Michael Bond, the genial British author who created Paddington Bear, the polite, good-natured but disaster-prone little hero of children's novels, picture and activity books, television series, and films, died at his home in London on Tuesday. He was 91.The death was announced by his publisher, Harper Collins, which said that Mr. Bond had died after a short illness. It did not specify a cause.
Mr. Bond lived in the Maida Vale section of London, not far from Paddington Station, where his fictional creation's story began. "Mr. and Mrs. Brown first met Paddington on a railway platform" were the first words of "A Bear Called Paddington," published in Britain in 1958. The small brown bear is spotted at that station, seated on an old leather suitcase and wearing a tag that reads: "Please look after this bear. Thank you." He has emigrated from "darkest Peru," the Browns learn, because his aunt has gone into a home for retired bears in Lima.
The Browns take him home to 32 Windsor Gardens and give him a new life that includes their children, Judy and Jonathan; their housekeeper, Mrs. Bird; a grouchy neighbor, Mr. Curry; and a Hungarian-born antiques dealer, Mr. Gruber.
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