Christopher Robin was just three at the time although this poem was to stick to him like glue through his life until eventually he grew to detest the words we know so well.ĭaphne decided to send the poem for publishing and in 1923 it was printed in 'Vanity Fair'. The poem was an entirely ironic picture of childhood, although considered by some to be either sentimental or controversial. In an idle moment, as a gift for his wife, Milne composed a poem entitled 'Vespers'. (Billy being his nick-name and Moon the word that Christopher Robin said when trying to pronounce his own surname!) A year later, the young child was given a teddy bear for his birthday which he named Edward. In 1913 Milne had married Daphne De Selincourt and in 1920 Alan Milne became a father to a baby boy named Christopher Robin Milne, better known as Billy Moon. Milne was finally realising his dream of becoming a serious dramatist and adult novelist! However, things were about to change. This was an instant success and prompted Curtis Brown to contract Milne to write three more novels. Then, in 1922 Milne wrote a detective story entitled 'The Red House Mystery'. After some time, the author decided to stretch his literary muscles by writing plays, some of which were quite successful. Later, Milne began to produce a weekly feature for the magazine 'Punch'. In 1903, Milne had his first book published entitled 'Lovers in London'. At a young age he developed an insatiable appetite for reading.

Yet, how did the author of detective novels become world famous for a quartet of children's verse and prose revolving around a child and his teddy?Īlan Alexander Milne was born in 1882 in London. Those classic lines of children's poetry are to be found on any nursery bookshelf in the book'When We Were Very Young'. 'Little boy kneels at the foot of the bed,ĭroops on the little hands little gold head,Ĭhristopher Robin is saying his prayers.'

When we were young aa milne