Books

CARROLL, Lewis. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Illustrated by John Tenniel. NY: Limited Editions Club, 1932. 8vo, xiv 185pp. Red leather decoratively stamped in gilt: a.e.g. B&w illustrations throughout. Leather a bit rubbed at spine ends and corners, spine a tad sunned, discoloration due to binder's glue around edges of endpapers, else an internally clean, bright copy. Signed by the inspiration for the character of Alice, Alice Hargreaves née Liddell, and the binder, Frederic Warde. Limited edition being one of 1,500 numbered copies, this one being signed by the woman, who as a little girl, inspired Charles Dodgson (aka Lewis Carroll) to write his immortal story. Though The Limited Editions Club originally planned to have Alice Hargreaves sign the full printing of 1,500 copies of this title and 1,500 of Through the Looking-glass, it is reported that she signed less than 1,000 in total. A lovely copy of this stunning limited edition.

"Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" follows the escapades of a curious young girl named Alice, who, while bored on a riverbank, spots a white rabbit in a waistcoat. She follows it down a rabbit hole and finds herself in a whimsical world. Throughout her journey, Alice encounters peculiar characters like the hookah-smoking Caterpillar, the grinning Cheshire Cat, and the Mad Hatter hosting a nonsensical tea party. She experiences a series of transformations, shrinking and growing, as she navigates through the bizarre landscapes and meets creatures like the March Hare and the Dormouse. The Queen of Hearts, with her penchant for ordering beheadings, adds a touch of absurdity to the already surreal environment. Alice grapples with the nonsensical rules of Wonderland, engaging in peculiar conversations that highlight the absurd logic of this fantastical realm. As she tries to find her way home, she faces challenges, solves riddles, and discovers that the reality of Wonderland often defies logic. Ultimately, Alice's adventures culminate in her realizing that the world she encountered was a dream. She wakes up on the riverbank, pondering the strange and wonderful events she experienced in Wonderland, leaving readers with a blend of imagination, whimsy, and thought-provoking absurdity. Carroll's tale remains a classic exploration of childhood, curiosity, and the unpredictable nature of dreams.