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くまのプーさんはただのハチミツ好きなクマではない。知られざる歴史をもったクマなのだ。
くまのプーさんの英語名は「ウィニー・ザ・プー」。ロンドン動物園で飼育されていたクロクマ「ウィニー」から名前をもらった。ロンドン動物園のウィニーは、カナダの町のウィニペグにちなんで付けられた。つまりプーさんのモデルは、カナダ出身の女の子だったのだ。
プーさんにまつわるこの話は、出版されたばかりの絵本「Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear」で紹介されている。
「このメスグマをウィニペグと名付けよう」とハリーは言った。「そうすれば、いつも故郷を思い出せる。短くして『ウィニー』と呼ぶことにしよう」
作者のリンジー・マティックは、第一次大戦中にウィニーをカナダからイギリスに連れてきた陸軍獣医、ハリー・コールボーン中尉のひ孫だ。コールボーン中尉は、猟師に捕えられたクロクマを20ドルで購入し、共にイギリスへと旅した。その後ウィニーはコールボーン中尉の連隊の非公式マスコットとなったが、連隊がフランスに移動することになったため、中尉はウィニーをロンドン動物園に置いていかねばならなかった。
1914年8月24日、陸軍獣医だった曽祖父のハリー・コールボーンは、第一次大戦の戦場に向かう前にクマのウィニーを買いました。
ロンドン動物園で飼われるようになったウィニーの元を、何度も訪れる男の子がいた。彼の名前はクリストファー・ロビン。そう、「くまのプーさん」の作者A・A・ミルンの息子だ。あまりにもウィニーが気に入ったクリストファー・ロビンは、自分のおもちゃのクマにウィニーと名付けたのだ。
世界中で愛されるクマのプーさんには、こんな面白い歴史があったのだ。
この記事はハフポストUS版に掲載されたものを翻訳しました。
くまのプーさん 画像集
Daliah Lavi , , Sohn Rouven, Park-Besucher, Kinderparadies "Walt Disney World Resort(01 of22)
Daliah Lavi , , Sohn Rouven, Park-Besucher, Kinderparadies \'Walt Disney World Resort\' (\'Disneyworld\'), Orlando, Florida, United States of America (USA), Nord-Amerika, Freizeit-Park, Vergnügungspark, Disney-Figur \'Winnie the Pooh\', Bär, Tier, Honig-Glas, Kinder, Ex-Film-Schauspielerin, Ex-Schlager-Sängerin, Ex-Model, Promi, MW, PH, SC; 01.03.1975; Foto: P:Bischoff; (Photo by Peter Bischoff/Getty Images) (credit:Peter Bischoff via Getty Images)
US-URBAN ART-AUCTION-PREVIEW(02 of22)
\'Winnie the Pooh,\' (pre-auction estimate USD $50,000-80,000), a work on canvas by pioneering graffiti artist Banksy, at a media preview of Bonhams\' inaugural US auction of Urban Art, October 24, 2012 in Hollywood, California. The auction, which features historical works by pioneering graffiti artists as well as pieces by contemporary artists who have redefined the Urban Art genre, will take place on October 29. AFP PHOTO / Robyn Beck == RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE / MANDATORY CREDIT OF THE ARTIST / TO ILLUSTRATE THE EVENT AS SPECIFIED IN THE CAPTION == (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ROBYN BECK via Getty Images)
Original Winnie-the-Pooh Illustrations To Be Auctioned At Sotheby's(03 of22)
LONDON - DECEMBER 15: An original E.H. Shephard drawing entitled \'Floating Bear\' , one of a sequence of six, for a Winnie-the-Pooh book is displayed at a press preview at Sotheby\'s Auctioneers on December 15, 2008 in London. Sotheby\'s is holding an auction of original artworks and rare first edition books featuring the famous characters by A.A. Milne from the private collections of Stanley J. Seeger and Christopher Cone on December 17, 2008. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images) (credit:Peter Macdiarmid via Getty Images)
Original Winnie-the-Pooh Illustrations To Be Auctioned At Sotheby's(04 of22)
LONDON - DECEMBER 15: An original E.H. Shephard drawing entitled \'Floating Bear\' , one of a sequence of six, for a Winnie-the-Pooh book is displayed at a press preview at Sotheby\'s Auctioneers on December 15, 2008 in London. Sotheby\'s is holding an auction of original artworks and rare first edition books featuring the famous characters by A.A. Milne from the private collections of Stanley J. Seeger and Christopher Cone on December 17, 2008. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images) (credit:Peter Macdiarmid via Getty Images)
Original Winnie-the-Pooh Illustrations To Be Auctioned At Sotheby's(05 of22)
LONDON - DECEMBER 15: An original E.H. Shephard drawing for a Winnie-the-Pooh book is illustrated with stand up cardboard figures of Pooh characters from 1931, during a press preview at Sotheby\'s Auctioneers on December 15, 2008 in London, England. Sotheby\'s is holding an auction of original artworks and rare first edition books featuring the famous characters by A.A. Milne from the private collections of Stanley J. Seeger and Christopher Cone on December 17, 2008. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images) (credit:Peter Macdiarmid via Getty Images)
Original Winnie-the-Pooh Illustrations To Be Auctioned At Sotheby's(06 of22)
LONDON - DECEMBER 15: A rare American first edition of a Winnie-the-Pooh book is displayed at a press preview at Sotheby\'s Auctioneers on December 15, 2008 in London. Sotheby\'s is holding an auction of original artworks and rare first edition books featuring the famous characters by A.A. Milne from the private collections of Stanley J. Seeger and Christopher Cone on December 17, 2008. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images) (credit:Peter Macdiarmid via Getty Images)
Original Winnie-the-Pooh Illustrations To Be Auctioned At Sotheby's(07 of22)
LONDON - DECEMBER 15: A rare American first edition of a Winnie-the-Pooh book signed by the author A.A. Milne and illustrator E.H Shephard is displayed with Pooh characters form a 1930\'s game at a press preview at Sotheby\'s Auctioneers on December 15, 2008 in London. Sotheby\'s is holding an auction of original artworks and rare first edition books featuring the famous characters by A.A. Milne from the private collections of Stanley J. Seeger and Christopher Cone on December 17, 2008. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images) (credit:Peter Macdiarmid via Getty Images)
Ernest Shepard(08 of22)
26th March 1976: English artist Ernest Howard Shepard (1879 - 1976), who illustrated the Winnie the Pooh series of children\'s books under the name of E H Shepard. (Photo by Evening Standard/Getty Images) (credit:Evening Standard via Getty Images)
JUL 15 1978, JUL 19 1978, JUL 23 1978; Apprehensive Justin Meyers, 3 years, eyes talking Winnie the (09 of22)
JUL 15 1978, JUL 19 1978, JUL 23 1978; Apprehensive Justin Meyers, 3 years, eyes talking Winnie the Pooh.; (Photo By Dave Buresh/The Denver Post via Getty Images) (credit:Dave Buresh via Getty Images)
2013 ISU World Figure Skating Championships(10 of22)
LONDON, ON - MARCH 11: Brian Orser and Winnie the Pooh look on as their skater, Japan\'s Yuzuru Hanyu practices in preparation for the ISU World Figure Skating Championships at Budweiser Gardens. (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images) (credit:Steve Russell via Getty Images)
2013 ISU World Figure Skating Championships(11 of22)
LONDON, ON - MARCH 11: Brian Orser and Winnie the Pooh look on as their skater, Japan\'s Yuzuru Hanyu practices in preparation for the ISU World Figure Skating Championships at Budweiser Gardens. (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images) (credit:Steve Russell via Getty Images)
TOYS---04/21/02--Alan Greenspan listens as Charmaine Tailleur explains how to repair an old teddy be(12 of22)
TOYS---04/21/02--Alan Greenspan listens as Charmaine Tailleur explains how to repair an old teddy bear that had button joints to connect the arms and legs at the Toy and Doll show at the International Centre in Toronto, April 21, 2002. The bear next to the large one may be one of the first Winnie the Pooh teddy bears. (Photo by Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images) (credit:Steve Russell via Getty Images)
"Return To The Hundred Acre Wood" Penguin Young Readers Group Reading(13 of22)
NEW YORK - OCTOBER 05: Close up of toys that inspired Winnie the Pooh books at \'Return To The Hundred Acre Wood\' reading and Penguin Young Readers Group mural presentation at the New York Public Library - Stephen A Schwartzman Building on October 5, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images) (credit:Mike Coppola via Getty Images)
The Prince Of Wales And The Duchess Of Cornwall Visit Canada - Day 4(14 of22)
WINNIPEG, MANITOBA - MAY 21: Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall visit the Pavillion where he viewed Winnie the Pooh displays before being presented with Action Bear on May 21, 2014 in WINNIPEG, Canada. (Photo by Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images) (credit:Mark Cuthbert via Getty Images)
Los Angeles Premiere of "Winnie The Pooh" - Honey Colored Carpet(15 of22)
BURBANK, CA - JULY 10: Voice actor Craig Ferguson arrives at the premiere of Walt Disney Pictures\' \'Winnie The Pooh\' at the Walt Disney Studios on July 10, 2011 in Burbank, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (credit:Kevin Winter via Getty Images)
WINNIE THE POOH;TIGGER;GOOFY;DONALD DUCK(16 of22)
FAMILY MATTERS - \'We\'re Going to Disney World\' - Airdate: April 28, 1995. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images)\nWINNIE THE POOH;TIGGER;GOOFY;DONALD DUCK (credit:ABC Photo Archives via Getty Images)
Ocean City feature(17 of22)
OCEAN CITY, MD- JULY 01:\nWinnie the Pooh makes an appearance on the boardwalk for tips in Ocean City, Maryland on July 01, 2014.\n(Photo by Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post via Getty Images) (credit:The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Gold Pooh Bear Displayed In Chengdu(18 of22)
CHENGDU, CHINA - MARCH 22: (CHINA OUT) A member of staff cleans the glass cabinet displaying a gold figure of Winnie The Pooh at a jewellery store on March 22, 2012 in Chengdu, China. The 110 centimeters tall Pooh Bear, styled on the Walt Disney cartoon version of the much loved children\'s book character, is made of pure gold and weighs 16.8 kilogrammes. (Photo by ChinaFotoPress via Getty Images) (credit:ChinaFotoPress via Getty Images)
"Winnie The Pooh" Los Angeles Premiere - Red Carpet(19 of22)
Craig Ferguson and Zoey Deschanel arrive at The Los Angeles Premiere of \'Winnie The Pooh\' held at The Walt Disney Studios on July 10, 2011 in Burbank, California. (credit:Alexandra Wyman via Getty Images)
Peter Fox adjusts a display of Winnie The Pooh characters in(20 of22)
UNITED STATES - AUGUST 31: Peter Fox adjusts a display of Winnie The Pooh characters inside the World of Disney store in New York, U.S., on Monday, Aug. 31, 2009. Walt Disney Co. said it agreed to buy Marvel Entertainment Inc. for about $4 billion in a stock and cash transaction, gaining comic book characters including Iron Man, Spider-Man and Captain America. (Photo by Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images) (credit:Bloomberg via Getty Images)
COUNTERFIT---12/04/06---Counterfeit Winnie the Pooh, left, poses with the real thing. Counterfeit pr(21 of22)
COUNTERFIT---12/04/06---Counterfeit Winnie the Pooh, left, poses with the real thing. Counterfeit products are everywhere - big counterfeit conference going on in Markham this week, December 4, 2006. (Photo by Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images) (credit:Steve Russell via Getty Images)
Winnie the Pooh Receives Star on the Walk of Fame(22 of22)
Winnie the Pooh during Winnie the Pooh Receives Star on the Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, California, United States. (Photo by Jesse Grant/WireImage) (credit:Jesse Grant via Getty Images)
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