In USA Today section D on Thursday's Sept. 24, I found an article "Author strives to echo Milne's voice" that announces a new sequel to the classic tale of Pooh and his friends.
It's been 80 years since the last book of Winnie-the-Pooh was published. There are oringinally two books the first one "Winnie-the-Pooh" was published in 1926 and it's sequel "The House at Pooh Corner" was published in 1928.
The author, A.A. Milne (died in 1956) wrote the two books inspired by his son Christopher Robin (died in 1996) and his favorite teddy bear: Winnie-the-Pooh.
Now, British novelist David Bendictus with the premission of the Trustees of the Pooh Properties has written the third sequel "Return to the Hundred Acre Wood" which will go on sale October 5, 2009.
Bendictus became inspired when he was producing and writing a 1997 audio adaptaion of Pooh with Judi Dench and Stephen Fry. "All of Milnes's rhythms kept buzzing around. The actors' voices were still inmy head," said Bendictus.
Bendictus wasn't the only author attemping to compare to the original work of Milne. In the end, he was proven to have the proper writing styling and thought that matches close to what the original author had in mind.
This is like what happened with the book "Gone With the Wind", it was the only book the original author ever wrote and she died before she could write a sequel not that she was planning to write one even though fans really wanted one.
Many years later, someone did write a sequl called "Scarlett" based off the first. Of course, like with the Pooh books, special premission had to be given and to be sure that the author to do the job would write as close to the original as possible.
Since Gone with the Wind was/is famous, can you imagine the pressure to not mess up it's sequel? I can only imagine the same idea goes to Bendictus though since he's writing for children he may have an easier time.
But as Benditus also said that even though he may not know anything about donkeys he can only guess. "But guessing can be fun, too."
I've never read the original stories for Pooh, but I've always wanted to take a look and see what they are like. I consider myself a huge Pooh Bear fan so why not read where it all began?
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I heard about the Pooh Bear Anniversary but I didn't know that there was more to it. I guess Disney and everyone else wanted to keep Pooh around before his spirit finally retires.
ReplyDeleteI remember being read the Pooh books as a young child. I loved Winnie the Pooh. I think its great that this author was inspired and wanted to write a new Pooh book, but I'm not so sure that it will be a success. A lot of times a story is better without a sequel. People like to remember things the way they originally were. Perhaps if Milne were still alive, he would decide to write a sequel or perhaps not. It just seems sort of rude to me if you continue a dead man's work without being able to have his say on the matter.
ReplyDeleteGrowing up I was a huge Winnie-the-Pooh fan. I think this is a a good idea as long a people know this is not the original writer and they are given credit.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a good idea, although I don't think that the spirit of Pooh will ever die, with or without this sequel; Pooh is a classic and has continued to be marketed because it remains popular with children and parents today. I really don't see that changing anytime soon. Hopefully the author of the sequel will stay true to the style and idea of Winnie the Pooh, but I'm sure he will, having been approved by the Trustees of the Pooh Properties, who are there to keep Pooh's character intact.
ReplyDeleteIts a good idea in my mind. Pooh will always be pooh. No matter what movies are out or what sequels are being made. As long as the author stays to the orginal Winne the Pooh then it be good.
ReplyDeleteIntersting blog, but I don't agree with that! Winnie the Pooh is a classic. You can't re-write a classic, especially if it's not coming from the orignial author of the books. I loved Winnie the Pooh! He will forever and always be a timeless member of the Dinsey cast, but to 'reinvent' the image of Pooh 80 years later to children who have watched, read, and loved the old, ORIGINAL Pooh doesn't seem right. Although I'm sure children everywhere will be thrilled when the third book comes out, it's hard to say how good of a book it will turn out to be since nothing ever beats the original.
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