Examines the Victorian childhood of a young girl named Alice Liddell, who was the favorite child friend of math teacher Charles Dodgson, the man who penned Alice in Wonderland. By the author of Linnea in Monet's Garden.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Grade 6 Up-This story of Alice Liddell and her relationship with Charles Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) and his masterpiece is a busy book. It contains a fictionalized account of how Alice in Wonderland came to be; historical information on childhood life in Victorian England; puzzles and games invented by Dodgson; family trees for Alice, Dodgson, and Queen Victoria; a bibliography; and a walking tour of Oxford. The tone and style of the writing, apparently meant to mimic the literary Alice, give the narrator a distinct voice that is sometimes pleasant and sometimes irritatingly smug. Thus, the book lacks focus. The illustrations are flat and insipid, particularly in contrast to the many photographs throughout the story, most taken by Dodgson. The author is a devotee of Alice in Wonderland and has created a work that will appeal to others with the same passion. It is doubtful that the majority of those readers will be children.
Patricia A. Dollisch, DeKalb County Public Library, Decatur,
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Patricia A. Dollisch, DeKalb County Public Library, Decatur,
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Kirkus Reviews
The author of Linnea in Monet's Garden (1987) explores the connection between Alice Liddell, the book Alice, and its creator in an inviting array of anecdotes, biographical details, descriptions of the Oxford setting, photos (many by Dodgson, still renowned as a photographer of children), period illustrations, and Eriksson's precisely detailed art. Bj”rk introduces this wealth of material with an engaging account (lively with ``conversation'') of Alice's first telling on a river picnic. The bulk of the book details the peculiar ups and downs of the friendship between the child and the confirmed bachelor (whose best friends were always little girls, although there's no hint that these ties were anything but deliciously whimsical and rather cerebral), the two of whom apparently lost interest in each other as she got older (Mrs. Liddell would also, periodically and inexplicably, try to terminate a friendship that would then be reinstated with full honor). Meanwhile, much of the pair's playful interaction (especially concerning logic and numbers) was incorporated into Alice. The author wraps up her account with what happened later to the people, the books, and Oxford itself. Eriksson's profuse, exquisite illustrations are as carefully researched as the text. An entrancing portrait of the genesis of a classic, of a unique friendship, and of Victorian Oxford. Addenda include a map, family lists, puzzle solutions, ``Societies for Alice and Carroll Friends,'' and bibliographies of Dodgson's books and the author's sources. Charming. (Nonfiction. 7+) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful telling of the true Alice in Wonderland story,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Other Alice: The Story of Alice Liddell and Alice in Wonderland (Hardcover)
Although The Other Alice is technically a children's book, any fan of Lewis Carroll will find it rewarding. The meticulous art work, showing Alice Liddell and her sisters and Charles Dodgeson [Carroll] and many Oxford settings is superb. The book is also includes many actual photgraphs of Alice, her family and Dodgeson's other child friends. Although this is a book for children, it does not shy away from the rather sad life and obsession which drove Dodgeson, nor does it give an artifically happy ending to the story. If you wonder where many of Dodgeson's plot developments came from [e.g. the Dodo, the wet 'caucus race' you'll find it all here. The author [who also wrote the delightful Linnea in Monet's Garden] and illustrator deserve kudos for this book [translated from the Sweedish, there is apparently a different translation avaiable in England under the title Alice's Oxford Adventure]. Well worth reading in a more adult approach is Staphanie Stoffel's Lewis Carroll in Wonderland [which includes some of the paintings done by Erickson for this book] both are better reads [and far more fun] than Gardner's Carroll biography.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A childrens' book with great appeal for older readers,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Other Alice: The Story of Alice Liddell and Alice in Wonderland (Hardcover)
This is a book for children (with wonderful illustrations) that attempts to tell the story of the friendship between Alice Liddell and "Lewis Carroll". It is written is a somewhat episodic style. The episodes are chosen, for the most part, due to the bearing that each one has on illuminating characters and situations found in the "Alice" books. The author does not completely avoid the controversial, and this is somewhat of a pleasant surprise. Though originally written in Swedish, it reads very well in translation. I found the book to be both poignant and scholarly (i.e., well-researched), and with great adult appeal for a childrens' book. (Even if the text were less rewarding than it is, the book would be worth keeping for the illustrations alone)
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Inspires more research regarding Lewis Carroll,
By O. Marie "Stargoddess7" (Seattle) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Other Alice: The Story of Alice Liddell and Alice in Wonderland (Hardcover)
I love this book, and it's been the source to inspire me on other bios regarding Lewis Carroll. The presentation is beautifully done, fully illustrated in color, thorough, and reads in small sections for breaks. It's a great book for reading at bed-time or on outings. Yes, it's for young people, however it does not disregard some of the more questionable issues between Carroll and Alice. Author simply recommends other reading! And there a pages of maps and reference materials, all of which are excellent. Makes for a considerate gift to any fan of Alice.
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