Alan Alexander Milne (1882-1956) was born in London. He was a regular contributor to Punch, and later, assistant editor, before the interruption of active service in the First World War. A remarkably versatile writer, Milne went on to become a hugely successful and widely-known playwright, both in the West End and on Broadway, as well as an essayist, poet, novelist and – most famously – children’s author, as the creator of Winnie-the-Pooh.