The Rabbits
By A.A. Milne

Mention AA Milne and the first things that usually come to people’s mind is Winnie the Pooh and his friends in Hundred Acre Wood and Christopher Robin. AA Milne didn’t only write children’s books, he also wrote for adults. The Rabbits was originally serialised in Punch Magazine. It has been all re-published in a book, which I have the privilege to review for part of The Random T. Tours blog tour. What I think you may also find interesting is a bit more about A.A. Milne, so I’ve included a bit after my review.

Blurb

Pre-war halcyon days captured in a series of comic sketches, the ‘Rabbits’ offer the purest of escapism – and possibly A. A. Milne’s most distinctive work

The adventures of a group of friends, pre-war, with far too much time on their hands.

The Rabbits, as they call themselves, are Archie Mannering, his sister Myra, Samuel Simpson, Thomas of the Admiralty, Dahlia Blair and the narrator, with occasional guests. Their conversation is almost entirely frivolous, their activity vacillates between immensely energetic and happily lazy, and their social mores are surprisingly progressive.

Originally published as sketches in Punch, the Rabbits’ escapades are a charming portrait of middle-class antics on the brink of being shattered by World War I, and fail entirely to take themselves seriously.

Review

The Rabbits was a surprising read. Not having read any of A.A. Milne’s adult material before, this intrigued me, after all I, like so many children grew up with his Winnie the Pooh stories and his poetry, such as Now We Are Six and loved them.

The Rabbits is a look at the middle classes just before world war one fully broke out, more at a time when the world was on the brink of war. There are friendships sharing past-times, playing sports such as crickets and eccentricities in personalities; it’s quite a study into this period of time, brought to readers with humour.

It reads like it is serialised in a magazine, which brings a different feel from your typical novel and yet still works rather well, once you’ve got used to the feel and style of it. 

At a time where, yet again the world seems so uncertain, this book brings lightness and a time to relax and be transported to a different time and have a laugh at good wit. A.A. Milne turns out to be quite the satirical comedy writer and it’s enjoyable.
It’s quite poignant in a way, knowing what we know, that these were the last easy-going sunny days before the world grew darker as war broke out.
Let your mind wander to times gone by. It’s a very enjoyable read.

A.A. Milne wanted to be known for more than just his creation of Winnie The Pooh and now, all these years later, hopefully he will be. It truly is worth reading.

About The Author

A. A. Milne (Alan Alexander) is best known for his books about the teddy bear Winnie-the-Pooh, but was also an accomplished writer of fiction for grown-ups.

Prior to the First World War he worked as a young man as Assistant Editor of Punch magazine.

After leaving the army, he began to write plays, short stories and novels; and then later works for children, including the poetry collection When We Were Very Young and the storybook Winnie-the-Pooh in 1926.

Milne continued to be a prolific writer until his death in 1956.