Vinipuh and all all all genre. Winnie the Pooh and everything everything everything. Early years and education
Winnie the Pooh is still considered one of the most famous and beloved characters in children's literature. Readers met him on Christmas Eve in 1925, when the first chapter of the tale was published in a London newspaper. Alana Alexandra Milne: "The chapter in which we first meet Winnie the Pooh and the bees." Readers liked the story so much that a year later the first book was published about the adventures of a bear cub with sawdust in his head, which was called “Winnie the Pooh.” It was followed by another one called “House on Poohovaya Edge”. AiF.ru tells how the idea of creating the famous fairy tale came about, and why Milne began to hate his hero over the years.
Alan Milne, Christopher Robin and Winnie the Pooh. 1928 Photo from the British National Portrait Gallery Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org / Howard Coster
Favorite toys
The fairy tale “Winnie the Pooh” owes its appearance to Milne's son Christopher Robin, which inspired the writer to create it.
“Every child has a favorite toy, and the child who is alone in the family especially needs it,” wrote the matured Christopher. For him, such a toy was a teddy bear, which he named Winnie the Pooh. And although over the years more and more of Christopher’s favorite toys were added to his shelf—following Winnie, a tailless donkey Eeyore appeared, the neighbors gave the boy a piglet, Piglet, and his parents bought Kanga with baby Roo and Tigger—the boy never parted with his “first-born.”
His father told Christopher bedtime stories, in which the main character was always a club-footed fidget. The kid really enjoyed playing at home plays with plush toys, in which all family members took part. The plots of the performances formed the basis of Milne’s books, and the writer himself always said: “Actually, I didn’t invent anything, I just had to describe.”
Authentic Christopher Robin toys: (from bottom, clockwise): Tigger, Kanga, Pooh, Eeyore and Piglet. New York Public Library. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org
It is interesting that Milne introduced readers to the fairy tale heroes in the same order in which his son’s toys appeared. But among the fairy-tale animals there are two characters that were not actually on Christopher’s toy shelf: the writer invented the Owl and the Rabbit himself. An attentive reader may notice that in the original illustrations of the book the image of these heroes is significantly different, and it is no coincidence that the Rabbit once says to the Owl: “Only you and I have brains. The rest have sawdust."
Tale from life
Not only were the plots and characters of “Winnie the Pooh” taken by the writer from life, even the forest in which the fairy tale took place was real. In the book, the forest is called Wonderful, but in fact it was the most ordinary Ashdown forest, not far from which the writer purchased a farm. In Ashdown you can find the six pines described in the fairy tale, a stream and even a thistle thicket into which Winnie once fell. Moreover, it is no coincidence that the action of the book often takes place in hollows and on tree branches: the writer’s son loved to climb trees and play there with his teddy bear.
By the way, the name of the bear itself also has an interesting story. Christopher named his favorite toy after a female bear named Winnipeg (Winnie), who was kept in the London Zoo in the 1920s. The boy met her at the age of four and immediately managed to make friends. The American black bear came to the UK from the Winnipeg area as the live mascot of the Canadian Army Veterinary Corps. The bear lived in Britain for more than 10 years (she died on May 12, 1934), and in 1981, 61-year-old Christopher unveiled a life-size monument to her at the London Zoo.
In the paws of a teddy bear
One can safely consider him to be another author of the adventures of a teddy bear. artist Ernest Shepard, who drew the original illustrations for the first edition. The cartoonist, who lived for 96 years, left behind a huge amount of work, but the illustrations for Winnie the Pooh eclipsed his entire legacy. The same fate awaited Milne himself, who years later managed to hate his fairy-tale hero for this.
Milne began as an “adult” writer, but after “Winnie the Pooh,” readers did not take his books seriously: everyone expected the continuation of the adventures of the unlucky honey lover. But Christopher grew up, and the author did not want to write fairy tales for other kids. He did not consider himself exclusively a children's writer, but at the same time maintained that he wrote for children with the same responsibility as for adults.
Even Christopher "Winnie the Pooh" brought a lot of trouble. At school, he was bullied by classmates who teased him with quotes from his father’s books, and in his old age, those around him continued to perceive Christopher as “the boy from Pooh Edge.”
Winnie the Pooh. Illustration by artist Ernest Shepard. Photo:
This story is about how Winnie the Pooh and his friends helped Eeyore find his tail. They learned that it turns out that helping is not so easy... 
One morning Winnie the Pooh woke up terribly hungry. He reached into his kitchen cabinet and found that all his honey pots were already empty.
This was already a problem not only for Pooh, but also for his stomach, and he went into the forest to look for bee honey.
Soon Winnie the Pooh met his friend Eeyore. Unfortunately he had no honey.
But the donkey was very worried because he had no tail at all! Winnie the Pooh was very upset for his friend and immediately told him: “I’ll find your tail, and then I’ll go look for honey.”
At that very time they heard an Owl descending from a tree towards them. It turns out that she heard their entire conversation and also offered her help in finding the missing tail. 
After this, the three friends went to look for Christopher Robin.
Soon everyone gathered around the boy’s house and he announced the upcoming competition loudly for everyone to hear:
- Whoever finds a suitable tail for Eeyore will receive a pot of delicious honey!
Winnie the Pooh was especially happy about the prize, and not only he, but his hungry tummy too. 
He remembered his cuckoo clock and thought that it would be the most suitable tail for Eeyore. Winnie the Pooh quickly ran home and brought the watch, he helped Eeyore attach it to the back instead of a tail and at first the donkey was very happy, but then, when he wanted to sit down, he, of course, sat right on the watch and a loud sound was heard - it was Eeyore who broke the watch . 
Well, I had to look for another tail. Piglet offered him his ball, but it didn’t fit either: as soon as it was tied instead of a tail, the donkey began to rise up along with the ball and could even fly away! 
Eeyore was very brave and he tried all the possible variations of tails invented by his friends. But after many unsuccessful attempts, he finally said sadly: 
- There’s nothing to be done, somehow I’ll get used to living without a tail.
If you ask anyone, be it a child or an adult, who Winnie the Pooh is, everyone will remember the cute teddy bear with sawdust in his head from the favorite children's cartoon. Funny phrases of the characters are often quoted, and songs are remembered by heart. The cartoon character was actually created on the basis of a cycle of two works that were written primarily for an adult audience. Many even think that the creator of Vinnie is some Soviet writer, and are surprised to learn that in fact the cheerful, harmless bear came to us from good old England. So who came up with this extraordinary character?
Author of "Winnie the Pooh"
The creator of the world famous teddy bear was the English writer Alan Alexander Milne. Scottish by birth, he was born in London in 1882 into the family of a teacher. Creativity was encouraged in the family, and he made early attempts at writing in his youth. Milne's personality was influenced by the famous writer Herbert Wells, who was Alan's teacher and friend. Young Milne was also drawn to the exact sciences, so after graduating from college he entered Cambridge to study mathematics. But the calling to be closer to literature won out: throughout his student years he worked in the editorial office of Grant magazine, and later helped editor of the London humorous publication Punch. It was there that Alan first began publishing his stories, which were successful. After nine years of work in publishing, Milne went to the front as the First World War began. After being wounded, he returned home to normal life. Even before the start of the war, he married Dorothy de Selincourt, and after seven years of family life, their long-awaited son Christopher Robin was born, partly thanks to whom the fairy tale “Winnie the Pooh” appeared.
History of the creation of the work
When his son was still a three-year-old baby, Alan Milne began writing children's fairy tales. Little Bear first appears in one of two collections of poems for Christopher, also by Milne. Winnie the Pooh did not get his name right away; at first he was just a nameless bear. Later, in 1926, the book “Winnie the Pooh” was published, and two years later - its sequel, which was called “The House on Pooh Edge”. Almost all the characters were based on real Christopher Robin toys. Now they are kept in the museum, and among them there is a donkey, a pig, and, naturally, a teddy bear. The bear's name was really Vinnie. It was given to him when Robin was 1 year old, and since then it has become the boy's favorite toy. The bear is named after the Winnipeg bear, with whom Christopher became very close. Amazingly, Alan Milne never read his fairy tales to his son; instead, he preferred the works of another author. But this was more likely because the author addressed his books primarily to adults, in whose souls a child still lives. But still, the fairy tale “Winnie the Pooh” found hundreds of grateful young readers for whom the image of the mischievous bear cub was close and understandable.
The book not only brought Milne a significant income of two and a half thousand pounds sterling, but also enormous popularity. The author of "Winnie the Pooh" has become a favorite children's writer for several generations right up to the present day. Although Alan Alexander Milne wrote novels, essays and plays, few people read them now. But, according to one survey conducted in 1996, it was the story about Winnie the Pooh that took 17th place in the list of the most significant works of the past century. It has been translated into 25 languages.
Many researchers find a lot of autobiographical details in the book. For example, Milne “copied” some of the characters from real people. Also, the description of the forest coincides with the landscape of the area where the author of “Winnie the Pooh” himself and his family loved to walk. Among other things, Christopher Robin is one of the main characters
It is impossible not to mention the English artist Shepard, who drew illustrations for Milne’s book. It was based on his sketches that the Disney cartoon was filmed in 1966. Many more film adaptations followed. Below are the characters of the most famous of them, created in 1988.
The Soviet reader became acquainted with the “bear with only sawdust in his head” in 1960, when Boris Zakhoder’s translation of Milne’s book was published. In 1969, the first of three Pooh cartoons was released, and the next ones were released in 1971 and 1972. Fyodor Khitruk worked on them together with the author of the translation into Russian. For more than 40 years, the carefree cartoon bear has been entertaining both adults and children.
Conclusion
British writer Alan Aleksander Milne has remained in the history of literature and the memory of readers as the author of stories about a teddy bear with sawdust in his head, and a number of poems. He considered himself a serious playwright and short story writer. Milne Alan Alexander lived his life under this paradox, 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, a third son, Alan Alexander, was born on January 18, 1882. A. A. Milne was educated at Westminster School and then at Trinity College, Cambridge, where 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 connected with his true calling - literature.
War and the beginning of literary activity
Since 1906, he has been published in Punch magazine, and humorous 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 at the Battle of the Somme. After recovery, he works in the military intelligence propaganda service and writes patriotic articles. He was demobilized with the rank of lieutenant in 1919. During the war, he wrote his first play, but success came after 1920, when comedies appeared in theaters, favorably received by critics and the public. At the same time, 4 films were shot based on his scripts. In 1922, he published a detective story called “Secrets of the Red House.”
Marriage and literature
In 1913, on the eve of the war, A. Milne married Dorothy de Selkencourt. The personal life and military service of the writer, whose name was Milne Alan Alexander, went inextricably. His biography was replenished with 18 plays and 3 novels by 1925. And earlier his son 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” were published, which he later used when writing his most popular work. Life and creativity went in parallel. So far Milne Alan Alexander, whose biography began to change in 1926, had every reason to be satisfied. It was from this time that he began to be perceived as exclusively a children's writer.
Cult fairy tale "Winnie the Pooh"
A. Milne's son had toys: Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga and Tigger. Below is their photo.
They are now in New York. 750 thousand people visit them annually to see them. Milne named the hero of his tale "Winnie" after seeing a Canadian black bear from Winnipeg at the zoo. “Pooh” comes from a swan that the writer met while on vacation. This is how Winnie the Pooh turned out. Three more characters - Owl, Rabbit and Roo - were created solely thanks to the writer's imagination. In 1926, the first version of Winnie the Pooh was published. The following year, the sequel “Now We Are Six” was published, and a year later the finale appeared - “The House on the Pooh Edge.”
The first book immediately brought worldwide fame and money. The writer was not dizzy from fame and success. Being in doubt about his literary talent, Milne Alan Alexander, whose biography and work in the minds of readers were tightly connected with Vinny, tried to break out of the existing stereotype of a children's writer. But the charming heroes did not let him go. The book was published in insane editions; its number exceeded 7 million copies during A. Milne’s lifetime. It was translated into all foreign languages. Cartoons were created based on it. She began to live an independent life, eclipsing everything that A. Milne worked on further.
Life goes on
On the one hand, A. Milne was grateful to his wife and son for creating the book, but on the other hand, he did not introduce his son Christopher Robin to it. 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 tales of the amazing humorist Wodehouse.
Alan Alexander Milne wrote a lot from 1931 onwards. His books will not meet with such an enthusiastic reception as the simple-minded, slightly selfish Vinny. In 1931 the novel “Two” was published, in 1933 - “A Very Short-lived Sensation”, in 1934 - the anti-war work “Honorable Peace”, in 1939 - “Too Late” (an autobiographical work), in 1940-1948 . - poetic works “Behind 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 greeted this work with indifference and indifference. Alan Alexander Milne found himself hostage to his charming hero, who immortalized his name.
Why is Vinny so attractive?
The story told by A. Milne fired like a fireworks, a volley of cheerfulness and vivacity. 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 fairy-tale forest, very reminiscent of the surroundings of his own home. Time in a fairy tale is frozen and does not change. Robin, the owner of the toys, is always 6 years old, Winnie is 5, Piglet is an awful lot - 3 or 4 years old! Plush Vinnie is an optimist who greets every day with pleasure.
Problems and suffering are alien to him. He is a glutton and a gourmet. When the Rabbit invites him to choose what he will eat: bread with honey or condensed milk, then, following the rules of good upbringing, Winnie with a sweet tooth refuses three items of food, leaving only honey and condensed milk. This is where it gets funny. The little bear has sawdust in his head, but he makes noisemakers and chants. He is ready at any moment to help his friends or pretend that he is a cloud and go to the bees for honey. Good fantasies are constantly born in his “smart” little head. Other characters are also charming: the pessimistic Donkey, the learned Owl, and the shy Piglet. They all expect praise and take themselves very seriously.
Last years
During the 2nd World War, A. Milne's son Christopher tried to join the army, but did not get into it for medical reasons. He later married his cousin, which upset his parents. A. Milne gave birth to a granddaughter, Claire, who suffers from cerebral palsy. The father occasionally met with his son, but the mother did not want to see him. A. A. Milne himself died after a severe brain illness (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 gave his one-year-old son a Teddy bear, whom he named Edward. Only in the book did he turn into Vinnie and was a year younger than its main character.
- The book has been translated into 25 languages, including Latin.
- The number of records sold with the recording of the book exceeded 20 million copies.
- Christopher Robin himself first became acquainted with the book sixty years after its creation.
- His father sent his toys to the USA. They can be viewed at the New York Public Library.
- Images of Vinny appeared on stamps from 18 countries, including the USSR, after the release of the cartoon.
- A series of stamps from Canada, one depicts the lieutenant with Winnipeg Bear, the second - Christopher with a teddy bear, the third - the heroes of the classic illustrations for the book, and finally the fourth - Winnie from the Disney cartoon.
CHAPTER FIRST,
in which we meet Winnie the Pooh and some bees
Well, here is Winnie the Pooh.
As you can see, he goes down the stairs after his friend Christopher Robin, head down, counting the steps with the back of his head: boom boom boom. He doesn’t yet know any other way to get down the stairs. Sometimes, however, it seems to him that some other way could be found, if only he could stop babbling for a minute and concentrate properly. But alas, he has no time to concentrate.
Be that as it may, he has already come down and is ready to meet you.
- Winnie the Pooh. Very nice!
You're probably wondering why his name is so strange, and if you know English, you'll be even more surprised.
This unusual name was given to him by Christopher Robin. I must tell you that Christopher Robin once knew a swan on a pond, whom he called Pooh. It was a very appropriate name for a swan, because if you call a swan loudly: “Pooh!” Pooh!” - and he doesn’t respond, then you can always pretend that you were just pretending to shoot; and if you called him quietly, then everyone will think that you just blew on your nose. The swan then disappeared somewhere, but the name remained, and Christopher Robin decided to give it to his bear cub so that it would not be wasted.
And Winnie was the name of the best, kindest bear in the zoo, whom Christopher Robin loved very much. And she loved him very, very much. Whether she was named Winnie in honor of Pooh, or Pooh was named in her honor - now no one knows, not even Christopher Robin's dad. He once knew, but now he has forgotten.
In short, now the bear's name is Winnie the Pooh, and you know why.
Sometimes Winnie the Pooh likes to play something in the evening, and sometimes, especially when dad is at home, he likes to sit quietly by the fire and listen to some interesting fairy tale.
This evening…
Dad, how about a fairy tale? - asked Christopher Robin.
- What about a fairy tale? - Dad asked.
- Could you tell Winnie the Pooh a fairy tale? He really wants it!
“Maybe I could,” said Dad. - Which one does he want and about whom?
- Interesting, and about him, of course. He's SUCH a teddy bear!
- Understand. - said dad.
- So, please, daddy, tell me!
“I’ll try,” said dad.
And he tried.
A long time ago - it seems like last Friday - Winnie the Pooh lived alone in the forest, under the name Saunders.
What does “lived under a name” mean? - Christopher Robin asked immediately.
- This means that on the plaque above the door it said "Mr. Sanders" in gold letters, and he lived under it.
“He probably didn’t understand it himself,” said Christopher Robin.
“But now I understand,” someone muttered in a deep voice.
“Then I will continue,” said dad.
One day, while walking through the forest, Pooh came out into a clearing. In the clearing there grew a tall, tall oak tree, and at the very top of this oak tree someone was buzzing loudly: zhzhzhzhzh...
Winnie the Pooh sat down on the grass under a tree, clasped his head in his paws and began to think.
At first he thought like this: “This is - zzzzzzzhzh - for a reason! No one will buzz in vain. The tree itself cannot buzz. So, someone is buzzing here. Why would you buzz if you are not a bee? In my opinion, so!”
Then he thought some more and said to himself: “Why are there bees in the world? To make honey! In my opinion, so!”
Then he stood up and said:
- Why is there honey in the world? So that I can eat it! In my opinion, this way and not otherwise!
And with these words he climbed the tree.