tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post2656134731626402282..comments2023-10-12T02:21:40.102-07:00Comments on English Historical Fiction Authors: The Real Christopher Robin and His FatherDebra Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03256313302199653185noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-26815430657875331992014-03-06T17:56:35.806-08:002014-03-06T17:56:35.806-08:00Fantastic post, Stephanie. What a life for both fa...Fantastic post, Stephanie. What a life for both father and son… so sad and tragic. The rift must have been unbearable for the father. Thank you for sharing this.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17461952469118723268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-36810921514831741202014-03-06T16:12:53.037-08:002014-03-06T16:12:53.037-08:00Margaret, what an experience! I envy you. It is so...Margaret, what an experience! I envy you. It is so difficult for any prodigy to go on to a normal adult life if he is no longer a prodigy. Think of poor Mozart who said people would never forgive him for growing up! But oh how beautiful the books and poems are! And how spiritual and tender and deep!Stephanie Cowellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06423566909753375195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-78194283079574405622014-03-06T10:45:36.530-08:002014-03-06T10:45:36.530-08:00Stephanie, so glad you wrote this piece. I met the...Stephanie, so glad you wrote this piece. I met the real CR some years ago at his bookshop in Dartmouth, Devon, (I was informed that he was the proprietor before we went inside) and he assisted me at the till. I love the Pooh books, read through them each and every year. I know that Christopher Milne was burdened by his public identity as CR, but that doesn't diminish my enjoyment of his father's works. Margaret Porterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16202290659191790984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-60694743943663995162014-03-06T10:21:44.803-08:002014-03-06T10:21:44.803-08:00I suppose it was too late by the time the father r...I suppose it was too late by the time the father realized what a success the books would become.Debra Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03256313302199653185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-47695376792806160312014-03-06T10:21:14.645-08:002014-03-06T10:21:14.645-08:00I agree. Just giving the fictional child a differe...I agree. Just giving the fictional child a different name would have been perfect. Then the real CR could have shielded himself somewhat from the story's fame.Debra Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03256313302199653185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-2680733628604846052014-03-06T10:10:42.341-08:002014-03-06T10:10:42.341-08:00Thanks, Stephanie. I love your insights. I read th...Thanks, Stephanie. I love your insights. I read the stories to my daughter when she was young without knowing about poor Christopher's personal suffering. I think it's usually a mistake for writers to incorporate their children in their work. My daughter is very private and would resent me heartily if I wrote about her background, hopes, or dreams. Susan D Eisenberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02902231318440403322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-47026917849187491802014-03-06T09:29:12.827-08:002014-03-06T09:29:12.827-08:00I grew up with all the AA Milne stories and poems ...I grew up with all the AA Milne stories and poems (still have the much-loved and read books) and agree totally Alison, there is NO version other than AA Milne's words and Ernest Shepherd's illustrations!CC Coburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11641416240804936073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-72703982060887792002014-03-06T09:25:58.696-08:002014-03-06T09:25:58.696-08:00I agree absolutely Elizabeth. Christopher Robin wo...I agree absolutely Elizabeth. Christopher Robin would have enjoyed a very privileged lifestyle as a result of the wonderful stories his father created for him out of love. He sounds way too precious about the fame. CC Coburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11641416240804936073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-33744384894633775672014-03-06T07:08:19.328-08:002014-03-06T07:08:19.328-08:00What a wonderful post. I think it's so sad tha...What a wonderful post. I think it's so sad that a gift of love from the father turned so sour for the son. What would have happened, I wonder, if the Milne had given the boy in the books a different name? Still, it seems like the grown up Christopher Robin should have been able to "get over it." There are so many worse things that can happen in life than being the inspiration for much loved books!Elizabeth Varadan, Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01708206753256682635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-523587925217053932014-03-06T07:01:31.530-08:002014-03-06T07:01:31.530-08:00What a sad and very touching story about the real ...What a sad and very touching story about the real life CR. I never read the stories as a child unfortunately and only came to them as an adult. Was surprised to learn that our library did not have copies. Have since rectified this by buying and donating them. Thank you for the post, I enjoyed it so much.Donna Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11491130884085643521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-89634384781861223692014-03-06T05:36:31.113-08:002014-03-06T05:36:31.113-08:00It is sad...I think that someone who was treated b...It is sad...I think that someone who was treated by the world as such an extraordinary golden boy might have a hard time becoming a more ordinary man. Maybe he felt he had failed his father and himself. I have been thinking of the psychology since I finished the piece. Or maybe he could not bear to see his idealized father grow old. Stephanie Cowellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06423566909753375195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-88237389408294572082014-03-06T05:32:18.746-08:002014-03-06T05:32:18.746-08:00Oh how cool! Yes, I feel the same about Shepherd&#...Oh how cool! Yes, I feel the same about Shepherd's drawings. I did not like the Disney version; I thought it destroyed the delicacy.Stephanie Cowellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06423566909753375195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-2437139099430064322014-03-06T02:32:47.297-08:002014-03-06T02:32:47.297-08:00I love the books and the sad story behind these be...I love the books and the sad story behind these beloved writings is very poignant. It is a pity that something that has brought so much joy to millions of children, and their children subsequently, came at the expense of the original father/son happiness.Fiona Ingramhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12858421058191075567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-26098687173739219872014-03-06T00:36:26.336-08:002014-03-06T00:36:26.336-08:00A gorgeous post! I have always loved the stories a...A gorgeous post! I have always loved the stories and poems, myself. I don't have a story quite as interesting as Alison's to tell, but I did a short course with a journalist specialising in the environment who had known CR when he was fighting to save the Five Hundred Acre Wood.Sue Bursztynskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09362273418897882971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-66455927203882133502014-03-05T23:34:24.666-08:002014-03-05T23:34:24.666-08:00I loved these stories as a child. Thanks for shar...I loved these stories as a child. Thanks for sharing about the real people...sad.Sophia Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07909417504496472472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-87460925572422545722014-03-05T22:35:46.126-08:002014-03-05T22:35:46.126-08:00How cool is that!How cool is that!Debra Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03256313302199653185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-19853723259506864142014-03-05T22:26:26.558-08:002014-03-05T22:26:26.558-08:00Lovely post, Stephanie. One of my favourite biogra...Lovely post, Stephanie. One of my favourite biographies is that of Ernest Shepherd who did the illustrations. For me there will only be the Pooh of Milne and Shepherd. I loathe the Disney version.<br />On a personal note... my father was of an age with CR and his family lived downstairs for the Milne's in London. He used to play with CR. Alison Stuarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07101217971756114754noreply@blogger.com