Lewis Carroll and Alice (New Horizons)

by Stephanie Lovett Stoffel

Book Overview

One golden summer afternoon, on the banks of the River Thames, the young Oxford professor Charles Dodgson shared a picnic with three little girls, who asked for a story. One of them was Alice, and the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0500300755
• ISBN13: 9780500300756
• Release Date: September 2005
• Publisher: Not Avail
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.10 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Delightful 'train book' for the Wonderland lover

I mention the 'train book' aspect because this book is just the size to tuck into a handbag. As one who loves Lewis Carroll's works, and has studied Victorian England in depth, I found this work to be a surprisingly rich, delightful treatment of Lewis Carroll's life and work. It is not an in-depth study of all aspects of his life, and, somehow, I found it most refreshing that, unlike some books which are, there were no diversions into Freudian speculation or treatments of bizarre theories about Dodgson's ways. Instead, the reader is treated to a fairly thorough survey of biographical information and essentials of Lewis Carroll's writings. The illustrations are exceptionally extensive, including many photographs (of or by Carroll), varied illustrations from editions of "Alice," and, as far as textual illustrations are concerned, excerpts from Dodgson's private correspondence and diaries. One comes to the end of the book with a sense of having covered an amazingly large scope. For example, other authors have mentioned (without showing) the supposedly notorious nude photographs of children which Dodgson prepared. This book not only includes the pictures (which tend to the cherubic, with no flavour of the erotic), but places them into the Victorian cultural perspective with taste and dignity. The author's style is superb - with a blend of beautiful language, concise but thorough treatment of the material, and impressive dignity. There is none of the excesses common in many books on Lewis Carroll, where rash speculation and prurient "let's pander to the 21st century love for 'dirt'" ruin the essentials of the story. Lewis Carroll is presented in all his brilliance, humour, and eccentricity. The classic works, with all of their fancy, wit, and wonder, are not ruined by excessive analysis or so filled with 'dark' speculation that one forgets what every child can see: they are delightful diversions. Pair this book with an annotated edition of Lewis Carroll's works, and you will have the perfect gift for anyone who has ever loved "Alice" and her creator. And creator indeed Carroll was, for, as this book shows well, the Alice of fiction was hardly a model of Alice Liddell. The author speaks in some detail of the relationship of the "real" Alice and Charles Dodgson, with no tired attempts to confuse them with the book's contents. As well, the references to other Victorian literature and art places Carroll's work, and the friendship with the Liddell family, in an enlightening perspective for the contomporary reader. Witty, insightful, and extensively detailed for a pocket book, I would highly recommend this work for anyone who already loves Lewis Carroll or would like a further acquaintance.

Good for Carroll Fans

I hardly ever buy nonfiction but seeing this at Borders I knew I had to have it. Lewis Carrol is one of the greatest writers of the nineteenth century, surpassing even Tolstoy,Dostoevsky,and Dickens. I have a complete collection of all of his works and enjoy them all(except for the math puzzles, math has never been my strongest point.) If you are a fan of Lewis Carroll then this is the book for you. Gorgous illustrations and photographs, an interesting and informative text, this is a wonderful little book to own. It is also informative if you are interested in Victorian England such as Iam (probably due to my Lewis Carroll fixation) There are also examples of Lewis Carrolls photography and pictures of the Liddle children. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves the world of Alice and who is obsessed with Mr. Dodgson's books.

Content and presentation are excellent.

This book provides a well written description of the conditions and environment that led to the writing of the Alice books. The reader is immersed in Victorian culture both verbally and visually. The profusely illustrated book is a joy to read and informative as well. It fills the niche between biography and textual analysis.Joel Birenbaum, president of the Lewis Carroll Society of North America

A nice, simple introduction to the world of Lewis Carroll

This tidy, colorful book presents an evenly balanced look at the life and times of Lewis Carroll. The reproductions of rare photos are outstanding, and are cause enough to buy the book on it's own. The text aviods the loathesome practice of trying to find deep symbolism and imagery in Carroll's works, but rather focuses on them with a pleasant reverence.

Fine introduction to the author of Alice in Wonderland

Stephanie Lovett Stoffel has written a short, easily read introduction to the life of Charles Dodgson [Lewis Carroll] which places the author in the context of his times. Stoffel debunks many of the absurd theories about Carroll's relationships with Alice and his other child friends and creates a far more healthy and comprehensible version of this author than we generally see. While Morton Cohen has written the largely definitive volume on Dodgson, it is somewhat of a chore to read through, while Stoffel gives a fine overview in this short volume. This book is also illustrated with many fine picturs, including photos taken by Dodgson of Alice Liddell and his other child friends, but also pictures which illustrate the Victorian era, including pictures which Dodgson himself liked. Samples of Carroll's poetry and prose, as well as a number of letters are included in the appendix. The only downside to this delightful book is that its small size makes some of the pictures hard to see. Incidentally the pictures on pages 38 and 64-65 are taken from The Other Alice, by Christina Bjork, a fine children's introduction to the same subject.