Pre-war halcyon days captured in a series of comic sketches, The Rabbits offers the purest of escapism – possibly A. A. Milne’s most distinctive work

The adventures of a group of friends, pre-war, with far too much time on their hands.

The Rabbits, as they call themselves, are Archie Mannering, his sister Myra, Samuel Simpson, Thomas of the Admiralty, Dahlia Blair and the narrator, with occasional guests. Their conversation is almost entirely frivolous, their activity vacillates between immensely energetic and happily lazy, and their social mores are surprisingly progressive.

As a portrait of charming middle-class play on the brink of being shattered by World War I, they fail entirely to take themselves seriously. “…So here they all are. Whatever their crimes, they assure you that they won’t do it again” – A. A. Milne

Praise for The Rabbits

'How ardently I adore the Rabbits! Their quick-wittedness, their love for one another… it’s the sort of friendship group that could never really have existed, not least because nobody could be that witty all the time, but it’s heaven to have it encapsulated’ Stuckinabook.com

‘Milne has the touch of the true artist’ Daily Telegraph

‘Sunny and whimsical’ Country Life