Alan Alexander Milne, better known as A. A. Milne, was the creator of  Winnie-the-Pooh. He was born in London where his father owned a private school. Among the teachers were, for some time, the science fiction writer H.G. Wells. A gifted mathematician, Milne won a scholarship to Westminster School when he was only eleven. He studied mathematics at Trinity College, Cambridge, and after receiving his B.A. in 1903, he started his career as a freelance writer. At the age of 44 Milne published Winnie-the-Pooh. These hugely popular stories were set in Ashdown forest featuring Milne's son Christopher with various talking animals and animated versions of his toys. In the 1930s and 40s Milne was active in religious and pacifist polemics. At the age of fifty-six he published his autobiography, It's Too Late Now, which focused mostly on his childhood years. An operation on Milne's brain in 1952 left him an invalid during the last four years of his life. He died on January 31, 1956. After his wife's death in 1971, part of the fortune earned by the Pooh books came to the Royal Literary Fund, providing for writers in financial distress.

A. A. Milne
(1882-1956)

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Buckingham Palace

They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace -
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
Alice is marrying one of the guard.
"A soldier's life is terrible hard,"
Says Alice.

They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace -
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
We saw a guard in a sentry-box.
"One of the sergeants looks after their socks,"
Says Alice.

They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace -
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
We looked for the King, but he never came.
"Well, God take care of him, all the same,"
Says Alice.

They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace -
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
They've great big parties inside the grounds.
"I wouldn't be King for a hundred pounds,"
Says Alice.

They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace -
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
A face looked out, but it wasn't the King's.
"He's much too busy a-signing things,"
Says Alice.

They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace -
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
"Do you think the King knows all about me?"
"Sure to, dear, but it's time for tea,"
Says Alice.

Alan Alexander Milne

sentry-box: garita
looks after: se ocupa de, controla
take care of him: lo cuida, lo protege
grounds: terrenos, recintos
a-signing: [expresión literaria] firmando
sure to: cierto, claro, es cierto

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