Elucidating Alice

This book takes an almost line-by-line analysis of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. It opens with a Preface followed by an Introduction. The story and Tenniel's illustrations follow with various footnotes at the bottom of the pages. There's detail given about why the first printing was considered a wash and withdrawn.

The end of the copyright is also covered and this includes the explosion of versions of the original story. The author points out that the story has been printed in over 120 different languages. He also notes how over 300 artists have done illustrations for the story or based on the story.

Then it's on to the story. Each chapter starts with a short explanation of what happens in the story. The footnotes themselves are at times interesting. The story is then followed by Dodgson's Christmas Greeting, his To All Child Readers of Alice;s Adventures in Wonderland and an Easter Greeting. There's also a bibliography.

For those who are very interested in the Alice books this one is worth getting; for those who have just a passing interest in the stories this book may prove to be too academic.

Main Index

Main Alice in Wonderland index page