The University of Texas at Austin, Harry Ransom Humanities
Research Center
Milne, A. A. (Alan Alexander),
1882-1956
A. A. (Alan Alexander) Milne Collection
1886-1961, undated (bulk circa 1920-1952)
6 document boxes, 1 oversize folder (2.31 linear feet)
The A. A. Milne Collection consists
of manuscript drafts and fragments for over 150 of Milne’s works, as well as
correspondence, legal documents, and genealogical records.
English
Biographical Sketch
Alan Alexander Milne was born on January 18, 1882, in London, England, to John Vine
Milne, the headmaster of Henley House School, and Sarah Maria Heginbotham Milne.
Known best for his children’s stories, Milne was also a prolific essayist,
playwright, and mystery writer.
As a child, Milne attended his father’s school, where H. G. Wells was one of his
instructors. Beginning at age eleven, Milne attended Westminster School and later
entered Trinity College, Cambridge University, where he graduated with honors in
1903 with a B. A. in mathematics.
Milne began his writing career as an assistant editor and contributor to the humor
magazine
Punch. His early essays often dealt with
humorous twists to everyday situations, such as a bumbling man attempting to use an
exercise machine. In 1913, Milne married Dorothy de Sélincourt, known as Daphne, and
in 1914, joined the British Army at the onset of World War I.
While in the army, Milne wrote plays for his fellow soldiers and following his
discharge in 1918, he endeavored to become a professional playwright. Success did
not take long and he gained both critical acclaim and financial security with his
1919 play
Mr. Pim Passes By. The following year,
Milne’s only child, Christopher Robin Milne, was born.
In 1922, Milne wrote his first mystery novel,
The Red House
Mystery, in which he used his stated strategy for success: use everyday
language, make the detective an amateur, include a “Dr. Watson” so that the reader
can know what the protagonist is thinking, and minimize romantic interest. Of
previous mystery novels, Milne said, “I had read most of those which had been
written, admired their ingenuity, but didn’t like their English.... I wondered if I
could write a detective story about real people in real English. I thought it would
be ‘fun to try,’ my only reason for writing anything.”
Milne’s next genre became his most memorable: children’s literature.
When We Were Very Young, a collection of poems for
children, was published in 1924, and included for the first time one of Milne’s most
famous characters, Christopher Robin, named after his son. This was followed by a
collection of poetry, Now We Are Six (1927), and two
books about his son’s stuffed toys, Winnie-the-Pooh
(1926) and The House at Pooh Corner (1928).
The Pooh books and his collections of children’s poetry soon became Milne’s most
popular works, but Milne came to resent his success as a children’s author,
wondering in 1928 how he found success in writing “four children’s books, containing
altogether 70,000 words--the number of words in the average-length novel.”
Milne’s later works include an adaptation of Kenneth Grahame’s
The Wind in the Willows titled Toad of Toad
Hall (1930), and essays on war and pacifism. In his book Peace with Honour (1934), Milne wrote that Europe’s
problems could be solved by politicians realizing the absurdity of war. But, with
the outbreak of World War II, Milne renounced his previous position, publishing
War with Honour (1940) and War Aims Unlimited (1941).
Year In, Year Out (1952), a collection of essays
ranging in tone and topic from philosophical to whimsical, was Milne’s final
published work. In 1952 he suffered a stroke, leaving him partially paralyzed. He
died on January 31, 1956, at his home in Sussex.
Sources:
“A. A. Milne.”
Contemporary Authors Online,
http://galenet.galegroup.com (accessed 7 July 2008).
“A. A. Milne.”
Dictionary of Literary Biography, Vol.
10. Detroit: Gale, 1982.
“A. A. Milne.”
Dictionary of Literary Biography, Vol.
160. Detroit: Gale, 1996.
“Christopher (Robin) Milne.”
Contemporary Authors
Online, http://galenet.galegroup.com (accessed 7 July 2008).
Index Terms
Subjects
Authors, English--20th
century.
Children’s Literature,
English.
English drama--20th century.
English fiction--20th century.
Scope and Contents
The A. A. Milne Collection consists of manuscript drafts and fragments for over 150
of Milne’s works as well as correspondence, legal documents, and genealogical
records. The collection is arranged into two series: I. Works, circa 1920-1946,
undated (4 boxes); and II. Correspondence and Other Materials, 1886-1961, undated (1
box, 1 oversize folder). The collection was previously accessible through a card
catalog but has been recataloged as part of a retrospective conversion project.
Series I. Works makes up the majority of the collection and contains handwritten
fragments, incomplete drafts, and complete drafts of numerous Milne plays, stories,
and books, both published and unpublished. The materials are arranged alphabetically
by title and have been listed individually in an Index of Works in this guide.
Included are materials for
The House at Pooh Corner,
The Red House Mystery, and Mr. Pim. Several notebooks containing drafts of It’s Too Late Now: The Autobiography of a Writer (1939) have been
restricted due to their fragile condition. Digital copies of these notebooks are
available in the Ransom Center for patron access. Three original drawings by Winnie-the-Pooh illustrator Ernest H. Shepard have been
transferred to the Ransom Center Art Collection.
The Correspondence and Other Materials series contains correspondence arranged as
incoming, outgoing, and third-party. Incoming correspondence contains only one
letter. Outgoing correspondence is in alphabetical order by last name of recipient.
The majority of the third-party correspondence is either to or from Milne’s wife,
Dorothy “Daphne” Milne, and is in alphabetical order by last name of sender. Also in
the series are publishing contracts for Milne’s works
Four
Days Wonder and Two People and a
marketing agreement for characters from the Winnie-the-Pooh stories. A chart of
Milne’s family tree is also present in this series.
Acquisition:
Purchase, 1964 (R1364), and earlier acquisitions
Access:
Open for research.
Several notebooks containing drafts of
It’s Too Late Now: The
Autobiography of a Writer (1939) have been restricted due to their
fragile condition. Digital copies of these notebooks are available in the Ransom
Center for patron access.
Processed by:
Katy Hill, 2008
Additional A. A. Milne material is housed in the Ransom Center Personal Effects,
Book, Art, and Vertical Files collections. Milne materials are also located in the
following Ransom Center collections: Terence Armstrong, Rupert Croft-Cooke, St. John
Ervine, Marie Lowndes, Compton McKenzie, Christopher Robin Milne, Christopher
Morley, John Murry, PEN, Grant Richards, Ernest H. Shepard, Leonard Strong, Ann
Thwaite, Henry Tomlinson, Sir Hugh Walpole, and Geoffrey Wells.
Other A. A. Milne manuscript material is located at Trinity College, Cambridge
University.
Three original drawings by
Winnie-the-Pooh illustrator
Ernest H. Shepard have been transferred to the Ransom Center Art Collection.
Container List
Series I. Works, circa 1920-1946, undated
1.1
Unidentified-A, 1929, undated
1.2
Ariadne, or Business First: A Comedy in
Three Acts (1925), undated
1.3
B-Be, undated
1.4
Bf-Bz, undated
1.5
C, undated
1.6
C. O. D., undated
1.7-8
Chloe Marr (1946),
undated
2.1
D-F, undated
2.2
G-H, undated
2.3
Gentleman Unknown (1938),
undated
2.4
The Great Broxopp (Four Chapters in His
Life): A Comedy (1921), undated
2.5
H for Helena: A Midsummer Night’s Folly in Three Acts, undated
2.6
I-J, undated
2.7*
It’s Too Late Now: The Autobiography of a
Writer (1939), undated (*some materials restricted due to
fragile condition; digital copies available for patron access)
2.8
K-Ma, 1929, undated
2.9
The Lucky One: A Play in Three
Acts (1922), undated
3.1
Mi-Mz, undated
3.2
Miss Elizabeth Bennet (1936),
1936
3.3
Mr. Pim (1921),
undated
3.4
N-O, undated
3.5
P, undated
3.6
Penny Royal: A Comedy in Three Acts, undated
3.7
R, undated
3.8
The Red House Mystery (1922),
undated
3.9
The Romantic Age (1920),
undated
4.1
S, undated
4.2
Success: A Play in Three Acts
(1923), undated
4.3
T, undated
4.4
They Don’t Mean Any Harm: A Play in Three
Acts (1932), undated
4.5
Toad of Toad Hall (adaptation of
The Wind in the Willows, 1930),
undated
4.6
The Truth about Blayds (1921),
undated
4.7
Two People (1931),
undated
4.8
U-Z, undated
Series II. Correspondence and Other Materials, 1886-1961, undated
Correspondence
Incoming
5.1
The Weald Electricity Supply Company, 1938
Outgoing
5.2
Burke, Thomas, 1927
5.2
Curtis Brown, Ltd., circa 1924-1925
5.2
Gomme, Bernard (?), 1919
5.2
Lister, Francis, 1929
5.2
Lucas, Edward Verrall, 1926-1949
5.2
Massingham, Henry William, 1919
5.2
Milne, Ken, circa 1916-1928
5.2
Milne, Sarah Maria “Mama,” 1886-1890
5.2
Robertson, Eric S. (Eric Sutherland), undated
Third-party
5.3
Curtis Brown, Ltd. to Dorothy “Daphne” Milne, 1955-1959
5.3
Lane, Lupino to John Mcrea, 1924
5.3
Milne, Dorothy “Daphne” to Harry Huntt Ransom, 1961
5.4*
Legal agreements and genealogical document, 1930-1942, undated
(*oversize materials removed to oversize folder)
6
Fragile materials removed from folder 2.7 - not to be paged
without curatorial permission
Index of Works
- A. V. and R. V. -- 1.1
- Anne-Marie -- 1.1
- Ariadne, or Business First: A Comedy in Three Acts -- 1.2
- The Art of Saying Thank-You -- 1.1
- The Artist: A Duologue -- 1.1
- The Ascent of Man -- 1.1
- The Author to His Reader -- 1.1
- The Baby Show -- 1.3
- Barbara’s Birthday -- 1.3
- Before the Flood: A Play in One Act -- 1.3
- Behind the Lines: 1. Pacts Germanica -- 1.3
- Behind the Lines: Reflections -- 1.3
- Behind the Lines: 7. Song for a Soldier -- 1.3
- Behind the Lines: 16. Adolf Hitler -- 1.3
- Belinda: A Comedy in Three Acts -- 1.3
- Berlud Unlimited -- 1.3
- Binker -- 1.4
- Birthday Party -- 1.4
- The Bottle -- 1.4
- The Boy Comes Home: A Comedy in One Act -- 1.4
- Bread Upon Waters -- 1.4
- Breitenstein -- 1.4
- Broadmoor or Westminster Abbey? -- 1.4
- Busy -- 1.4
- C. O. D. --1.6
- Call Me Sally -- 1.5
- The Camberley Triangle: A Comedy in One Act -- 1.5
- Castles by the Sea -- 1.5
- Certain Financial Matters -- 1.5
- Chapters of Autobiography -- 1.5
- The Charcoal Burner -- 1.5
- Cherry Stones -- 1.5
- Children’s Books -- 1.5
- Chloe Marr -- 1.7-8
- Christmas Party -- 1.5
- A Clump of Silver Birches -- 1.5
- Cradle Song -- 1.5
- A Creed for a Crisis -- 1.5
- Dear Old George -- 2.1
- December -- 2.1
- Down by the Pond -- 2.1
- The Dream Island -- 2.1
- The Emperor’s Rhyme -- 2.1
- The End -- 2.1
- End of the Peer Wotherspoon -- 2.1
- The Engineer -- 2.1
- Explained -- 2.1
- February -- 2.1
- For Your Information -- 2.1
- Forgiven -- 2.1
- Forgotten -- 2.1
- The Friend -- 2.1
- Garden Ornaments -- 2.2
- The General Takes Off His Helmet -- 2.2
- Gentleman Unknown -- 2.3
- The Good Little Girl -- 2.2
- The Great Broxopp (Four Chapters in His Life): A Comedy -- 2.4
- The Great Film Ramp -- 2.2
- The Green Door -- 2.2
- H for Helena: A Midsummer Night’s Folly in Three Acts -- 2.5
- Happy Ever After -- 2.2
- The Highway to London -- 2.2
- Home and Overseas Service -- 2.2
- The House at Pooh Corner -- 2.2
- I Don’t Like Black-Mailers -- 2.6
- I Like London -- 2.6
- An Immortal Name -- 2.6
- In Bed -- 2.6
- In Praise of Thrift -- 2.6
- In Vino Veritas -- 2.6
- It’s Too Late Now: The Autobiography of a Writer -- 2.7
- January -- 2.6
- The Knight Whose Armour Didn’t Squeak -- 2.8
- The Little Black Hen -- 2.8
- The Little Move -- 2.8
- Luck Nothing -- 2.8
- The Lucky One: A Play in Three Acts -- 2.9
- The Magic Hill -- 2.8
- Make-Believe: A Children’s Play in a Prologue and Three Acts --
2.8
- A Man Greatly Beloved -- 2.8
- The Man in the Bowler Hat: A Terribly Exciting Affair -- 2.8
- March -- 2.8
- May Pastorale (Being the Only Vital Issue before the Country)
-- 2.8
- The Middle of the Room -- 3.1
- Miss Elizabeth Bennett -- 3.2
- Miss Marlow at Play -- 3.1
- Miss Waterlow in Bed -- 3.1
- Mr. Pim -- 3.3
- Modesty Forbids -- 3.1
- The Morning Walk -- 3.1
- Mullins -- 3.1
- Murder at Eleven -- 3.1
- My Golfing Luck -- 3.1
- Night at the Aldwinckles -- 3.4
- The Norman Church -- 3.4
- A Note on Lewis Carroll -- 3.4
- Notes on the British Drama League’s Scheme -- 3.4
- Nursery Rhymes Commented Upon -- 3.4
- The Old Sailor -- 3.4
- Old Soldier -- 3.4
- On This Question of “Evidence” -- 3.4
- One Man’s Week -- 3.4
- One of Our Conquerors -- 3.4
- One of Our Cricketers -- 3.4
- The Party Spirit -- 3.5
- Peace with Honour -- 3.5
- Pedestrianism: Atalanta v. Hippomenes -- 3.5
- Penny Royal: A Comedy in Three Acts -- 3.6
- Pinkle Purr -- 3.5
- Poor Anne -- 3.5
- Portrait of a Gentleman in Slippers: A Fairy Tale in One Act --
3.5
- Portrait of Lydia -- 3.5
- The Prettiest Girl in the Room -- 3.5
- The Princess and the Apple-Tree -- 3.5
- The Princess Who Could Not Laugh -- 3.5
- A Rattling Good Yarn -- 3.7
- The Red House Mystery -- 3.8
- The Rise and Fall of Mortimer Scriven -- 3.7
- The River -- 3.7
- The Romantic Age -- 3.9
- A Room in Baker Street -- 3.7
- Rosemary for Remembrance -- 3.7
- A Savage Game -- 4.1
- Second Plays Introduction -- 4.1
- The Secret -- 4.1
- Sentimentality and War -- 4.1
- September -- 4.1
- Shakespeare on the Stage -- 4.1
- Solitude -- 4.1
- Sparrow Tree Square -- 4.1
- Speaking of Books -- 4.1
- Spiritualism -- 4.1
- Spring Song -- 4.1
- The Stepmother -- 4.1
- Success: A Play in Three Acts -- 4.2
- Swing Song -- 4.1
- A Table Near the Band -- 4.3
- Taking an Interest -- 4.3
- Talk -- 4.3
- They Don’t Mean Any Harm: A Play in Three Acts -- 4.4
- The Three Daughters of M. Dupont -- 4.3
- The Three Dreams of Mr. Findlater -- 4.3
- Thy Tablets, Memory -- 4.3
- Toad of Toad Hall -- 4.5
- Tristram -- 4.3
- The Truth about Bacon -- 4.3
- The Truth about Blayds -- 4.6
- The Twins -- 4.3
- Two People -- 4.7
- Us Two -- 4.8
- A Voyage to India -- 4.8
- Waiting at the Window -- 4.8
- War Aims Unlimited -- 4.8
- When I Was Very Young -- 4.8
- Where the Bright Waters Meet -- 4.8
- The Woodcutter and the Princess -- 4.8
- Writing for Children -- 4.8
- You Are Going to Europe -- 4.8