What do you think?
Rate this book
If I May
This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curated for quality. Quality assurance was conducted on each of these books in an attempt to remove books with imperfections introduced by the digitization process. Though we have made best efforts - the books may have occasional errors that do not impede the reading experience. We believe this work is culturally important and have elected to bring the book back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. This text refers to the Bibliobazaar edition.
142 pages, Paperback
First published December 27, 2012
32 people are currently reading
190 people want to read
About the author
A.A. Milne
1,898 books3,762 followersAlan Alexander Milne (pronounced /ˈmɪln/) was an English author, best known for his books about the teddy bear Winnie-the-Pooh and for various children's poems.
A. A. Milne was born in Kilburn, London, to parents Vince Milne and Sarah Marie Milne (née Heginbotham) and grew up at Henley House School, 6/7 Mortimer Road (now Crescent), Kilburn, a small public school run by his father. One of his teachers was H. G. Wells who taught there in 1889–90. Milne attended Westminster School and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he studied on a mathematics scholarship. While there, he edited and wrote for Granta, a student magazine. He collaborated with his brother Kenneth and their articles appeared over the initials AKM. Milne's work came to the attention of the leading British humour magazine Punch, where Milne was to become a contributor and later an assistant editor.
Milne joined the British Army in World War I and served as an officer in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and later, after a debilitating illness, the Royal Corps of Signals. He was discharged on February 14, 1919.
After the war, he wrote a denunciation of war titled Peace with Honour (1934), which he retracted somewhat with 1940's War with Honour. During World War II, Milne was one of the most prominent critics of English writer P. G. Wodehouse, who was captured at his country home in France by the Nazis and imprisoned for a year. Wodehouse made radio broadcasts about his internment, which were broadcast from Berlin. Although the light-hearted broadcasts made fun of the Germans, Milne accused Wodehouse of committing an act of near treason by cooperating with his country's enemy. Wodehouse got some revenge on his former friend by creating fatuous parodies of the Christopher Robin poems in some of his later stories, and claiming that Milne "was probably jealous of all other writers.... But I loved his stuff."
He married Dorothy "Daphne" de Sélincourt in 1913, and their only son, Christopher Robin Milne, was born in 1920. In 1925, A. A. Milne bought a country home, Cotchford Farm, in Hartfield, East Sussex. During World War II, A. A. Milne was Captain of the Home Guard in Hartfield & Forest Row, insisting on being plain 'Mr. Milne' to the members of his platoon. He retired to the farm after a stroke and brain surgery in 1952 left him an invalid and by August 1953 "he seemed very old and disenchanted".
He was 74 years old when he passed away in 1956.
A. A. Milne was born in Kilburn, London, to parents Vince Milne and Sarah Marie Milne (née Heginbotham) and grew up at Henley House School, 6/7 Mortimer Road (now Crescent), Kilburn, a small public school run by his father. One of his teachers was H. G. Wells who taught there in 1889–90. Milne attended Westminster School and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he studied on a mathematics scholarship. While there, he edited and wrote for Granta, a student magazine. He collaborated with his brother Kenneth and their articles appeared over the initials AKM. Milne's work came to the attention of the leading British humour magazine Punch, where Milne was to become a contributor and later an assistant editor.
Milne joined the British Army in World War I and served as an officer in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and later, after a debilitating illness, the Royal Corps of Signals. He was discharged on February 14, 1919.
After the war, he wrote a denunciation of war titled Peace with Honour (1934), which he retracted somewhat with 1940's War with Honour. During World War II, Milne was one of the most prominent critics of English writer P. G. Wodehouse, who was captured at his country home in France by the Nazis and imprisoned for a year. Wodehouse made radio broadcasts about his internment, which were broadcast from Berlin. Although the light-hearted broadcasts made fun of the Germans, Milne accused Wodehouse of committing an act of near treason by cooperating with his country's enemy. Wodehouse got some revenge on his former friend by creating fatuous parodies of the Christopher Robin poems in some of his later stories, and claiming that Milne "was probably jealous of all other writers.... But I loved his stuff."
He married Dorothy "Daphne" de Sélincourt in 1913, and their only son, Christopher Robin Milne, was born in 1920. In 1925, A. A. Milne bought a country home, Cotchford Farm, in Hartfield, East Sussex. During World War II, A. A. Milne was Captain of the Home Guard in Hartfield & Forest Row, insisting on being plain 'Mr. Milne' to the members of his platoon. He retired to the farm after a stroke and brain surgery in 1952 left him an invalid and by August 1953 "he seemed very old and disenchanted".
He was 74 years old when he passed away in 1956.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 17, 2016
Another surprise for me from the author of Winnie The Pooh, this collection of short essays had me chuckling, pondering, puzzling, and ending up amazed at A. A. Milne's vivid imagination. He seemed to be able to riff on almost any topic, usually with great humor; often ending with profound statements that catch you in mid-giggle and make you Think.
Want a few paragraphs comparing bees to modern man? Read The Case For The Artist. Maybe you need an idea or two for your garden wall? Try A London Garden. If you want to know the history of the game of chess....well, you won't find the official one in The Game Of Kings, but I think Milne came up with a very creative version for himself and it is worth reading. I liked it better than the real history of the game, I must admit.
One of my favorites was The Ordnance Map, where we are invited to take out our map and go for a walk. This is something I love to do with maps: very much armchair travel, but exciting for someone who is a better traveler in spirit than in the flesh.
Another favorite was A Train Of Thought, which was triggered by Milne trying to decide where to spend a vacation and how to get there. I liked it because I get into the same frame of mind when I am on the bus heading north for my once-every-six-months visits to my Mom. Only he explains it better than I could:
Nowhere can I think so happily as in a train. I am not inspired; nothing so uncomfortable as that. I am never seized with a sudden idea for a masterpiece, nor form a sudden plan for some new enterprise. My thoughts are just pleasantly reflective. I think of all the good deeds I have done, and (when these give out) of all the good deeds I am going to do. I look out of the window and say lazily to myself, “How jolly to live there”; and a little farther on, “How jolly not to live there.” I see a cow, and I wonder what it is like to be a cow, and I wonder whether the cow wonders what it is to be like me; and perhaps, by this time, we have passed on to a sheep, and I wonder if it is more fun being a sheep.
There were a few duds, as there are in any collection of this type of writing. But there was only one essay that really annoyed me and might continue to annoy me forever. It was titled A Lost Masterpiece. Milne starts off telling us how he had huge and impressive plans for this particular essay, but got sidetracked by the puzzle a friend sent him and all his deep thoughts went flying out the window. The puzzle was to make a common word by rearranging these letters: TERALBAY.
Now, when I got to that point, and how Queen Victoria had stayed up all one night trying to solve it but couldn't, and had to ask Lord Melbourne for the answer the next day, I thought I would try to work it out before I got to the end of the essay and saw the answer. Not only could I not work it out (yet....there is always hope) Milne could not either, or at least so he claimed. I think he was just teasing, he surely figured it out eventually and said 'Oh, of course!' just like the Queen supposedly did. I wonder if I will ever be able to say that?
These essays were a fun glimpse into another aspect of Milne's talent. Now I have read the Pooh books, The Red House Mystery, and some essays. I still have some plays Milne wrote waiting for me....as soon as I make a common word out of TERALBAY.
Want a few paragraphs comparing bees to modern man? Read The Case For The Artist. Maybe you need an idea or two for your garden wall? Try A London Garden. If you want to know the history of the game of chess....well, you won't find the official one in The Game Of Kings, but I think Milne came up with a very creative version for himself and it is worth reading. I liked it better than the real history of the game, I must admit.
One of my favorites was The Ordnance Map, where we are invited to take out our map and go for a walk. This is something I love to do with maps: very much armchair travel, but exciting for someone who is a better traveler in spirit than in the flesh.
Another favorite was A Train Of Thought, which was triggered by Milne trying to decide where to spend a vacation and how to get there. I liked it because I get into the same frame of mind when I am on the bus heading north for my once-every-six-months visits to my Mom. Only he explains it better than I could:
Nowhere can I think so happily as in a train. I am not inspired; nothing so uncomfortable as that. I am never seized with a sudden idea for a masterpiece, nor form a sudden plan for some new enterprise. My thoughts are just pleasantly reflective. I think of all the good deeds I have done, and (when these give out) of all the good deeds I am going to do. I look out of the window and say lazily to myself, “How jolly to live there”; and a little farther on, “How jolly not to live there.” I see a cow, and I wonder what it is like to be a cow, and I wonder whether the cow wonders what it is to be like me; and perhaps, by this time, we have passed on to a sheep, and I wonder if it is more fun being a sheep.
There were a few duds, as there are in any collection of this type of writing. But there was only one essay that really annoyed me and might continue to annoy me forever. It was titled A Lost Masterpiece. Milne starts off telling us how he had huge and impressive plans for this particular essay, but got sidetracked by the puzzle a friend sent him and all his deep thoughts went flying out the window. The puzzle was to make a common word by rearranging these letters: TERALBAY.
Now, when I got to that point, and how Queen Victoria had stayed up all one night trying to solve it but couldn't, and had to ask Lord Melbourne for the answer the next day, I thought I would try to work it out before I got to the end of the essay and saw the answer. Not only could I not work it out (yet....there is always hope) Milne could not either, or at least so he claimed. I think he was just teasing, he surely figured it out eventually and said 'Oh, of course!' just like the Queen supposedly did. I wonder if I will ever be able to say that?
These essays were a fun glimpse into another aspect of Milne's talent. Now I have read the Pooh books, The Red House Mystery, and some essays. I still have some plays Milne wrote waiting for me....as soon as I make a common word out of TERALBAY.
May 26, 2021
Here, the creator of Winnie the Pooh writes short essays on things that, well, can be a bother.
His takes on such things as not understanding the stock market, having mail misdelivered to former occupants and the first fire of the autumn reminds me of Seinfield--all observations true, things everyone thinks about but no one ever corrects. This was written in 1920 and every single one applies today. He even suggests a new business to help new homeowners find someone to inspect the water heater, paint the doors and fix the lights...and 90 years later Angie's List was invented.
Another free read for Kindle from Amazon.
His takes on such things as not understanding the stock market, having mail misdelivered to former occupants and the first fire of the autumn reminds me of Seinfield--all observations true, things everyone thinks about but no one ever corrects. This was written in 1920 and every single one applies today. He even suggests a new business to help new homeowners find someone to inspect the water heater, paint the doors and fix the lights...and 90 years later Angie's List was invented.
Another free read for Kindle from Amazon.
Read
January 18, 2026Don't read Milne for revelations about the human condition. Read Milne to laugh a little at your neighbors, friends, even yourself. Walk alongside him as he tries to kill some time in the local mall to not be rudely early to a lunch which (of course!) you must get to at the exact meeting time, not a minute before or after (social rules demands it). Sit beside him as he takes down his well-thumbed atlas and points to places he'd like to visit, telling imaginary stories of this city or that country, maybe he'd prefer staying in his beloved London after all. Rant with him over how people send too many Christmas cards or none at all when it fact you're meant to send Christmas cards only to those longtime friends you never meet because you have nothing in common anymore but your nostalgic memories of yesteryear - dust out the address book once a year to say "I'm still alive" and then move on with your lives until next Christmas. You'll close the book and move on with your life until the next time you feel in need of good-humoured company, Milne will be ready with a comfortable seat and a story to tell.
June 12, 2021
Much the in the same vein as the book of essays I read by Wind in the Willows author Kenneth Grahame, this is a book of short essays by A.A.Milne, the author of Winnie the Pooh. While Grahame's essays were longer & filled with incomprehensible Latin & French as well as sometimes strange subjects & stilted language, Milne's, on the other hand, are delightfully droll, full of humor that at times made me laugh out loud & subjects to which I could relate. It's quite different reading a children's author writing as an adult, but Milne's essays still retained that lovely logic & fun present in his children's books. I enjoyed these very much & they definitely gave me an insight into his personality & opinions & a greater appreciation of his writing. Very good read.
August 23, 2019
Very enjoyable in small doses, but maybe just a little too privileged to be comfortable.
April 3, 2019
If I May é uma colecção de ensaios de A. A. Milne (o famoso autor do Winnie the Pooh). É assim uma espécie de Os Meus Problemas de Miguel Esteves Cardoso, mas se ele fosse um cavalheiro do séc.XX. Tive o privilégio de os ler (em formato ebook) graças ao maravilhoso trabalho da equipa do Projecto Gutenberg, que disponibiliza online obras de revelo como esta.Tratam-se de pequenos textos humorísticos sobre os mais variados assuntos, sublinhando bem a ideia que um bom escritor é capaz de tornar interessantes as situações mais banais.Desde jardins urbanos a jogos de xadrez, de prendas de natal a viagens de comboio, de puzzles com palavras a jantares de cortesia, A. A. Milne é capaz de escrever sobre qualquer coisa! Tudo isto naquele tom educado característico do gentleman londrino (até o título, If I May, não é mais que cortês). Este aspecto do cavalheirismo está presente num dos textos, Wedding Bells, de forma pungente, fazendo uma relação entre o top hat e a guerra. Surpreendente e comovente...
Destaco ainda o ensaio The Case for the Artist, que coloca questões pertinentes sobre aquilo que consideramos ser leitura e entretenimento infantil.
Podem ler a opinião completa no blog: https://florestadoslivros.wordpress.c...
Destaco ainda o ensaio The Case for the Artist, que coloca questões pertinentes sobre aquilo que consideramos ser leitura e entretenimento infantil.
Podem ler a opinião completa no blog: https://florestadoslivros.wordpress.c...
May 27, 2018
This collection of humorous short essays has its bright sparks, such as 'The Case for the Artist,' 'The Largest Circulation' and 'The Honour of your Country.' This Milne fellow had a sense of humour for sure, but some of the pieces here were a bit under developed, difficult to trudge through and did not add any value to this collection.
March 28, 2023
Short mostly funny essays by Milne reprinted from various publications he wrote for -- the sort of light 'occasional piece' that was common in magazines in the early 20th century. All together they're a bit much of a muchness, but so long as I space them out some, they are nice comfortable reading for early fall.
April 3, 2022
Recommended. Highlights for me included the last piece, Secret Papers, and The Record Lie, State Lotteries, and for Wordlers this year of our Lord 2022, A Lost Masterpiece.
May 19, 2022
Ļoti absolūti briesmīgi smieklīga!
April 20, 2026
A very witty and entertaining selection of short essays.
June 5, 2017
A little and rather witty essay collection. Its contents are varied, and range from purchasing furniture to reading Marryat, and from moving house to putting up Christmas decorations. Timely, entertaining, and well written. Ultimately, it demonstrates just how diverse an author Milne was.
January 2, 2010
Although he's best known today as the author of the Winnie-the-Pooh books, the bulk of A(lan) A(lexander) Milne's work was actually for adults. Apart from the two Pooh books and two books of children's poetry, he wrote over twenty five plays, as well as several novels and essays. This collection, which was originally published in 1921, collects a few of the essays. While most of the topics are necessarily tied to the mundane real world (there are a few bits on the topic of gardening, for instance), they're carried off with a light touch that a even a modern reader should find pleasant enough.
May 10, 2015
The more I read of Milne's works the more I love him. He has such wit, never takes himself too seriously, yet has a knack for a well-turned phrase and can be serious when necessary. I really find it a shame that most people don't know him for anything other than being the creator of Winnie-the-Pooh (and even then have often not read the original Pooh stories, which are filled with delightful quirks and quips themselves).
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews