If I May

A. A. MilneProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.8

Word count: 251K words
Chapters: 26

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.If I May by A. A. MilneAuthor: Milne, A. A. (Alan Alexander), 1882-1956,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Jan 1, 2005

Editor's review

This is a collection of essays by A. A. Milne, a free public-domain eBook from Project Gutenberg. Unlike his fame as the author of Winnie-the-Pooh, this book shows Milne's lighter humorous side as a contributor to Punch: measured in tone, keen in observation, and skilled at drawing out the amusing and gently satirical from everyday trifles. Its value lies in letting Chinese readers see another strand of the fairy-tale author's writing, and in offering an easy entry into the daily life and humor of early twentieth-century English middle-class society. The length suits fragmented reading; each essay stands on its own, so one or two pieces on a commute or before bed is enough. Note that the original is in English and carries period diction and British irony, requiring some English reading ability; it is also a public-domain eBook without modern annotations or an introduction, so readers must grasp the context themselves.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who like A. A. Milne and want his non-children's works
Readers with intermediate English who prefer essays and light humor
Office workers or students who want short English pieces in spare moments
Literature lovers interested in early twentieth-century English familiar essays

Not a good fit for

Beginners with weak English who need Chinese annotations
Readers expecting Winnie-the-Pooh-style children's stories
Readers who prefer coherent plots and complete long-form works

Reading tips

Read essay by essay, one or two at a time; no need to go in order.
When you hit British irony or period slang, note it down and look it up rather than skipping.
After finishing, pick one or two favorites and try retelling their humor in your own words.
Read alongside Milne's children's books to feel the difference between his two registers.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book in the same style as Winnie-the-Pooh?

No. This is a collection of Milne's essays, centered on light humor and everyday observation, not children's fairy tales. Readers see a very different adult writing side from his fairy tales, though the gentle, measured tone remains.

Is the English original hard to read?

It is moderately to fairly difficult. Sentence structures are not complex, but there is much British irony, period language, and allusion, requiring a certain vocabulary and feel for the language. Read with a dictionary at hand, or try one or two pieces first to decide your pace.

It's a public-domain book—are there notes or an introduction?

This is a public-domain eBook released by Project Gutenberg, usually containing only the original text, with no modern annotations, introduction, or background. Readers need to supply knowledge of the author's life and period background themselves to better understand the allusions and humor.

Is it suitable as English-learning material?

It suits readers with an intermediate foundation as extensive reading to build vocabulary and feel English expression. But it is not a graded reader and lacks vocabulary notes and exercises, so absolute beginners or exam-focused learners should not use it as a main textbook.

Comments

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About the author

A. A. Milne Author · British · 1882–1956

A. A. Milne (1882–1956) was a British writer born in London. He graduated in mathematics from Trinity College, Cambridge, and later edited the magazine Punch. He served in the First World War and afterwards made his name as a writer of comedy, with plays such as Mr. Pim Passes By. His work spans detective fiction, humorous essays, drama and children's literature; the library holds twelve of his titles, including The Red House Mystery, Happy Days, Not that it Matters, If I May, The Sunny Side and Second Plays. He is best known worldwide for his children's books Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner, and for the poetry collection When We Were Very Young. His gentle, humorous writing, full of childhood charm and close observation of everyday life, continues to delight readers around the world.