Writer, A.A. Milne created the stories of Winnie-the-Pooh, the friendly, 'hunny'-loving bear, 100 years ago. The teddy bear that inspired the stories was bought by Alan and Daphne Milne from Harrods as a first birthday present for their son, Christopher. Milne and his wide invented bedtime stories starring Winnie and their son's other soft toys; brave and loyal Piglet, gloomy Eeyore, bouncy Tigger, and more! Young Christopher was the inspiration for the only human character in the books, Christopher Robin. The centenary of the beloved books inspired author (and lifelong Winnie-the-Pooh fan) Gyles Brandreth to pen his latest book, Somewhere, a Boy and a Bear, in which he talks about the ups and downs of Milne's family life with insight from his own encounters with Christopher Robin.
"Winnie-the-Pooh is a book I've always loved", says Gyles, "it was read to me by my parents when I was a little boy, and we read it to our children, and they loved it. In the 1980s, I decided to write a play about the Milne family. It was the 60th anniversary of the books, and I went to visit Christopher Robin down in Devon, where he was living. Rather to my surprise, we got on very well. I say to my surprise, because he was quite a shy person, I'm quite a 'Tiggerish' person".
Winnie-the-Pooh was first published in 1926, followed by The House at Pooh Corner in 1928. Christopher Robin and his bear appeared in A.A. Milne's poetry book, When We Were Very Young, in 1924 and again in Now We Are Six in 1927. The year before the first book was published, Milne bought Cotchford Farm in Ashdown Forest. The stunning natural surroundings were the inspiration for the 'Hundred Aker Wood' where the adventures are set. Gyles visited Ashdown Forest as part of the research for his book. "I wanted to visit the places of the childhoods of the different people involved. You can visit Pooh Sticks Bridge, it's all still there. I wanted to explore these enchanted places."
Gyles will be returning to the Ashdown Forest to talk about his book on Saturday 17th October. We are excited to hear a never-discussed before conversation about his experience writing the book, meeting "Christopher Robin" and the world he discovered about the Milne family. Find out more about the evening HERE