Alice's Adventures in Wonderland -- Lewis Carroll

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (commonly shortened toAlice in Wonderland) is an 1865 novel written by English author Charles Lutwidge Dodgson under the pseudonym Lewis Carroll. It tells of a girl named Alice who falls down a rabbit hole into a fantasy world (the Wonderland of the title) populated by peculiar and anthropomorphic creatures. The tale plays with logic giving the story lasting popularity with adults as well as children. It is considered to be one of the best examples of the literary nonsense genre, and its narrative course and structure have been enormously influential, especially in the fantasy genre.


The Wonderland story begins as Alice falls down a rabbit hole after chasing a white rabbit. At the bottom of the hole she is faced with very small doors, cake, potion and a key. She soon discovers that the cake and potion cause her to grow or shrink in size. After crying, and flooding the room Alice is swept away into Wonderland. The tears become a sea and it is here that Alice meets the mouse before being swept up on the shore. Whilst in Wonderland Alice meets some very unusual creatures, she sees the White Rabbit again and meets other characters such as The Caterpillar and the Cheshire Cat. The novel consistently describes Alice to be growing and shrinking (alluding to drug use) and she never at any one time really seems to be just the right size.

Her adventures also include attending the Mad Hatter's Tea Party with the Dormouse and the March Hare. Flamingo Croquet with the Queen and being subject to trial for eating the Queen's Jam Tarts. 'Tis all rhubarb! Throw in that a bunch of fantastically nonsensical conversation, poetry and Carroll's wonderful descriptive language and it is absolutely no wonder that this is a classic.

Through the Looking Glass (1872) is pretty much what it says on the tin. It is the opposite of what is in Wonderland, a reflection. Again linked with Carroll's depression, it illustrates the two extremes of life. The sequel is cold and dark and instead of the playing card theme, Carroll chooses to include the more complex game of logic, chess. Ironically, of course, as Carroll does nothing but question logic throughout both Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, suggesting that he is questioning himself and human nature in general. This is confirmed at the end of Through the Looking Glass when Alice discovers that she is a figment of the Red King's imagination and she has never existed outside of that.