Winnie the Pooh and his friends are some of the most beloved characters of children’s literature. Before the myriad of cartoons and animated movies, toys and theme park rides, there were children’s books with simple but moving line drawings that brought these adorable creatures to life.   These books are so influential that they completely overshadowed their creator, who has always be known by his initials and, to most people, not much else. In this article, we’ll dive in to the background of this mysterious and endeavour to separate fact from fiction. A Young Milne Alan Alexander Milne was born on the 18th January, 1882 in Kilburn, London. His father ran a local independent school, Henley House, which he...

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Choosing a baby name can feel like an impossible task. It has to be unique, yet not so unique that it is unpronounceable or will make your child an object of ridicule in school. Names rise and fall in popularity, most usually a particular celebrity or tv show is dominating the headlines. One inspiration for naming your baby could be classic literature. Many of these names perfectly skirt the line between memorable and classic. Whilst they may not sound as modern or unique as the current trendy baby names, you can be sure that they will stand the test of time.   Anaïs Literary Inspiration: The French-Cuban Writer Anaïs Nin. French, pronounced Ah-nai-eece. Whilst it doesn’t have the easiest pronunciation,...

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C.S. Lewis wrote one of the most beloved children’s stories of all time, The Chronicles of Narnia, the most famous of which is The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. Seven fantastical stories full of magical forest creatures and pirates ships. But they were serious books too, dealing with subjects like death, loss and betrayal. They have been adapted into countless plays and films and his books are firmly fixed in the hearts of many young readers. “Narnia” is now synonymous with hidden, fantasy worlds full of wonder and magic. But Lewis was not just a children’s book writer. He also wrote adult books extensively on themes such as death, grief and religion. His interest in these subjects was no...

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J.M. Barrie wrote one of the most famous and enduring works of children’s literature - Peter Pan. Despite being written over a hundred years ago, this fairy tale continues to delight adults and children everywhere in books, in movies and on stage.    And yet Barrie himself - a strange, retiring man who longed to re-live his boyhood again - is little known. A celebrity writer in his own lifetime who was shy and out of time.  He created a huge body of work both before and after Peter Pan which is mostly unread today. So was the man behind one of literature’s most magical stories? Read my short biography to find out more on the man behind Peter Pan....

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