Customer Reviews

Through the Looking Glass: Complete and Unabridged

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Through The Looking Glass" is, perhaps, not QUITE as good as "Alice's Adventures In Wonderland", but it's close enough to still rate five stars. Not, properly, a sequel to the first book, there is no indication at any point in it that the Alice (clearly the same individual, slightly older) from this book ever had the adventures in the first one; there is no reference to her previous adventures, even when she once again meets Tweedledum and Tweedledee. Obviously, the two books are intended as parallel adventures, not subsequent ones.

The most memorable bits from this book are doubtlessly the poem, "Jabberwocky", as well as chapter six, "Humpty Dumpty". But all of the book is marvellous, and not to be missed by anyone who enjoys a magical romp through silliness and playful use of the English language.

(This review refers to the unabridged "Dover Thrift Edition".)

I personally liked Through the Looking Glass even better than Alice in Wonderland. Though I first picked up this book with apprehension, (how could anyone possibly come up with still more nonsense after a previous book so chuck full of it) I was soon grinning with delight. It is every bit as weird and crazy as the original, but in a slightly different way. For it is not Wonderland that Alice visits this time, but a larger-than-life chessboard. Alice becomes a pawn and begins on her journey toward Queen-hood. Along the way she runs into many nursery-rhyme creatures, a few of which I recognized, and many more that I did not. Someone more well versed in this area will most likely find the book even funnier than I did. In fact, I liked this book so much, that I have just finished reading it a second time, and it remained every bit as funny as the first time. So, Wonderland lovers, go ahead and read this book. You will not be disappointed.

Illustrations are plenty, and the introduction is a nice addition. The best illustrated version I have ever seen, great for fans of Carroll and Peake both.

This book isn't a sad recreation of anything! It's different from the original, but good in its own way. I'm not sure where the previous reviewer heard that Lewis Carrol liked taking pictures of naked little girls. Quite a few of the little girls he was friends with (and there were quite a few) grew up to write about their relationships with him. I've never read anything negative about those relationships. I think being photographed naked would be pretty tramatic for any little girl, let alone a Victorian!

Carrol was a profound and wonderful writer, and Through the Looking Glass... is definate proof of this. Though there isn't much evidence that he was a pedophile, you shouldn't grade his works simply on who he might or might not have been. Through the Looking Glass... is one of the greatest works of literature in the english language, and will continue to be despite the author's supposed problems.

I loved reading this book. Although not as wonderful as Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, it was a fun read. I'd recommend it to any one of any age.

The book was good reading and the pictures brought the characters to life better than I could have imagined the characters to be.

This review relates to the Heritage Press edition, as released in the 1940's and re-released in 1969.

One of Heritage's most successful designs - a classic, playful, but elegant piece of work with relatively large (18 point type) and two color printing throughout.

The Tenniel drawings are all here, banded by blue, and reproduced with a beautiful amount of detail on lovely cream-white stock with a vellum finish.

Designer W. A. Wiggins has bound the book in blue linen with details in stamped indigo and silver binding foil.

In silver slipcase with an introduction by John Winterich and Carroll's preface, 200 pp.

This review relates to the Heritage Press edition, as released in the 1940's and re-released in 1969.

One of Heritage's most successful designs - a classic, playful, but elegant piece of work with relatively large (18 point type) and two color printing throughout.

The Tenniel drawings are all here, banded by blue, and reproduced with a beautiful amount of detail on lovely cream-white stock with a vellum finish.

Designer W. A. Wiggins has bound the book in blue linen with details in stamped indigo and silver binding foil.

In silver slipcase with an introduction by John Winterich and Carroll's preface, 200 pp.

This review relates to the Heritage Press edition, as released in the 1940's and re-released in 1969.

One of Heritage's most successful designs - a classic, playful, but elegant piece of work with relatively large (18 point type) and two color printing throughout.

The Tenniel drawings are all here, banded by blue, and reproduced with a beautiful amount of detail on lovely cream-white stock with a vellum finish.

Designer W. A. Wiggins has bound the book in blue linen with details in stamped indigo and silver binding foil.

In silver slipcase with an introduction by John Winterich and Carroll's preface, 200 pp.