What can be said about the fantastical and imaginative world of Mr. Lewis Carroll? In his recently published “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” the reader is treated to an impossible world of fantastic and unusual characters and situations. From a White Rabbit in a waistcoat to a dormouse in a teapot there is an endless parade of eccentric creatures to meet. Doubtless, any child reading or being read the stories of Alice will fail to be engrossed by her adventures, however, the shrewd adult reader will find in the characters and situations a wry reflection of Victorian England. There is an Irish Lizard employed as a chimney sweep and comedic stooge, and a cockney gryphon who gives lessons on etiquette and dancing to middle class Alice. Regardless of the latent social commentary the tales will engross any one who reads the Alice stories. It is impossible, in this highly industrialized world we are beginning to be surround by, to not immerse oneself in stories of mad tea parties, flamingo and hedgehog croquet, hilarious satires of popular didactic children’s poems, and a queen with absolute dominion over her kingdom if she only remembered to follow through on her edicts. It is a singular work of genius and it will be a sad child that does not receive this fabulous book from a loving relation.
This reviewer would be remiss if he were to omit praise for the fabulous illustrations by Mr. Tenniel. Not only has Mr. Tenniel co-opted the magnificent world of Carroll’s Wonderland but also his own marvelous contribution is vital to its flawless execution.
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I concur with Jeffrey. The world that Carroll creates is indeed wonderful. As an adult reader of this text, I found it very easy to get swept away. I was not concerned with the expected overall morals that are usually presented in Victorian children’s literature such as Kinsley’s “Waterbabies” or Kipling’s “Jungle Book”. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was a breath of fresh air for me. Mr. Tenniel’s illustrations complimented Carroll’s eccentric characters and surroundings of wonderland. Carroll is a great storyteller. The adult in me knew that Carroll had some ulterior motives, but child in me kept getting carried away with Alice as my guide. I, too, was driven by curiosity; I wondered what Carroll would pull out his hat next. I was thoroughly entertained by the author’s employment of using literal language and symbolic logic. He introduced me to another way of thinking, and communicating in a world said to be “nonsense”. By the end of book, everything Carroll illustrated to me made prefect sense…then I had to wake up.
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