David Benedictus facts for kids

David Henry Benedictus (born September 16, 1938 – died October 2023) was an English writer and theatre director. He was famous for his novels. One of his most well-known books was Return to the Hundred Acre Wood (2009). This book continued the adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh. It was the first new Pooh story in 81 years!

Life and Career

Early Life and Education

David Benedictus was born on September 16, 1938, in London, England. He went to Eton College for his schooling. Later, he studied at Balliol College, Oxford and the University of Iowa.

Writing and Directing

David Benedictus wrote many books. His first novel, The Fourth of June, became a best-seller. He even turned it into a play for the London stage. His second novel, You're a Big Boy Now, was made into a movie in 1966. A famous director, Francis Ford Coppola, directed the film.

Benedictus also worked in theatre. He was an assistant to Trevor Nunn at the Royal Shakespeare Company. This company is very famous for its plays. He also worked in television for Channel 4. He helped choose dramas for the channel. On BBC Radio 4, he was in charge of the Book at Bedtime series. This series read stories aloud for listeners.

Continuing the Pooh Stories

Before writing his own Pooh book, David Benedictus created audio versions of the original Pooh stories. Famous actors like Judi Dench (as Kanga) and Geoffrey Palmer (as Eeyore) were part of these recordings.

He wanted to write a new Winnie-the-Pooh story. He sent two sample stories to the people who manage A. A. Milne's books. It took more than eight years for them to say yes to his project!

When his book Return to the Hundred Acre Wood was published, he was a bit nervous. He said:

What's the worst thing that can happen, that I'll be torn apart by wild journalists? Happened before and I survived. At worst everyone will hate me and I'll just crawl under a bush and hide – I can live with that. Some people do hate the whole idea of a sequel, but it's not as if I'm doing any damage to the original, that will still be there. My hope is that people will finish reading a cracking story and just want more of them, and that's where I come in.

Michael Brown, who was in charge of the Pooh Properties Trust, felt that Benedictus understood the world of Pooh very well. However, some reviewers had mixed feelings about the book. Publishers Weekly said it was "largely forgettable" and missed "the charm of the first book."

Later Life and Family

In 2005, David Benedictus published his autobiography called Dropping Names. An autobiography is a book about a person's own life. In 2009, he shared in an interview that his family name, Benedictus, came from the Hebrew name "Baruch." This name has the same meaning. His family had Ashkenazi Jewish heritage.

In March 2014, he moved to Hove, a town on the south coast of England. He wanted to be closer to his family. David Benedictus had four children. His son, Jolyon Maugham, is a barrister (a type of lawyer). Another son, Leo, is a journalist and novelist. His daughters are Chloe, a psychotherapist, and Jessica, who produces theatre shows.

David Benedictus passed away suddenly in October 2023. He was 85 years old.