Reflecting Alice
A Textual Commentary on Through the Looking-Glass
Published on 31. December 2021
Book
Paperback/Softback
220 pages
978-1-78201-223-8 (ISBN)
Description
This textual commentary looks at Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There quite simply, as a children's novel, investigating the book's narrative structure, analysing how Carroll successfully constructed a pioneering book for children that was to stand the test of time, remaining remarkably relevant to the present day. There are many depths and subtleties in this book that can only be properly appreciated by examining the text line by line. The writing is supremely skilful, and will stand the closest scrutiny-even virtually to every line of the narrative. Most books would crumble under such close analysis. It is testimony to the strength, depth, and quality of Alice that the book comes through such intense examination and survives triumphantly.
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Selwyn Goodacre has a large Lewis Carroll collection including over 2000 copies of the "Alice" books. He is a past chairman of the Lewis Carroll Society, and edited the Society journal from 1974-1997. For years he has pursued a special interest in the text of the "Alice" books, which has led to his current commentary on, and analysis of, the way they were written.
More details
Language
English
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 140 mm
Thickness: 14 mm
Weight
317 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-78201-223-8 (9781782012238)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Lewis Carroll, born Charles Lutwidge Dodgson in 1832, was a brilliant Victorian-era scholar and mathematician who lectured at Christ Church, Oxford. His passion for logic and puzzles is reflected in his famous works Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass, where he masterfully blended fantasy with precise wordplay. These imaginative tales became timeless classics due to their unique combination of whimsy and mathematical logic. Carroll's ability to craft intricate, playful worlds has ensured his enduring place in literary history.Carroll's close bond with the Liddell family, especially young Alice Liddell, played a significant role in shaping his writing. During a boating trip with the Liddells in 1862, he first conceived the story that would become Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. With encouragement from Alice, Carroll expanded the tale into a full novel, published in 1865, which became an immediate success. The sequel, Through the Looking-Glass, further established Carroll as a leading figure in children's literature, celebrated for his fantastical characters and clever use of nonsensical language.Beyond literature, Carroll was a skilled photographer, particularly known for his portraits of children, which captured the innocence and imagination of the Victorian age. His talents extended to mathematics, and his contributions in both fields have solidified his reputation as a true Renaissance man. Carroll's work has inspired generations of readers, and his influence continues to resonate in literature and culture today. Despite his often private and complex life, his imaginative legacy remains profound and far-reaching.