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Speakers Series: Pooh’s Backstory – Presented by Ian Burrow
2026 marks the 100th anniversary of the publication of the first of the two Winnie the Pooh story collections (The House at Pooh Corner followed in 1928). Written by successful English author and playwright Alan Alexander Milne, these stories (and the two volumes of poetry that went with them) have delighted and enchanted four generations all over the world.
These wildly successful, humorous and gently instructive tales, however, ended up harming both the author and his son Christopher Robin. A.A. Milne bitterly felt (correctly) that his more important work was always overshadowed by these children’s stories. Christopher Robin came to believe that A.A. Milne “had filched from me my good name and had left me with nothing but the empty fame of being his son.”
But behind this sadness there is a silver lining of happiness and enchantment. Starting with the adoption of a black bear named Winnie by a World War I Canadian soldier, the story moves to the gift of a stuffed teddy bear to an 18-month-old Christopher Robin. This Winnie was soon joined by Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga and Baby Roo, and Tigger.
In 1925 the Milnes purchased Cotchford Farm in Ashdown Forest in Sussex, south of London. It was in this unique landscape, so lovingly and accurately portrayed by talented cartoonist Ernest Shepard, that the stories are firmly and indelibly set, and where Christopher Robin spent many happy times. Pompous Owl and bossy Rabbit joined the other animals there.
This presentation will explore these and other themes in the saga of Pooh, and will take us to the Six Pine Trees, the Sandy Pit Where Roo Plays, the Poohsticks Bridge, and the New York Public Library. Please bring your own Pooh toys and remembrances. Just don’t blame Eeyore if it rains.
About the Speaker:
Archaeologist and historian Ian Burrow is a long-time Hopewell resident and lifelong fan of Pooh. Previous presentations in this series have included British Attitudes to the American Revolution and Foursquare Houses in Hopewell.
Registration is required for this event.
