 First edition | |
| Author | A. A. Milne |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | E. H. Shepard |
| Language | English |
| Series | Winnie-the-Pooh |
| Genre | Fantasy |
| Publisher | Methuen & Co. Ltd. (London) |
Publication date | November 6, 1924 |
| Publication place | United Kingdom |
| Media type | Print (hardback and paperback) |
| Followed by | Now We Are Six |
| Text | When We Were Very Young at Wikisource |
When We Were Very Young is a best-selling book of poetry by A. A. Milne.[1] It was first published in 1924, and it was illustrated by E. H. Shepard. Several of the verses were set to music by Harold Fraser-Simson. The book begins with an introduction entitled "Just Before We Begin", which, in part, tells readers to imagine for themselves who the narrator is, and that it might be Christopher Robin. The 38th poem in the book, "Teddy Bear", that originally appeared in Punch magazine in February 1924, was the first appearance of the famous character Winnie-the-Pooh, first named "Mr. Edward Bear" by Christopher Robin Milne.[2] In one of the illustrations of "Teddy Bear", Winnie-the-Pooh is shown wearing a shirt which was later coloured red when reproduced on a recording produced by Stephen Slesinger. This has become his standard appearance in the Disney adaptations. On 1 January 2020, When We Were Very Young entered the public domain in the United States,[3][4] but remains protected in other countries[clarification needed], including the UK.[citation needed]
- ^ Ian Hamilton (1994). The Oxford companion to twentieth-century poetry in English. Oxford University Press. p. 357. ISBN 978-0-19-866147-4.
- ^ Milne, A. A. "When We Were Very Young". Methuen & Co.; London, 1924
- ^ "1924 Copyrighted Works To Become Part Of The Public Domain". NPR. 30 December 2019.
- ^ Jennifer Jenkins (2019). "Public Domain Day 2020". Duke University School of Law.