The British writer Alan Aleksander Milne has remained in the history of literature and memory of readers as the author of stories about a teddy bear, which has sawdust in its head, and a number of poems. He considered himself a serious playwright and novelist. Under this paradox lived the life of Milne Alan Alexander, whose biography will be discussed below.
Early years and education
In the family of the director of a private school in London, John Vine and Sarah Marie Milne 18. 01.1882 was born the third son - Alan Alexander. A. A. Milne was educated at Westminster School, and then at Trinity College in Cambridge, in which he studied mathematics. At the same time, together with his brother Kenneth, he published articles under the initials AKM in the student magazine Grant. In 1903, Milne Alan Alexander moved to London, whose biography will now be associated with his true vocation - literature.
War and the beginning of literary activity
Since 1906, he has been published in the Punch magazine, and comedy poems and essays have been published in other magazines since 1914. In 1915, A. A. Milne left to serve as an officer in the British army. He was wounded in the battle of the Somme. After his recovery, he works in the military intelligence propaganda service and writes patriotic articles. With the rank of lieutenant, he was demobilized in 1919. During the war, he wrote his first play, but success comes after 1920, when comedies appear in theaters that are favorably received by critics and the public. At the same time, 4 films were shot according to his scripts. In 1922, he released a detective called "Secrets of the Red House."
Marriage and Literature
In 1913, on the eve of the war, A. Milne married Dorothy de Selkencourt. Inextricably went personal life and military service of the writer, whose name is Milne Alan Alexander. His biography is replenished with 18 plays and 3 novels by 1925. And earlier, his son Christopher Robin was born (August 1920). In 1924, A. Milne published a collection of children's poems "When We Were Young" and bought a house in Hartfield in 1925.
At the same time, short stories for children “Children's Gallery” are published, which he later used to write his most popular work. Life and work went in parallel. So far, there was every reason to be satisfied Milne Alan Alexander, whose biography began to change since 1926. It was from this time that he began to be perceived as an exclusively children's writer.
The cult fairy tale "Winnie the Pooh"
A. Milne’s son had toys: a teddy bear, Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga and Tiger. Below is their photo.
They are now in New York. They are visited annually to see 750 thousand people. Milne called the hero of his fairy tale “Winnie” after he saw a Canadian black bear from Winnipeg in the zoo. "Pooh" came from a swan, which the writer met while on vacation. So it turned out Winnie the Pooh. Three more characters - Owl, Rabbit and Roux were created exclusively thanks to the imagination of the writer. In 1926, the first version of Winnie the Pooh was published. The following year, the sequel, “Now there are six of us,” was published, and a year later the finale appeared - “House on the Downy Edge”.
The first book immediately brought fame and money. The writer did not feel dizzy from fame and success. Being in doubt about his literary talent, Milne Alan Alexander, whose biography and creativity in the minds of readers were tightly connected with Vinnie, tried to break out of the prevailing stereotype of a children's writer. But charming heroes did not let him go. The book was published in insane print runs; its number exceeded 7 million copies during the life of A. Milne. She was translated into all foreign languages. Cartoons were created on it. She began to live an independent life, eclipsing everything that A. Milne further worked on.
Life goes on
On the one hand, A. Milne was grateful to his wife and son for creating the book, and on the other, he did not introduce his son Christopher Robin to her. Milne read to his son the works of his friend P.G. Wodehouse, whose work he admired. And the adult son then, in turn, raised his daughter Claire on the stories and short stories of the terrific comedian Wodehouse.
Since 1931, Alan Alexander Milne will write a lot. His books will not meet such an enthusiastic reception as the simple-minded, slightly selfish Vinnie. In 1931, the novel “Two” was published, in 1933 - “A very short sensation”, in 1934 - the antiwar work “The Honorable World”, in 1939 - “Too Late” (an autobiographical work), in 1940–1948 . - poetic works “Beyond the Front Line” and “Norman Church”, in 1952 - a collection of articles “Year after Year”, in 1956 - the novel “Chloe Marr”.
The writer worked hard, and critics and readers with indifference and indifference greeted this work. Alan Alexander Milne was held hostage by his charming hero, who immortalized his name.
Why is Winnie so attractive?
The story told by A. Milne shot like a salute in a salvo of cheerfulness and vigor. There is no struggle between good and evil, but there is a slight irony with which the author observes his characters, whom he settled in a fabulous forest, very reminiscent of the surroundings of his own home. Time in a fairy tale froze and does not change. Robin, the owner of the toys, is always 6 years old, Winnie - 5, Piglet - an awful lot - 3 or 4 years! Plush Winnie is an optimist who meets with pleasure every day.
Problems and suffering are alien to him. He is a glutton and a gourmet. When the Rabbit offers him to choose what he will eat: bread with honey or with condensed milk, then, following the rules of a good upbringing, sweetened Winnie refuses three items of food, leaving only honey and condensed milk. This is getting ridiculous. The teddy bear has sawdust in his head, but he composes noisers and chants. At any time, he is ready to help his friends or to think up that he is a cloud, and to climb for honey to bees. Good fantasies are constantly born in his "smart" little head. Other heroes are also charming: the pessimist Donkey, the learned Owl, the raised Rabbit, the shy Piglet. They all await praise and take themselves very seriously.
The ease and good-natured grin of the author make up the unique flavor of the whole story, which tells about friendship and mutual assistance that appear when the characters find themselves in playfully difficult situations.
Last years
During the 2nd World War, A. Milne's son Christopher tried to get into the army, but did not go to it for medical reasons. He later married his cousin, which afflicted his parents. A. Milne was born the granddaughter of Claire, suffering from cerebral palsy. The father occasionally met with his son, and the mother did not want to see him. A. A. Milne himself died after a severe brain disease (which began in 1952) in 1956 at his home in Hartfield.
Alan Alexander Milne: interesting facts
- The teacher at the school where A. Milne studied was G. Wells, whom the writer considered both a teacher and a friend.
- On his first birthday, the writer presented a one-year-old son with a Teddy bear, whom he named Edward. Only in the book did he turn into Vinnie and was a year younger than her main character.
- The book has been translated into 25 languages, including Latin.
- The number of books sold with the record of the book exceeded 20 million copies.
- Christopher Robin himself first became acquainted with the book sixty years after its creation.
- His father handed over his toys to the USA. They can be viewed in the New York Public Library.
- Images of Winnie appeared on stamps in 18 countries, including in the USSR after the release of the cartoon.
- A series of stamps of Canada on one depicts a lieutenant with a bear Winnipeg, the second - Christopher with a teddy bear, the third - the heroes of classic illustrations for the book, and finally, the fourth - Winnie from the Disney cartoon.