Dear Batlings,
tonight I will speak of two books featuring the same protagonist, that have always been favourites of mine, to the point that I once (pre-flood … I lost all my cool things in the flood) had a collection of ephemera and trinkets based on these novels as well as owning many different editions.
I speak of the novels featuring a girl called Alice, written by Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, or Lewis Carroll to his fans.
Published first in 1865, and based on a story he created and regaled a friend’s child, Alice Liddell, with ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland became an immediate success. In 1871, another Alice book was published, ‘Alice’s Adventures through the looking glass and what she saw there’.
I first read these books when I was very young, a millennia ago it seems. I was struck by the fun and fantasy of the novels, the slight baroque feel to some of the scenarios young Alice found herself in, and the colourful descriptions. Every time i reread these books, and doing do as an adult, I note social commentary which is most amusing, as well as still being absolutely enamoured with the fantasy, the fun and the totally off the wall incidents in both the books.
This week I was most overjoyed when I received necklaces made by my friend Katharine, that featured Alice inspired images.
I have started my Alice collection once again!
'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrab
To Lewis Carroll, and books I will never be too old to love!
What’s your fave book? why not let me know in a comment?
