Christopher Robin: a sad story

Jump to follow-up Today we went to see the film Goodbye Christopher Robin.  It was very good. I, like most children, read Pooh books as a child.  Image from Wikipedia I got interested in their author, A.A. Milne, when I discovered that he’d done a mathematics degree at Cambridge. So had my scientific hero A.V. Hill, and (through twitter) I met AV’s granddaughter, Alison Hill. I learned that AV loved to quote A.A.Milne’s poem, OBE. O.B.E. I know a Captain of Industry, Who made big bombs for the R.F.C., And collared a lot of £ s. d.– And he–thank God!–has the O.B.E. I know a Lady of Pedigree, Who asked some soldiers out to tea, And said “Dear me!” and “Yes, I see”– And she–thank God!–has the O.B.E. I know a fellow of twenty-three, Who got a job with a fat M.P.– (Not caring much for the Infantry.) And he–thank God!–has the O.B.E. I had a friend; a friend, and he Just held the line for you and me, And kept the Germans from the sea, And died–without the O.B.E. Thank God! He died without the O.B.E. This poem clearly reflects Milne’s experience in WW1. He was at the Battle of the Somme, despite describing himself as a pacifist.  In the film he’s portrayed as suffering from PTSD (shell shock as it used to be called).  The sound of a balloon popping could trigger a crisis.&n...
Source: DC's goodscience - Category: Science Authors: Tags: A.V. Hill AA Milne AV Hill Christopher Robin PTSD Winnie the Pooh Source Type: blogs