Happy Half Hours

A delightful selection of articles by the ever-popular A.A. Milne, many of which haven't been in print for decades. Introduced by the prize-winning children’s author Frank Cottrell Boyce. A treasure of a book.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 180 pages
\n Publication date: 20 October 2020
\n Publisher: Notting Hill Editions
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A.A. Milne, the acclaimed author of the timeless Winnie-the-Pooh stories, achieved remarkable success as a writer long before his children's tales catapulted him to instant fame. Milne himself harbored a deep disdain for being pigeonholed as a children's author. At the tender age of twenty-three, he secured the position of Assistant Editor at Punch. In an interview, he expressed his frustration with the arduous task of generating ideas from scratch, describing it as an "appalling heart-breaking anguish." Milne possessed a remarkable talent for effortlessly churning out a thousand whimsical words on various subjects, including lost hats and umbrellas, tennis, dogs, faulty geysers, dotty maids, women loading film in a camera, the English obsession with rank and titles, cheap cigars, and the myriad challenges of everyday life. He received accolades for his ability to craft "articles notable for their 'enchanting ingenuity.'" However, there existed a more profound facet to Milne's personality. Following his service in World War I, where he bravely survived the treacherous Somme, Milne was invalided home with trench fever in 1916. His wartime experiences left a lasting impact on him, shaping him into a committed and vocal pacifist. Milne viewed war as nothing less than "mental and moral degradation." His unwavering pacifism, ahead of his time, is evident in some of his most powerful and thought-provoking writings.

This collection of Milne's articles, spanning nearly four decades of his life from 1910 to 1952, is presented for the first time in this volume. Included within are his passionately argued writings on pacifism, showcasing his trademark wit, diverse genius, lesser-known political views, and a longing for a bygone era. Through these writings, readers are granted a glimpse into the multifaceted personality of A.A. Milne, a writer whose legacy continues to enchant and inspire generations to come.

\n Weight: 220g\n
Dimension: 121 x 189 x 18 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781912559053\n \n