen of
his plays were produced during the year. Christopher was now beginning
to distance himself from his parents resenting that his family name
rested on the Pooh fame. He met and married his Cousin Lesley de
Selincourt to his parent’s displeasure.
1952: A.A. Milne
had an operation on his brain, which left him an invalid. He returned
to his home at Cotchford Farm in Sussex where he spent the rest
of his life reading and walking in the country.
(1961): Daphne Milne
(who outlived her husband by fifteen years) sold the film rights
of the books to Walt Disney. (Christopher Milne eventually came
to terms with his father and mother.)
(1996): His original
“Pooh” bear was sold by Bonham’s Auction House in London to an anonymous
buyer for £4,600.
Written Works:
- 1905:
“Lovers in London” (H.G. Wells suggested he publish this series
of articles in book form).
- 1915:
“Wurzel Flummery”. (A Play).
- 1921:
“Toad of Toad Hall”. (Play first produced in 1929).
- 1922:
“The Red House mystery” (Detective Novel).
- 1924: “When
We Were Very Young” (Collection of verses originally published
in “Punch”).
- 1925: “In
Which We are Introduced to Winnie the Pooh and Some Bees and the
Stories Begin.” (Article in the London Evening News, December
24th. (Broadcast by BBC Radio on Christmas Day, read
by Donald Calthrop.)
- 1926:
“Winnie the Pooh”. (Handwritten manuscript bequeathed to the library
of Trinity College, Cambridge).
- 1927:
“Now We Are Six” (Second book of verses).
- 1928: “The House
at Pooh Corner”. (Handwritten manuscript bequeathed to the library
of Trinity College, Cambridge). “Toad of Toad Hall”.
- 1934:
“Peace with Honour” (Anti-war book).
- 1939:
“It’s Too Late Now” (Autobiography). “Chloe Marr” (Novel).
- 1952: “Year
In, Year Out.”
- Other Plays: “Mr. Pim Passes By”, “Belinda”,
“The Lucky One”, “The Boy Comes Home”, “The Red Feathers”,
”The Camberley Triangle”, “The Stepmother”, “The Great Broxopp
Success”, “The Man in the Bowler Hat”, “To Have the Honour- or
Meet the Prince” “Ariadne”, “Portrait of a Gentleman in Slippers.”,
“Other People’s Lives”, “The Dover Road”, “Truth About Bladys”,
“Miss Elizabeth Bennett, “Miss Marlow at Play”, “The Ivory Door”,
“The Fourth Wall- or the Perfect Alibi”, “Michael and Mary”, “The
Romantic Age”, “The Ugly Duckling and Before the Flood”.
- Other Novels: “Mr. Pim Passes By”.
- (1980):
“Domus Anguli Puensis”. (Latin translation by Brian Staples a
Birmingham Librarian).
- (1985):
Vinnie Pookh (Russian Translation), Winnie ille Pu (Latin translation
by Brian Staples).
Marriage:
1913 to Daphne de Selincourt. (God daughter to
Owen Seaman, Editor of “Punch”).
Date and Place of Death:
31st January 1956, Hartfield, Sussex, England
Age at Death:
73.
Site of Grave:
Cremated. THe location of his ashes is unknown.
A Memorial Service was held at All Hallows by the Tower, London
on February 10th 1956.
Places of Interest:
LONDON:
Victoria and Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, (original
drawings held in Print Room).
SUSSEX:
Pooh Corner, Hartfield.
Pooh Sticks Bridge, Hartfield.
