MILNE A. A.: (1882-1956)

MILNE A. A.: (1882-1956) English author, creator of Winnie-the-Pooh. Book signed and inscribed, being a hardback edition of The Way of All Flesh by Samuel Butler, published by Collins, London, 1934. Signed and inscribed by Milne to the half-title page, 'For Moon, with love from Blue' and dated Christmas 1940 in his hand. An excellent association copy inscribed by Milne to his son, Christopher Robin, using their family names. The illustrated edition with woodcut engravings by John Farleigh and patterned endpapers, bound in the publisher's original purple cloth with gilt titles to the spine and front cover, the spine faded and with a little damage. Lacking the dust wrapper. About VG Christopher Robin Milne (1920-1996) English author and bookseller, the only child of A. A. Milne. As a child he was the basis of the character Christopher Robin in his father's Winnie-the-Pooh stories. At the time the present copy was inscribed Christopher Robin Milne had completed his first year at Trinity College, Cambridge and was awaiting his call-up papers with the expectation of beginning training in November 1940. Milne failed his medical examination; however his father used his influence to get Milne a position as a sapper with the second training battalion of the Royal Engineers. He received his commission in July 1942 and was posted to the Middle East and Italy. A. A. Milne had decided on the name Billy before his son was born, although without the intention of christening him William. Instead, each parent chose a name, hence the legal name Christopher Robin. He was referred to within the family as Billy Moon, a combination of his nickname and his childhood mispronunciation of Milne. Milne held The Way of All Flesh in very high regard, writing in his essay A Household Book 'Once upon a time I discovered Samuel Butler….the one who wrote The Way of All Flesh, the second-best novel in the English language. I say the second-best, so that, if you remind me of Tom Jones, or The Mayor of Casterbridge, or any other that you fancy, I can say, of course, that one is the best'.