On January 18, 1882, English author A.A. Milne, the creator
of Winnie-the-Pooh was born in Hampstead, England. The youngest of three sons
born to schoolteacher parents, Milne taught himself to read at age two. He
began writing humorous pieces as a schoolboy and continued to do so at
Cambridge, where he edited the undergraduate paper. In 1903, he left Cambridge
and went to London to write. Although he was broke by the end of his first
year, he persevered and supported himself until 1906 with his writing. That
year, he joined humor magazine Punch as an editor and wrote humorous
verse and essays for the magazine for eight years, until World War I broke out.
While at Punch, he wrote his first book-for adults, not children. In
1913, he married his wife, Daphne, and two years later went to France to serve
in World War I. While in the military, he wrote three plays, one of which, Mr.
Pim Passes By, became a hit in 1919 and provided financial security for the
family. In 1920, the couple's only son, Christopher Robin, was born. In 1925,
the family bought a farm near Ashdown Forest in Sussex. This forest was the inspiration
behind the 100-Acre Wood where Winnie-the-Pooh's adventures would be set. Milne
published two volumes of the verse he wrote for his son. When We Were Very
Young was published in 1924, followed by Now We Are Six in 1927. When
Christopher Robin was about a year old, he received a stuffed bear as a
present. The child soon accumulated a collection of similar animals, which
inspired Milne to begin writing a series of whimsical stories about the toys. Winnie-the-Pooh
was published in 1926 and The House at Pooh Corner in 1928. Ernest
Shepard illustrated the books, using Christopher Robin and his animals as
models. A.A. Milne wrote numerous other books and plays but is remembered
almost solely for his beloved children's work. He died in 1956.
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