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Двама души
Затрогващ, остроумен и проникновен разказ за семейния живот, изпълнен с много хумор и неочаквани комични ситуации в стила на Удхаус, Джером Джером и Ивлин Уо. Може ли връзката между съпрузи с различни характери и интереси да се запази? Милн разкрива как една двойка, намирайки опора в миналото, когато са се влюбили, успява да запази стабилни взаимоотношения. Книгата е ценна и заради включения биографичен елемент – написана е в момент на напрежение в брака на самия Милн. Синът на на автора на Мечо Пух, превърнал се в любимец на децата по цял свят, споделя за него: „Сърцето на татко остана затворено през целия му живот, но в този роман той разкрива част от съкровената си същност.“
Романът е посветен на съпругата на Милн - Дафни, чийто образ е прототип на главната героиня Силвия. Тя не притежава нито волно въображение, нито блестящ интелект, но е очарователна и е завладяла сърцето на любимия си.
Романът е посветен на съпругата на Милн - Дафни, чийто образ е прототип на главната героиня Силвия. Тя не притежава нито волно въображение, нито блестящ интелект, но е очарователна и е завладяла сърцето на любимия си.
328 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1931
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517 people want to read
About the author
A.A. Milne
1,836 books3,674 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
August 23, 2022
3,5⭐ Этот роман слегка напоминал "Кукольный дом" Ибсена, особенно в том, что касается высокомерно-самовлюбленного отношения мужа, всезнающего, многомудрого, недосягаемого в глубине своего ума к своей глупышке-жене, с которой, как он раздражённо думает, "невозможно разговаривать". Но выясняется, так же как и "Кукольном доме", что Сильвия вовсе не глупа, что Реджинальд даже может гордиться тем, как она отвечает а гостях, и удивляется разумности ее ответов в разговорах тет-а-тет. Подобные отношения были также в паре Герман-Лидия у Набокова в недавно прочитанном "Отчаянии". Возможно, для целой плеяды писателей начала двадцатого века было откровением, что женщины, чье освобождение от приниженного положения в обществе и семье проходило гигантскую трансформацию в борьбе за достижение равных прав с мужчинами, оказались такими же умными и достойными во всех отношениях, как и мужчины.
Сильвия, не так радикально, как Нора, борется за свои права в семье, но тоже в обиду себя не даёт, и не ждёт смиренно возвращения мужа.
Эта книга о взаимоотношениях мужчины и женщины. Построить дом, вырастить дерево, написать книгу можно и одному, но чтобы родить ребенка во времена Милна нужны были двое. Сейчас времена изменились, и женщины все чаще рожают одни.
Сильвия, не так радикально, как Нора, борется за свои права в семье, но тоже в обиду себя не даёт, и не ждёт смиренно возвращения мужа.
Эта книга о взаимоотношениях мужчины и женщины. Построить дом, вырастить дерево, написать книгу можно и одному, но чтобы родить ребенка во времена Милна нужны были двое. Сейчас времена изменились, и женщины все чаще рожают одни.
July 9, 2017
I loved this so much - definitely one the best I've read this year. Being the anglophile that I am, I devoured every word and gushed over every witty turn of phrase. Reading this felt a lot like reading Winnie the Pooh in terms of his style and delivery (so, basically perfect). Slow and methodical, but so, so engaging. There is a scene where Reginald goes to Bingley Mason's to buy Sylvia some lingerie that had me rolling on the ground laughing so hard. This is essentially Milne's commentary on marriage, but more importantly about how outside influences can impact marriage and relationships in positive and (sadly) negative ways. I think he's also saying something important about what was wrong with the British upper-middle class at that time and how that class structure (in addition to gender stereotypes) was actually very harmful. His complete mockery of Reginald was of course hilarious, but it was also an almost terrifyingly accurate portrayal of human nature. I'm really impressed with his ability to tap into the most basic human feelings and really make the reader identify with all of the characters, even when they are making bad choices or acting on selfish motives.
February 15, 2017
The tag line for Capuchin Classics is "Books to Keep Alive." Their purpose, according to their website, is "reviving great works of fiction which have been unjustly forgotten or neglected. This founding ethos - restoring a richness to the canon in an era of relative blandness - is coupled by a sprinkling of well known favourites to form a series which holds wide appeal."
I've enjoyed reading books from Persephone Books and several other older, out of print or out of popularity books this past year so was interested in trying a few books from Capuchin. I spent some time looking through their catalog of titles and settled on Two People by AA Milne as my first to try. I thought the book sounded interesting and being the uneducated American that I am I had not realized that Milne had written books for adults. I've long loved the Winnie the Pooh series and knew he was a playwright but had never come across any of the novels that he had written.
However, I have been putting off writing about this book because my feelings are so split about it. On many levels I really enjoyed the book but on some levels I really didn't enjoy it all that much.
The book is clever and witty and there was a lot of humor and laughs. Reginald Wellard has written a book and his foray in the publishing and literary world produces some very funny situations as does his encounters with his neighbors and his trips to London to see if anyone is buying or talking about his book. Much of the novel had a very appealing feel and tone and just seemed very British to me. (Makes sense that it would considering Milne was British.)
However, the book is purported to be a study of marriage and in particular how two people with little in common can make a relationship work. I feel calling this novel an accurate portrayal of marriage to be a statement painted with a pretty broad stroke. There was much about Reginald Wellard and his attitude towards his wife that I found difficult to stomach. I felt the little feminist voice inside me wanting to rise up and give the man a talking to a number of times. (And that voice is really very small because I am not really much of a feminist.) It seemed to me that all Reginald cared about was how beautiful his wife was but than got frustrated when she was not intellectually stimulating enough for him. I think he gave Sylvia the short end of the stick. I don't think she was as dim witted as he perceived and if he would have taken the time to actually talk to her instead of muse so much about how beautiful she was than he might have noticed.
There was one incident in particular when they were at a dinner party where the host related a tale of lost love that I think illustrates my point. Reginald, through the reactions and body language of another guest at the party realized immediately that she was the lost love his host spoke of. Guess who was the only other person in attendance at that party who was able to come to the same conclusion? Reginald's wife Sylvia. I believe there was more behind her beauty than Reginald was willing to see and I believe many of their friends and acquaintances saw more to her as well but for some reason Reginald remained unseeing.
But then on the other hand Sylvia never really did much to encourage her husband to see beyond the surface.
So yes, there were many aspects of the novel that bothered me and I did find Reginald to be rather pompous at times but there was still plenty to enjoy. The book was a humorous look at how the simple lives the Wellards were living in the country was upset by Reginald's success as an author. As any one who knows me or my reading tastes knows, I like wit, charm and humor and this book had plenty of all three.
If for no other reason it was worth reading just to get a different look at Milne and his writing.
I've enjoyed reading books from Persephone Books and several other older, out of print or out of popularity books this past year so was interested in trying a few books from Capuchin. I spent some time looking through their catalog of titles and settled on Two People by AA Milne as my first to try. I thought the book sounded interesting and being the uneducated American that I am I had not realized that Milne had written books for adults. I've long loved the Winnie the Pooh series and knew he was a playwright but had never come across any of the novels that he had written.
However, I have been putting off writing about this book because my feelings are so split about it. On many levels I really enjoyed the book but on some levels I really didn't enjoy it all that much.
The book is clever and witty and there was a lot of humor and laughs. Reginald Wellard has written a book and his foray in the publishing and literary world produces some very funny situations as does his encounters with his neighbors and his trips to London to see if anyone is buying or talking about his book. Much of the novel had a very appealing feel and tone and just seemed very British to me. (Makes sense that it would considering Milne was British.)
However, the book is purported to be a study of marriage and in particular how two people with little in common can make a relationship work. I feel calling this novel an accurate portrayal of marriage to be a statement painted with a pretty broad stroke. There was much about Reginald Wellard and his attitude towards his wife that I found difficult to stomach. I felt the little feminist voice inside me wanting to rise up and give the man a talking to a number of times. (And that voice is really very small because I am not really much of a feminist.) It seemed to me that all Reginald cared about was how beautiful his wife was but than got frustrated when she was not intellectually stimulating enough for him. I think he gave Sylvia the short end of the stick. I don't think she was as dim witted as he perceived and if he would have taken the time to actually talk to her instead of muse so much about how beautiful she was than he might have noticed.
There was one incident in particular when they were at a dinner party where the host related a tale of lost love that I think illustrates my point. Reginald, through the reactions and body language of another guest at the party realized immediately that she was the lost love his host spoke of. Guess who was the only other person in attendance at that party who was able to come to the same conclusion? Reginald's wife Sylvia. I believe there was more behind her beauty than Reginald was willing to see and I believe many of their friends and acquaintances saw more to her as well but for some reason Reginald remained unseeing.
But then on the other hand Sylvia never really did much to encourage her husband to see beyond the surface.
So yes, there were many aspects of the novel that bothered me and I did find Reginald to be rather pompous at times but there was still plenty to enjoy. The book was a humorous look at how the simple lives the Wellards were living in the country was upset by Reginald's success as an author. As any one who knows me or my reading tastes knows, I like wit, charm and humor and this book had plenty of all three.
If for no other reason it was worth reading just to get a different look at Milne and his writing.
September 30, 2016
Това е удивително добронамерена, романтична и честно написана история за любовта в брака. Провинциалният английски джентълмен Реджиналд, нежно и неоснователно снизходително обичащ съпругата си, написва книга. Във връзка с нейното издаване и разпространение семейството прекарва известно време в съответните "културни" среди в Лондон. Там писателят открива, че младата му, обожавана от него съпруга, жъне успехи в светското общество и в крайна сметка се оттърсва от талазите суета, заляли го по повод бляскавия му успех като писател, избирайки най-ценното - семейното щастие. Обичта, естествено, побеждава, защото е дълбока и истинска.
Описанията на природата, живописните образи на Грандама, Мармалейд и Джон Уесли - трите забележителни котки, ми доставиха истинско наслаждение.
Романът е едновременно лек за четене поради блестящия стил на автора, но и богат на дълбоки философски размисли за брака, любовта, работата, изкуството. Бих определила писането на Милн като неклиширано афористично.
Описанията на природата, живописните образи на Грандама, Мармалейд и Джон Уесли - трите забележителни котки, ми доставиха истинско наслаждение.
Романът е едновременно лек за четене поради блестящия стил на автора, но и богат на дълбоки философски размисли за брака, любовта, работата, изкуството. Бих определила писането на Милн като неклиширано афористично.
June 7, 2009
If you thought A.A. Milne was just the author of the Winnie-the-Pooh books, then you're sadly mistaken. He was also an acclaimed humorist, essayist, playwright, and finally novelist. The latter is showcased in his newly reprinted classic "Two People", an exploration of marriage between a couple (based on the Milnes) which adore each other but do not always connect intellectually or communicate effectively.
Reginald Wellard has just - to his surprise - written a novel ("Bindweed") and - to his greater surprise - it is becoming very popular. His lovely and young wife Sylvia is supportive ("Of COURSE you wrote a novel, darling. Fancy!") but is not able to engage him intellectually. This leads to his questioning of what marriage is and how well his own functions. This sounds heavy-handed, and though the novels deals with serious doubts, it is remains light ("mercurial" - Boston Transcript, 1931), effervescent, funny, and always charming.
Thus my introduction to Milne-mania.
Reginald Wellard has just - to his surprise - written a novel ("Bindweed") and - to his greater surprise - it is becoming very popular. His lovely and young wife Sylvia is supportive ("Of COURSE you wrote a novel, darling. Fancy!") but is not able to engage him intellectually. This leads to his questioning of what marriage is and how well his own functions. This sounds heavy-handed, and though the novels deals with serious doubts, it is remains light ("mercurial" - Boston Transcript, 1931), effervescent, funny, and always charming.
Thus my introduction to Milne-mania.
October 6, 2016
милн пише, като обяснение в любов към своята съпруга, "двама души" или поне така се твърди. това е едно по английски леко комично, непохватно и същевременно толкова типично, като по учебник, британско любовно признание.
перипетиите през които минава неспокойният ум на реджиналд, щастлив съпруг на красива и очарователна млада жена и собственик на прелестно имение в провинцията, покрай написаната от него книга, са показателни за мирогледа на средната класа между двете войни и клишетата в които удобно е настанен. леко дразнещото снизхождение към интелектуалните способности на хубавата силвия, авторът компенсира с изваждането от унеса на вторачилият се в собственото си его съпруг, когато на страница 268 внезапно открива, че жена му си има свой собствен живот неподчинени единствено на неговото удобство. иронията, поглеждането винаги на всяко нещо от живота и от възможната друга гледна точка, свойство което повечето хора възприемат, като безхарактерност в "двама души" създава онази елегантна атмосфера на ненатрапчива деликатност.
в романът ще откриете и култовата реплика, "колкото повече, толкова повече" ,този път произнесена мислено от прехласнат от великолепното многообразие на дантели, коприна и цветове в луксозният магазин за дамско бельо "бингли мейсън"- съпруг , нещо което ме накара да изпитам завист към благословените с такива мъже, жени.
за да може удоволствието от прочита ми на тази книга да е пълно в нея се подвизават и три котки, всяка от които- ярка индивидуалност с ясни и непомрачени от излишни терзания схващания за живота.
книгата е стилна, направи часовете ми прекарани с нея забавни, приятни и замислящи.
перипетиите през които минава неспокойният ум на реджиналд, щастлив съпруг на красива и очарователна млада жена и собственик на прелестно имение в провинцията, покрай написаната от него книга, са показателни за мирогледа на средната класа между двете войни и клишетата в които удобно е настанен. леко дразнещото снизхождение към интелектуалните способности на хубавата силвия, авторът компенсира с изваждането от унеса на вторачилият се в собственото си его съпруг, когато на страница 268 внезапно открива, че жена му си има свой собствен живот неподчинени единствено на неговото удобство. иронията, поглеждането винаги на всяко нещо от живота и от възможната друга гледна точка, свойство което повечето хора възприемат, като безхарактерност в "двама души" създава онази елегантна атмосфера на ненатрапчива деликатност.
в романът ще откриете и култовата реплика, "колкото повече, толкова повече" ,този път произнесена мислено от прехласнат от великолепното многообразие на дантели, коприна и цветове в луксозният магазин за дамско бельо "бингли мейсън"- съпруг , нещо което ме накара да изпитам завист към благословените с такива мъже, жени.
за да може удоволствието от прочита ми на тази книга да е пълно в нея се подвизават и три котки, всяка от които- ярка индивидуалност с ясни и непомрачени от излишни терзания схващания за живота.
книгата е стилна, направи часовете ми прекарани с нея забавни, приятни и замислящи.
December 20, 2010
Unjustly underestimated, a little gem of psychology. To rediscover at once!!!Strikingly delicate, apparently superficial, and yet so much is going on between Sylvia and Reginald. Surprisingly enough, Reginald's literary success does not go hand in hand with happiness but rather puts the protagonists in awkward situations, leading them to think their happiness over. worth reading it with your partner...
October 7, 2022
Read the first few chapters and had to stop. I found it just too boring to continue!
January 31, 2017
Доста приятен стил на писане, забавен и остроумен английски дух лъха от страниците на книгата. Любов, размисли, страсти, съмнения - от всичко расте в градинката на Уестауейс. Хареса ми героинята Силвия, неземно красива, някак създаваща впечатление за не особено мъдра и интелигентна персона, но в същия момент с точни и непоколебими съждения, мисли, очароваща всички около себе си. О, разбира се, историята за любовта от миналото, възродила се като феникс в настоящето, ми е любима. Хубава книга, без съмнение.
April 7, 2025
Mówią, że od przybytku głowa nie boli — ale Alan Alexander Milne zdaje się mieć inne zdanie.
W swojej książce „Dwoje ludzi” z ciepłem i humorem opowiada historię początkującego pisarza, którego literacki debiut okazuje się spektakularnym sukcesem. To wydarzenie wywraca jego spokojne, uporządkowane życie do góry nogami — w tym także relację z ukochaną żoną.
„Dwoje ludzi” to niewielka objętościowo książka, która przynosi czytelnikowi wielką frajdę!
They say you can never have too much of a good thing — but Alan Alexander Milne might disagree.
In his novel Two People, he tells — with warmth and humor — the story of a budding writer whose debut book becomes a spectacular success. This sudden fame turns his quiet, orderly life upside down — including his relationship with his beloved wife.
Two People is a small book in terms of length, but one that brings great joy to the reader!
W swojej książce „Dwoje ludzi” z ciepłem i humorem opowiada historię początkującego pisarza, którego literacki debiut okazuje się spektakularnym sukcesem. To wydarzenie wywraca jego spokojne, uporządkowane życie do góry nogami — w tym także relację z ukochaną żoną.
„Dwoje ludzi” to niewielka objętościowo książka, która przynosi czytelnikowi wielką frajdę!
They say you can never have too much of a good thing — but Alan Alexander Milne might disagree.
In his novel Two People, he tells — with warmth and humor — the story of a budding writer whose debut book becomes a spectacular success. This sudden fame turns his quiet, orderly life upside down — including his relationship with his beloved wife.
Two People is a small book in terms of length, but one that brings great joy to the reader!
June 14, 2018
На, тримайте, доросла повість від автора "Вінні Пуха" до вашої стрічки.
Книга про творчість та сліпу до отупіння закоханість, що поміж описами близькоаристократичної британської буденності розбавляється пасажами на кшталт "а чому це качур до зими не різниться забарвленням пір’я від качки?". Доволі вартісна річ із забавними недомелодраматичними сценами та суміжно Вудгаузівсько/Ка-Ве-еНівським гумором.
Описи видавничої справи типу "стільки центів з кожного примірника, а ти - шукай сучасного Діккенса для літоглядів у селянській газеті" тішать.
Саме те для літнього прочитання. Читав у перший післядень роботи на Книжковому Арсеналі, і відпочив, не відрубаючи мозок. Добра річ.
Книга про творчість та сліпу до отупіння закоханість, що поміж описами близькоаристократичної британської буденності розбавляється пасажами на кшталт "а чому це качур до зими не різниться забарвленням пір’я від качки?". Доволі вартісна річ із забавними недомелодраматичними сценами та суміжно Вудгаузівсько/Ка-Ве-еНівським гумором.
Описи видавничої справи типу "стільки центів з кожного примірника, а ти - шукай сучасного Діккенса для літоглядів у селянській газеті" тішать.
Саме те для літнього прочитання. Читав у перший післядень роботи на Книжковому Арсеналі, і відпочив, не відрубаючи мозок. Добра річ.
October 31, 2015
It was the best book of the year for me, really!
It is calm in mood, there's not much action in it, but lots pf thoughts and feelings. The lenguage is fantastic! Every phrase is delicious.
It's not a book to read in a hurry or to escape from stress or problems, in my opinion. Good for a vacation or a spare week-end.
It is calm in mood, there's not much action in it, but lots pf thoughts and feelings. The lenguage is fantastic! Every phrase is delicious.
It's not a book to read in a hurry or to escape from stress or problems, in my opinion. Good for a vacation or a spare week-end.
March 31, 2018
Це так прекрасно - прочитати саме те, що було потрібно у цей момент. Книжка від автора Вінні Пуха про сімейні стосунки, зраду і кохання - напрочуд світла і оптимістична. І навіть бджоли тут також присутні.
October 3, 2017
Absolutnie czarująca powieść
April 15, 2019
Такой воздушный роман, много иронии, явно проглядываются автобиографичность, но это даже делает все интересней.
June 18, 2022
"Двое" Александра Милна - это английская книга на все 100%, или скорее на 102-103%. Полностью и еще чуть-чуть. Это великолепный юмор, смешанный с долей занудства, это глубокая проработка персонажей, немного приправленная информацией о садоводстве, устройстве клубов для джентельменов и отголосками викторианского морализаторства. Это как соленые огурцы с медом. Надо просто быть извращенцем фанатом, чтобы получать от этого удовольствие.
Сюжет романа выходит из ниоткуда и уходит в никуда. Главный герой возится в своем садике и вдруг ему в голову приходит идея написать роман. Как назвать? "Вьюнок", конечно же! Далее автор описывает рабочие будни типичного английского писателя. Потом всякая разная возня с романом затухает, роман заканчивается. Но если бы все было так просто, то "Двое" было бы образцово-показательным графоманством. Спасают книгу детали, невероятно "занимательные" персонажи и любовная линия. Книга-то все-таки "Двое" называется! Это одно из самых лучших и мудрых произведений о семейной жизни из всех, когда-либо мною прочитанных. Страсти-мордасти отсутствуют напрочь - ну что вы, это не по-английски! Англичане могут только изящно и иронично о серьезном и даже иногда трагичном. Сколько же правды в этом произведении, сколько грусти и в то же время сколько веры в любовь... Эта любовь не рвет у себя рубашку на груди, не пытается достать звездочку с неба - она просыпается утром и готовит завтрак, ходит в гости, читает газеты. У Милна любовь показана такой, какой она составляет большую часть семейной жизни.
Если писатель пишет о семейной жизни в серьезном тоне, у него существует лишь одна возможность: брак должен оказаться трагической ошибкой, отвратительной и мерзкой; тело, разум и дух – чем-то в высшей степени вульгарным. Если же писатель семейную жизнь изображает юмористически, у него только один путь: брак должен оказаться ошибкой комической; но тоже отвратительной, мерзкой и вульгарной. Трагедия, комедия? Человек теряет веру, честь, любимую женщину или, скажем, теряет шляпу; он тут же становится темою комедии или трагедии, но только в том случае, если принято считать, что вера, честь и любимые существуют на свете и что не каждый день человек теряет шляпу.
Кто-то говорит, что во "взрослых" романах Милн совсем не похож на автора великолепнейшего Винни-Пуха. А мне кажется, что не смотря на абсолютно другую Вселенную романа, они во многом похожи. Просто о сложном, с улыбкой о важном. Так по-английски...
Если присмотреться, то в книге можно заметить очень английского Вудхауса:
Десять минут девятого. Мы приближаемся к тому моменту, который Этель считает восемью часами.
И еще немножечко английского Уайльда:
Женщины, подумал Реджинальд, не скрывают ничего, кроме собственного тела, которое они охраняют от хищника самца. Во всем остальном мужчины проявляют куда больше застенчивости, скромности, впечатлительности. Или мы попросту более лицемерны?
Ну да, я же говорила, что чуть больше, чем 100%.
8 / 10
December 21, 2025
This is a difficult one to review. I came to it out of curiosity to learn more about the author who gave the world, yet came to resent, Winnie-the-Pooh.
Having already read The Red House Mystery, (a creditable whodunnit in the style of Agatha Christie), I was keen to read this reputedly witty (1931) adult novel, following a recommendation from Gyles Brandreth, (at the Stratford Literary Festival)!
Obviously, Two People, is very much of its time.
However, when viewed alongside his contemporaries, Milne’s tone is softer in its social commentary than Evelyn Waugh’s and the wit is more sophisticated than shown in works by PG Wodehouse.
And that was where the fun in this lay, and it was why I enjoyed this (reputedly semi-autobiographical) exploration into Reginald and Sylvia’s marriage.
Yes, it may be overtly chauvinistic and outrageously sexist by today’s standards - Feminists, consider yourselves warned! - BUT it does actually poke fun at, and in so doing, subtly challenge the behaviours and attitudes of the day.
Having now read two examples of Milne’s work, outside of the Hundred Acre Wood, it is easy to sympathise with the frustration he is know to have felt at the global fame that came from his comparatively tiny sidestep into Children’s fiction (about 70,000 words in total).
To this day, his extensive body of work in other genres continues to be monumentally overshadowed by the success of the "Pooh" series.
So, although, the bear of very little brain still holds a special place in my heart, I now also appreciate that there was far more to A A Milne.
Having already read The Red House Mystery, (a creditable whodunnit in the style of Agatha Christie), I was keen to read this reputedly witty (1931) adult novel, following a recommendation from Gyles Brandreth, (at the Stratford Literary Festival)!
Obviously, Two People, is very much of its time.
However, when viewed alongside his contemporaries, Milne’s tone is softer in its social commentary than Evelyn Waugh’s and the wit is more sophisticated than shown in works by PG Wodehouse.
And that was where the fun in this lay, and it was why I enjoyed this (reputedly semi-autobiographical) exploration into Reginald and Sylvia’s marriage.
Yes, it may be overtly chauvinistic and outrageously sexist by today’s standards - Feminists, consider yourselves warned! - BUT it does actually poke fun at, and in so doing, subtly challenge the behaviours and attitudes of the day.
Having now read two examples of Milne’s work, outside of the Hundred Acre Wood, it is easy to sympathise with the frustration he is know to have felt at the global fame that came from his comparatively tiny sidestep into Children’s fiction (about 70,000 words in total).
To this day, his extensive body of work in other genres continues to be monumentally overshadowed by the success of the "Pooh" series.
So, although, the bear of very little brain still holds a special place in my heart, I now also appreciate that there was far more to A A Milne.
April 25, 2023
People liken this book to Evelyn Waugh, but I don't think that is merited. Waugh is much funnier and much more biting. A lot of the humour in this book is very whimsical with talking cats and anthropomorphised trains. This befits the author of Winnie the Pooh and is alright if you like that sort of thing, though I don't particularly. The one Waughesque component I spotted was Lord Ormsby, the newspaper proprietor, who has a definite Copperish hue, though the characterisation isn't developed.
This is also billed as the portrait of a marriage, though it isn't that really. It is too one-sided for that with the focus almost entirely on Reginald. Sylvia, his wife, is as much a mystery at the end of the book as she is at the start of it. The irony is that Reginald considers himself to be Sylvia's intellectual superior, but it is he who cannot cope with the new and more literate world that his brief success as a novelist brings him into. He ends up homesick for his old, simpler, country life with his weeds and his wife.
I'm glad I read it, but while I return to my favourite Waugh books over and over, I don't think Two People will be coming off the shelf again.
This is also billed as the portrait of a marriage, though it isn't that really. It is too one-sided for that with the focus almost entirely on Reginald. Sylvia, his wife, is as much a mystery at the end of the book as she is at the start of it. The irony is that Reginald considers himself to be Sylvia's intellectual superior, but it is he who cannot cope with the new and more literate world that his brief success as a novelist brings him into. He ends up homesick for his old, simpler, country life with his weeds and his wife.
I'm glad I read it, but while I return to my favourite Waugh books over and over, I don't think Two People will be coming off the shelf again.
June 8, 2017
I chanced upon this at the library, and took a chance . . . and I'm glad I did. The style is very much like the Pooh stories: rather droll, but definitely for adults. It's a character study of Reginald Willard, a man with money and no real purpose in life beyond maintaining the garden in his country estate, and congratulating himself on marrying the exquisitely beautiful Sylvia. He begins to realize that Sylvia is not his intellectual equal, and now that he has met some women who are, he begins to wonder. In his idle moments Reginald has written a novel just to see if he could, and it becomes a best seller. Then it is being produced as a play, so they move to London and are thrown into the sordid atmosphere of Society. Not much happening here, but not much happens to Winnie the Pooh, either, and look what that has led to.
December 16, 2017
Ще си призная, че Алън Милн ми е познат единствено като автор на Мечо Пух и до момента, когато не ми избраха тази книга не знаех, че е автор и на други произведения. Прочетох романа с истинска удоволствие. Милн е успял да разкаже по изключителен начин една много проста история, участници в която са иначе скучновати "типични" англичани от средната и горната класа в началото на века. Стилът му на писане е наистина впечатляващ.
"Двама души" е история за любов и... всъщност за любов във всичките ѝ форми. Прочете я, за да разберете какво трябва и не трябва да си казват двама души. когато става дума за любов.
Благодаря ти за прекрасния избор, Миме.
"Двама души" е история за любов и... всъщност за любов във всичките ѝ форми. Прочете я, за да разберете какво трябва и не трябва да си казват двама души. когато става дума за любов.
Благодаря ти за прекрасния избор, Миме.
March 16, 2019
I was told that A A Milne was prolific and wrote so much more than Pooh. This was a pleasant little examination of upper class marriage in the 1920s. But there isn't much substance to it. It was a bit like reading Evelyn Waugh without the wit and cutting edge.
March 25, 2019
A gentle, mildly diverting novel from Christopher Robins' Dad. Interesting on a sociological scale as a tongue in cheek commentary on social norms and conventions which hemmed in the middle classes.
I enjoyed it, but was less than gripped. Reread 6 Terry Pratchetts at the same time.
I enjoyed it, but was less than gripped. Reread 6 Terry Pratchetts at the same time.
August 13, 2021
It's a very chamber story, I'd expect it to not be quite popular. But it's written with wit and kindness at the same time. And it's quite surprising to read something so closely resembling my own relationship.
August 1, 2019
Happily ever after.
June 14, 2020
Лірычны, іранічны, лёгкі, але зусім не павярхоўны раман. Стоадсоткавае задавальненне ❤️ Гэта першая недзіцячая кніга Мілна, што я прачытала. І цяпер хочацца яшчэ.
November 14, 2023
DNF, I got 3/4 of the way through and was just skipping big chunks so decided to give up. Just not for me.
March 23, 2025
DNF. Got to page 70. Dull and could not get into it.
January 9, 2021
Чудесный мягкий юмор. Старомодная милая романтическая история.
December 9, 2012
I read this book as I was very curious to see what the author of Winnie the Pooh would be like writing an adult book. Turns out he's pretty good. It's similar in style to Evelyn Waugh, same sort of satirical look on the 1920's/30's society in England but Milne is less harsh than Waugh and likes his characters better I think. It's about this relatively wealthy bloke Reginald who's passions are his garden in the country and his wife. He writes a novel called "Bindweed", which we can sort of gather is a social novel with mataphors between plants and society, but, despite all the significant movement in the plot being a result of the rise in poularity of this book, we never get a definite summary of what it's about. The other main part of the plot is Reginald adoring his wife Sylvia, stated by all characters to be incredibly beautiful, but believing she's not his intellectual equal. So the novel becomes a study of marriage, what makes marriage work and whether mere physical attraction is enough. As it turns out Sylvia's not as daft as she appears, it seems she's just affected this air of daftness that was probably quite fashionable at the time. I enjoyed this book, it has lots of little philosophical things about society abnd life and Reginald's observations are often amusing.
May 19, 2020
Откровенно говоря, я из тех, кто совершенно не представлял А. А. Милна, знаменитого создателя историй о Винни Пухе и его друзьях, в каком-то ином жанре... а оказывается, он писал и пьесы, и романы. Впрочем, "Двое" меня не впечатлили и не тронули, к сожалению.
Книга, надо отметить, написана изящно, даже деликатно, описания чувств главного героя к своей молодой жене очень сентиментальны. Но вот некие обстоятельства, которые становятся своеобразным испытанием их браку, мне были непонятны. Для чего нелепое сокрытие своих эмоций, обман, переплетение лжи, на пустом совершенно месте... Никакой интриги, просто самостоятельно и по глупости придуманные себе проблемы. Возможно, надо было быть современником Милна, жить сто лет назад, чтобы понять его героев, сегодня их переживания мне не кажутся актуальными.
Книга, надо отметить, написана изящно, даже деликатно, описания чувств главного героя к своей молодой жене очень сентиментальны. Но вот некие обстоятельства, которые становятся своеобразным испытанием их браку, мне были непонятны. Для чего нелепое сокрытие своих эмоций, обман, переплетение лжи, на пустом совершенно месте... Никакой интриги, просто самостоятельно и по глупости придуманные себе проблемы. Возможно, надо было быть современником Милна, жить сто лет назад, чтобы понять его героев, сегодня их переживания мне не кажутся актуальными.
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