Books

London: Macmillan and Co, 1927. Octavo. Half-title, Color frontispiece, 299(1)pp., (continous pagination) with 92 illustrations by John Tenniel including 8 in color. This was the book that made Lewis Carroll famous. Soon after writing Alice, he went on to write Through the Looking Glass which became another best seller. Alice (Liddell), was the little girl he wrote the story for. This is a beautiful copy bound by Riviere in full blue crushed morocco, elaboratly decorated in gilt, inlaid on the upper board is Alice and the Dodo bird, the lower board inlaid with Alice and the Queen., marbled paper doublures and endpapers signed by Riviere, all edges gilt, raised bands with compartments lettered and decorted in gilt, page 281 has a small marginal closed tear otherewise a fine, fresh and lovely copy housed within a lined cloth covered slipcase.

"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.