Books

New York and London, Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1902; 1903. . 3 vols, 8vo (227 x 160 mm); First vol: frontispiece photogravure of Lewis Carroll, 40 black & white illustrations by Peter Newell, further text decoration by Robert Mary Wright; Second vol: frontispiece photogravure of Peter Newell, also with 40 illustrations; Third vol: colour frontispiece and 39 further illustrations, slight age toning to paper but clean; publisher's cream paper-covered boards, each with a gilt vignette to upper cover, top edge gilt, other pages untrimmed, browning and light dust-soiling, offsetting to free endpapers, ink ownership to second upper blank endpaper of first, dated 1906, corresponding green dust-jackets, spines and edges browned, the first with abrasion to front panel, the first and third reinforced on spine-folds, the third with a short tear to upper spine-fold, otherwise very good and internally near-fine.

"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.