Born: 18 January 1882, Hampstead, London, United Kingdom
Died: 31 January 1956 (age 74 years), Hartfield, United Kingdom
Children: Christopher Robin Milne
Spouse: Dorothy de Sélincourt (m. 1913–1956)
Parents: John Vince Milne, Sarah Marie Milne
A. A. Milne, whose full name is Alan Alexander Milne (1882–1956), was an English author, best known for his creation of the beloved children’s character Winnie-the-Pooh. Here are some key points about A. A. Milne:
- Early Life: A. A. Milne was born on January 18, 1882, in Hampstead, London, England.
- Education: Milne attended Trinity College, Cambridge, where he studied mathematics.
- Early Career: Milne initially pursued a career in writing and contributed articles, essays, and poems to various magazines and newspapers.
- World War I: During World War I, Milne served in the British Army and gained recognition for his play “The Dover Road.” He also wrote for the British humor magazine Punch.
- Winnie-the-Pooh: Milne’s most enduring and famous works are the stories featuring Winnie-the-Pooh, a honey-loving bear, and his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood. The first collection of stories, “Winnie-the-Pooh,” was published in 1926, followed by “The House at Pooh Corner” in 1928.
- Characters: The characters in the Winnie-the-Pooh stories include Piglet, Eeyore, Tigger, Owl, Rabbit, Kanga, and Roo. The adventures and simple wisdom of these characters have made the stories timeless.
- Inspiration: The character of Winnie-the-Pooh was inspired by Milne’s son, Christopher Robin Milne, and his collection of stuffed animals.
- Success: The Winnie-the-Pooh books became immensely popular and have been translated into numerous languages. They remain classic children’s literature and have been adapted into various forms, including animated films and television series.
- Poetry: In addition to his children’s stories, Milne wrote poetry, including collections such as “When We Were Very Young” (1924) and “Now We Are Six” (1927). These books featured poems for children and were illustrated by E. H. Shepard.
- Later Works: While Milne achieved great success with Winnie-the-Pooh, he faced some criticism for being typecast as a children’s author, and his later plays and novels received mixed reviews.
- Legacy: A. A. Milne’s legacy is primarily associated with Winnie-the-Pooh, and his creation continues to bring joy to generations of readers. However, he also made contributions to literature, drama, and the world of humor.
A. A. Milne passed away on January 31, 1956, in Hartfield, East Sussex, England. Despite some challenges associated with being closely associated with the world of children’s literature, his Winnie-the-Pooh stories remain cherished and timeless classics.
A. A. Milne Quotes
“A clever conjurer is welcome anywhere, and those of us whose powers of entertainment are limited to the setting of booby-traps or the arranging of apple-pie beds must view with envy the much greater tribute of laughter and applause which is the lot of the prestidigitator with some natural gift for legerdemain.”
“A writer wants something more than money for his work: he wants permanence.”
“Almost anyone can be an author; the business is to collect money and fame from this state of being.”
“Bores can be divided into two classes; those who have their own particular subject, and those who do not need a subject.”
“Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?”
“Don’t underestimate the value of doing nothing, of just going along, listening to all the thing you can’t hear, and not bothering.”
“Golf is so popular simply because it is the best game in the world at which to be bad.”
“I am sure of this: that no one can write a book which children will like unless he write it for himself first.”
“I gave up writing children’s books. I wanted to escape from them as I had once wanted to escape from ‘Punch’: as I have always wanted to escape. In vain.”
“I suppose that every one of us hopes secretly for immortality; to leave, I mean, a name behind him which will live forever in this world, whatever he may be doing, himself, in the next.”
“If one is to be called a liar, one may as well make an effort to deserve the name.”
“If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you.”
“Is ‘The Wind in the Willows’ a children’s book? Is ‘Alice in Wonderland?’ Is ‘Treasure Island?’ These are masterpieces which we read with pleasure as children, but with how much more pleasure when we are grown-up.”
“It is more fun to talk with someone who doesn’t use long, difficult words but rather short, easy words, like ‘What about lunch?’”
“My spelling is Wobbly. It’s good spelling but it Wobbles, and the letters get in the wrong places.”
“Never forget me, because if I thought you would, I’d never leave.”
“No sensible author wants anything but praise.”
“One of the advantages of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries.”
“Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.”
“Promise me you’ll always remember: You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”
“Some people care too much. I think it’s called love.”
“The Old Testament is responsible for more atheism, agnosticism, disbelief – call it what you will – than any book ever written. It has emptied more churches than all the counter-attractions of cinema, motor-bicycle and golf course.”
“The third-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking with the majority. The second-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking with the minority. The first-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking.”
“Tiggers don’t like honey.”
“To the uneducated, an A is just three sticks.”
“War is something of man’s own fostering, and if all mankind renounces it, then it is no longer there.”
“Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them.”
“What I say is that, if a fellow really likes potatoes, he must be a pretty decent sort of fellow.”
“You can’t stay in your corner of the forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.”
“You will be better advised to watch what we do instead of what we say.”