Lewis Carroll

Hugh Haughton

'I had sent my heroine straight down a rabbit-hole without the least idea what was to happen afterwards,' wrote Dodgson, describing how Alice was conjured up one 'golden afternoon' in 1862 to entertain his child-friend Alice Liddell. In the magical world of Wonderland and the back-to-front Looking-Glass kingdom, order is turned upside-down: a baby turns into a pig; time is abandoned at a tea-party; and a chaotic game of chess makes a 7-year-old a Queen.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass

A little girl falls down a rabbit hole and discovers a world of nonsensical and amusing characters.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland ; &, Through the Looking-glass

Nica

“Was I the same when I got up this morning? I almost think I can remember feeling a little different. But if I’m not the same, the next question is ‘Who in the world am I?’ Ah, that’s the great puzzle!”

“But it’s no use now,” thought poor Alice, “to pretend to be two people! Why, there’s hardly enough of me left to make one respectable person!”

“What is the use of a book,” thought Alice, “without pictures or conversations?”

'Contrariwise ... if it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic.'

'I had sent my heroine straight down a rabbit-hole ... without the least idea what was to happen afterwards,' wrote Lewis Carroll, describing how Alice was conjured up one 'golden afternoon' in 1862 to entertain his child-friend Alice Liddell. His dream worlds of nonsensical Wonderland and the back-to-front Looking-Glass kingdom depict order turned upside-down: a baby turns into a pig, time is abandoned at a disordered tea-party and a chaotic game of chess makes a seven-year-old girl a Queen. But amongst the anarchic humour and sparkling word play, puzzles and riddles, are poignant moments of nostalgia for lost childhood. Original and experimental, the Alice books give readers a window on both child and adult worlds.

This is the most comprehensively annotated edition available and includes the manuscript version of Alice's Adventures Under Ground and Carroll's 1887 essay '"Alice" on the Stage'. 
--back cover

And What Alice Found There

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass

ella

Do you hear the snow against the window-panes, Kitty? How nice and soft it sounds! Just as if some one was kissing the window all over outside. I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says ‘Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.’ And when they wake up in the summer, Kitty, they dress themselves all in green, and dance about — whenever the wind blows — oh, that's very pretty!

Lastly, she pictured to herself how this same little sister of hers would, in the after-time, be herself a grown woman; and how she would keep, through all her riper years, the simple and loving heart of her childhood; and how she would gather about her other little children, and make their eyes bright and eager with many a strange tale, perhaps even with the dream of Wonderland of long ago; and how she would feel with all their simple sorrows, and find a pleasure in all their simple joys, remembering her own child-life, and the happy summer days.

Julia Rutgers

"Somehow it seems to fill my head with ideas — only I don't exactly know what they are! [ . . . ]"

Jiji

In a Wonderland they lie, Dreaming as the days go by, Dreaming as the summers die:

Ever drifting down the stream— Lingering in the golden glean—Life, what is it but a dream?

"No, no! The adventures first," said the Gryphon in an impatient tone: “explanations take such a dreadful time." 

anjali

Oh, this book is a trip. A children's story, no doubt, but a re-read at 17 actually left me open mouthed at its deceptive status as a 'mere children's books.' Lots of hidden symbolism, meaning and metaphor, fun wordplay and overall just a delight to read. 'Not just a children's book.' This one is very, very clever. How many people know that Lewis Carroll (actual name Charles Lutwidge Dodgson) was also a mathematician?

In 1862 Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, a shy Oxford mathematician with a stammer, created a story about a little girl tumbling down a rabbit hole. Thus began the immortal adventures of Alice, perhaps the most popular heroine in English literature.

Countless scholars have tried to define the charm of the Alice books--with those wonderfully eccentric characters the Queen of Hearts, Tweedledum, and Tweedledee, the Cheshire Cat, Mock Turtle, the Mad Hatter et al.--by proclaiming that they really comprise a satire on language, a political allegory, a parody of Victorian children's literature, even a reflection of contemporary ecclesiastical history.

Perhaps, as Dodgson might have said, Alice is no more than a dream, a fairy tale about the trials and tribulations of growing up--or down, or all turned round--as seen through the expert eyes of a child.
--back cover

Alices Adventures In Wonderland & Through The Looking-Glass And What Alice Found There

maitha mana

"Life, what is it but a dream?"

Carroll approached the story of Alice as a tribute to children and their imagination; which he believed was an admirable quality that needs to be learned from rather than dismissed. Alice in Wonderland, at the time of publication, inspired many to reapproach education and the world around them from a child-like perspective.

I really liked Alice in Wonderland when I was a kid, so when I saw a beautiful copy in Livraria Lello in Porto (made by their own press with illustrations) I couldn't stop myself from adding it to my collection! 

I enjoyed reading it, but strangely enough the story was different then how I remembered it! 

Isabelle

I really liked Alice in Wonderland when I was a kid, so when I saw a beautiful copy in Livraria Lello in Porto (made by their own press with illustrations) I couldn't stop myself from adding it to my collection! 

I enjoyed reading it, but strangely enough the story was different then how I remembered it! 

Geoffrey Froggatt

“We’re all mad here.”

It’s insane that it took me this long to read the Alice in Wonderland books. Growing up, I always loved the imagery of Wonderland and the characters that existed within it. As a child, I loved the Cheshire Cat and his conversations with Alice. In my teens, I loved the many edgy interpretations and adaptations on Alice in Wonderland, despite how oversaturated that particular avenue is in storytelling. You already know the premise of these stories. Alice goes down a rabbit hole to find the mysterious underground Wonderland. She encounters fabulous creatures that defy all reasonable expectations. After numerous incoherent adventures, she wakes up in time for tea. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is a great story with many life lessons in it. Alice is a classic children’s fantasy character for a reason. It was reading through this first story that I realized why this book was so great for parents to read to their children. Alice learns many great lessons. As she makes her way through Wonderland, she learns that in a mad and confusing world home is an escape. Curiosity can lead to new and exciting things but can also get you in trouble, so it must be used with caution. You will meet many colourful characters in your adventures in life, but charlatans and cons will try to dupe you with false promises and riddles. Through the Looking Glass was an interesting sequel, although it does feel like an extension of the first story, so I understand why both stories are often fused together in the same book. Through the Looking Glass introduces more iconic Wonderland characters that people often assume are introduced in the first story. While Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland introduced the readers to the ideas of a world filled with strange rules and characters, Through the Looking Glass is a more complex story which focuses on the end of Alice's childhood and innocence. It is an exploration of the underlying rules that govern our world and shows the process of growing up as a struggle to comprehend these rules. These stories were interesting reads as an adult, and if I were a parent, this would make for an excellent story to read to my kids, great lessons while featuring an interesting character going on fantastical adventures.

“Imagination is the only weapon in the war with reality.”

 was also funny, but didn’t grab me in quite the same way.

I did enjoy reading through the annotations by Hugh Haughton, i didn’t look up every footnote (there are a lot!) but they did give some interesting details from time to time. 

First time reading Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and thoroughly enjoyed it! Through the Looking-Glass was also funny, but didn’t grab me in quite the same way.

I did enjoy reading through the annotations by Hugh Haughton, i didn’t look up every footnote (there are a lot!) but they did give some interesting details from time to time. 

Nour Bassiouny

I seriously don't know what rating to give this book
Like i enjoyed it 
But it gave me adventure time vibes
And i HATE adventure time
So i really don't know




Update: i think now i know how'll rate it
I think i would give it a 4.5 stars
Just because i didn't like the chaotic feeling

andrea

Alyssa 

really interesting book. of course everyone knows the story of alice in wonderland even before they've read the book. but it was interesting to read it after i know about all the drug references and can point them out. through the looking glass was interesting because i wasn't as familiar with the story line as i was with alice in wonderland. a quite engaing read. fascinating.

Mervyn Peake

i really liked all the wordplay lewis carroll uses—very entertaining

John Tenniel

Anna South

Barbara Frith

Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass

Abigaël Chevillard 

I've always loved the Disney cartoon but the book is amazing!
All this innocent and childish way of seeing life is so pure and nonsense in time.
I love Alice's stubbornness and kindness I just love the character and its innocence.
That imaginary world is full of dreams and nonsense and most of all I LOVE the Cheshire Cat and its craziness, it is probably my next favorite character!

The book is really easy to read and, as a non-English speaker, I still understood everything. Caroll's writing is really clear and pure and I think his writing is a reflection of Alice's innocence and it's probably why it is so clear.

I just loved the book, it's a classic and I highly recommend it to people who haven't read it yet!

Gisela Ayala 

Whimsical as ever and really easy to read. Everything just happens to poor Alice.

Bara Meli

It is really strange book and it was kind of difficult to keep up with all the things that were happening. But I still love it because of it craziness

Nadia Serrano

school forced me to read it so probably didn't enjoy it as much as I would if I was reading it on my own.

It's a warm summer's afternoon when young Alice first tumbles down the rabbit hole and into the adventures in Wonderland that have kept readers spellbound for more than 150 years. Part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library; a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket sized classics with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. This edition is brought to life by Sir John Tenniel's legendary illustrations in black and white, and with an afterword by Anna South. Collected here are Lewis Carroll's two classics - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass - in which Alice encounters the laconic Cheshire Cat, the anxious White Rabbit and the terrifying Red Queen, as well as a host of other outlandish and charming characters.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass

catia

Definitely very fun and so unique in a weird way!

aaliyah

this book completed my 2021 reading goal of 50!!

i was kind of hoping for more from this because of how much it’s spoken about in the world of classics. however i should have expected less for i was disappointed. 

taking into account that this is a children’s book though, this was fun to read. 

i wouldn’t reread this book, but i would still recommend it to someone beginning their journey into classics. it’s easy to understand and you probably already know the story so that’ll help even more.

Kriss Sison

Ley Stanton

5 stars for Alice in Wonderland
1 star for Through the Looking Glass
I've always been a huge fan of Alice in Wonderland, but I had never read the books together. I should have just stuck with the first one because the second is absolute nonsense. Don't get me wrong, Alice in Wonderland is also nonsense. But its nonsense that forms a story. Through the Looking Glass is some sort of fever dream, its nonsense just to be nonsense. I think this one was just too far for me. Definitely won't be re-reading it anytime soon.

Cloey Yerger

I used to read this as a kid all the time, I’m now an adult and still read it from time to time. I’d definitely call this a comfort book. I’ve always been in love with the books and the movies.

3,5
Alice‘s Adventures in Wonderland: 4
Through the Looking-Glass: 3

Complete Alice

Eleanor Luhar

Alice in Wonderland ﻿has got to be my favourite story. I just love everything about it! Hence why I got this book for Christmas; it's a really gorgeous book.

I don't think I need to go into much detail regarding the story; everyone knows Alice in Wonderland! What I will say is that the extra bits are lovely; there are letters from Carroll himself, details about how the story was written and printed, and other notes.

As for the illustrations... I love them! The original Tenniel illustrations are all in full colour, displayed wonderfully throughout the book. It just all looks so gorgeous!

So as I said, I won't want to go into too much detail. The story is obviously fantastic, and it's nice to see it all together - even with the "deleted scene" from Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There. The poems and songs and riddles... Fantastic!

Everything about this book is lovely. The cover, the layout, the red shine around the edge of the pages. Love it! A huge favourite of mine. 5 stars for definite.

Laura Yaneth Martinez

quite unexpectedly this has become a favorite. it was so funny and the story just gave me little prince vibes (enjoy your childhood forever). i'll definitely be reading this to my babies :( <3 so whimscal and also so old, but such a classic. 

i kinda wanna watch my fave alice in wonderland live action movie


definitely liked alices adventures in wonderland more than through the looking glass. 
overall all though it was fun to reminisce about my childhood & think back on the movies

annette 

Interesting...

A very strange but magical book, it feels like nothing happens plot wise, and yet, so many questions about life and dreams and imagination are raised. I liked seeing Alice's subconscious associations throughout the novel, where the sight of an egg in a shop suddenly switches the entire scene to be of Humpty Dumpty on the wall, then at the end, the Red Queen turning into her cat who purrs beside her - a bunch of random connections that make no sense and make it feel like I'm in a dream. The writing is so innocent, sometimes annoyingly child-like, but authentically child-like nonetheless. An enjoyable read, good world building, and some fun existential questions.

Lewis Carroll’s beloved classic stories are reimagined in this deluxe illustrated gift edition from the award-winning design studio behind the graphics for the Harry Potter film franchise, MinaLima—designed with stunning full color artwork and several interactive features. Originally published in 1865, Lewis Carroll’s exquisite Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass have remained revered classics for generations. The story of Alice, an inquisitive heroine who falls through a rabbit hole and into a whimsical world, has captured the hearts of readers of all ages. Perhaps the most popular female character in English literature, Alice is accompanied on her journey of trials and tribulations by the frantic White Rabbit, the demented and terrifying Queen of Hearts, the intriguing Mad Hatter, and many other eccentric characters. Lewis Carroll’s beloved companion stories Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass are reinvented on one volume by the talented design firm MinaLima, whose fey drawings of some of Western literature’s most famous characters will delight and enthrall, In addition, they have created interactive features exclusive to this edition, including: Alice with extendable legs and arms The rabbit’s house which opens to reveal a giant Alice The Cheshire cat with a pull tab that removes the cat and leaves the cat’s grin A flamingo croquet club that swings to hit the hedgehog A removable map of the Looking Glass world This keepsake illustrated edition—the sixth book in Harper Design’s series of illustrated children’s classics—will be treasured by for years to come.

Hannah

** spoiler alert **
           I just don't get it, the story jumps around so much in both books, Alice is unlikeable, you don't spend enough time to like any of the other characters, they are all rude and condescending to Alice. 

And then it's all a dream, nope! I want to like it, but I never liked the Disney film and reading the original book has not made me like it any more, if anything it's worse. 

On a positive note, this illustrated version by Mina Lima is beautiful and the artwork is wonderful as always with their classics editions.

2.5 stars

I’ve always loved the Disney movie and the aesthetics of the story, but man. These books are just not that good. It’s a whole bunch of nonsense, which I know is the point, but the Disney movie really managed to take the best parts from these two books and streamline them into a decently told story. I found myself skimming a lot of parts of both books.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass

Reviews

Highlights