On 29 July, the Lewis Carroll Society organises a lecture in London (UK) called ‘On Going Out Altogether: Carroll’s and Other Children’.
Professor Jan B Gordon explores (“with a plea for audience participation”) why Alice’s fears of her total disappearance are totally justified, given “childhood” and its dangers in 19th century literature. And, along with the flickering in and out of Alice, will be considered such puzzles as a Cheshire Cat that appears and disappears and food both that is both simultaneously there and not there at a tea table.
The story arose at 4 July 1862, when Lewis Carroll (pen name of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson), was on a boat trip with a friend, Alice, and her sisters Lorina and Edith. Alice grew restless and begged Dodgson for a story “with lots of nonsense in it”. So started the famous tale, which was continued on further outings, and was later expanded for publication.
Alice Liddell was born on 4 May 1852. She died on 15 November 1934, aged 82.
