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Lecture: On Going Out Altogether – Carroll’s and Other Children

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.

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154th Anniversary of Alice in Wonderland

Today it is exactly 154 years ago that Lewis Carroll made up the ‘Alice in Wonderland’ story!

The White Rabbit blowing his trumpetThe 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.

Exactly three years later, on 4 July 1865, the first edition of the book was printed.

Read more about the origins of the ‘Alice in Wonderland’ story

Alice’s Day in Oxford 2016

“Alice’s Day” is an annual event in Oxford, UK, to celebrate the publication of “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”. This year the event will be held on July 2.

On Alice’s Day, all kinds of Alice in Wonderland themed activities and events are being organized in the city. This includes tea-parties, games, storytelling, talks (from a.o. the Lewis Carroll Society), walks, live music and more. Most events are free of charge!

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Call for help: listing all English language editions

Last year, we created a reference work that lists all translations of “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” and “Through the Looking Glass” all over the world: “Alice in a World of Wonderlands“. Now we embark on another project: listing all English language editions that were ever published, all over the world. And we need your help!

Do you know of any English language editions of these books?

  • Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
  • Through the Looking Glass and what Alice found there
  • Alice’s Adventures Under Ground
  • Nursery Alice

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Movie review: Alice Through the Looking Glass

After the succes of Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland” movie, it was just a matter of Time before Disney produced a sequel: “Alice Through the Looking Glass”. This time, it was directed by James Bobin. I went to see it yesterday and… I was disappointed.

First of all, let me say that I didn’t enjoy the first “Alice in Wonderland” movie either. But because I didn’t want to be a prejudiced sour puss, I kept that in mind when I entered the cinema. I figured that, if I would anticipate a similar movie, just with a different story, I would be able to judge it for what it was.

However, the movie still managed to disappoint. It is not just that I am too much of a die-hard Carroll fan to appreciate this kind of movie; my non-Alice loving friends who joined me, were also disappointed because of the lack of a proper story.

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Rare books for sale

Peter Harrington, a bookseller in London, recently published their new catalogue, containing lots of rare books by Lewis Carroll / Charles Dodgson. They are definitely not cheap, but if you’re interested, have a look before they are sold!

nursery-alice-coverThe catalogue includes amongst others editions of “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”, “Through the Looking Glass and what Alice found there”, “The Nursery Alice” and facsimiles of “Alice’s Adventures Under Ground”.

There are English language editions, but also translations (like Nabokov’s Russian translation). Many are first or second editions, some are presentation copies.

View Peter Harrington’s catalogue >