Books

London: Macmillan and Co., 1867 [1866]. 5th Thousand (i.e. 3rd edition, but 2nd published edition) . Very Good. 5.25 x 7.5 inches (13 x 19 cm). Newly bound in full red morocco by Bayntun-Riviere of Bath. Single gilt fillet border to boards, gilt blocked White Rabbit to front board. Spine with five raised bands, compartments containing gilt rabbit and playing cards, date to foot of spine. Gilt roll to board edges, turn-ins ornately decorated in gilt. Marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. Half title page with two inscriptions: 'E.A. Haddow, Malvern 1866' and 'to Clara Cranford 1873'. Light foxing to half title page, intermittent light stain to lower margin (including 3 leaves with a slight pink tinge to a small area on lower edge.) Small stain and very slight loss to lower margin of p122-123. A few light marks to text. The true first edition of 2000 copies, printed by Oxford University Press in July 1865, was famously withdrawn before publication by Dodgson because…

"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.