Literature / Writers Datebook: January 18
Brief biography of A.A. Milne, English writer and poet, one of the greatest children's authors who created the classic fictional characters Winnie-the-Pooh or Pooh Bear and his friends. Although he wrote many different kinds of books, he is most remembered as writer of the popular children's classic Winnie-the-Pooh.
Alan Alexander Milne was born on January 18, 1882 in London. At school one of his teachers was the science fiction writer H.G. Wells. Milne studied math at Cambridge University. At the age of 24, he went to work as assistant editor for Punch, a well-known satirical magazine.
When World War I broke out in 1914, he joined the army. The atrocities of the war he witnessed left him with a lifelong disgust of war and a longing for the innocence of childhood. While in the army, Milne wrote plays to amuse his comrades. When the war ended, he began a career as a playwright writing for stage comedies. He also started to write poetry for children.
Milne the Successful Children's Writer
At the age of 42, A.A. Milne became famous with the publication of his collection of poetry for children, When We Were Very Young. After two years, he followed this with the classic Winnie-the-Pooh, a collection of poetry for children. It is based on stories he told his own son Christopher Robin, which is also the name of the little boy whose animal friends are the main characters in Milne's book.
Although Milne continued to write books for adults, it was always his work for children that brought him recognition. His second volume of children's poems, Now We Are Six, was just as popular, and The House at Pooh Corner, further adventures of Pooh Bear and friends, was also an instant success.
Last Words on A.A. Milne
Milne died on January 31, 1956, aged 74. From Pooh to his other toy-characters, A.A. Milne's brilliance and sense of humour are evident, something that human beings can recognize, and perhaps, learn from.
A Milne quote from Winnie-The-Pooh, a typical fear as well as trust, from the character, Piglet:
"It isn't their necks I mind," said Piglet earnestly. "It's their teeth. But if Christopher Robin is coming I don't mind anything."
Works by A.A. Milne
Mr. Pim Passes By, 1919
The Red House Mystery, 1921
The Truth about Blayds, 1921
The Dover Road, 1922
When We Were Very Young, 1924
Winnie-the-Pooh, 1926
Now We are Six, 1927
The House at Pooh Corner, 1928
The Perfect Alibi, 1932
It's Too Late Now, 1939
Photo Credit:
A.A. Milne. en.wikipedia.org / Public Domain. Photographer:
Resources:
McGovern, Una, Ed. Chambers Biographical Dictionary. Edinburgh: Chambers Harrap Publishers, 2002
Ousby, Ian. The Cambridge Guide to Literature in English. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993.
Payne, Tom. The A-Z of Great Writers. London: Carlton, 1997
(c) January 2009. Tel. Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.
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