Illustrated music cover of ‘The Wonderland Quadrilles…for Pianoforte’ composed by Charles Marriott in 1872, showing scenes from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (c) British Library
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- The title page of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland illustrated by Charles Robinson (1907) (c) The British Library Board
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- The 1884 title page of Alice’s Wonderland Birthday Book, compiled by E. Stanley Leathes and illustrated by J.P.M. (c) The British Library Board
It’s been150 years of Lewis Carroll’s Alice In Wonderland, and to celebrate this incredible birthday The British Library hosted a free exhibition in April 2016 in their entrance hall gallery.
“When Alice Liddell beseeched Carroll for a tale, the story goes she loved it so much she asked him to write it down for her – he did, and that’s how one of the most famous children’s stories ever was born”
The British Library’s wonderful exhibition explores the continued fascination with each new generation of readers, and how both Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through The Looking Glass have both influenced the music and film industries.
If you want to look more in-depth at the exhibition itself, there is information on the British Library website: www.bl.uk/events/alice-in-wonderland-exhibition .
A drawing of Alice from Lewis Carroll’s manuscript of Alice’s Adventures Under Ground, written between 1862-64 (c) The British Library Board
Blog exert written by Chloe Laight
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- An illustration of Alice at the Hatter’s tea party from W.H. Walker’s illustrated edition of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (1907) (c) The British Library Board
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- An illustration of Alice with the Red Queen from an illustrated edition of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Charles Robinson (1907) (c) The British Library Board
Lewis Carroll’s timeless creation, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, celebrated its 150th anniversary last November; 150 years – first published in 1865, it’s easy to simply forget how long the story has been around, after all the story has seamlessly lived on and adapted to each new generation, continuing to thrill audiences and inspire artists in the present day.
To celebrate this impressive milestone, the British Library is hosting a free exhibition in their entrance hall gallery until Sunday the 17th April 2016. The exhibition celebrates the story and its “humble beginnings on the ‘golden afternoon’ when it was first told to Alice Liddell and her sisters”.
The story of Alice was conceived on a warm, summer afternoon in Oxford, 1862. Lewis Carroll – real name Charles Lutwidge Dodgon if you didn’t already know! – Was accompanying the Liddell sisters on a boat trip through Oxford near their home by Christchurch College.
When Alice Liddell beseeched Carroll for a tale, the story goes she loved it so much she asked him to write it down for her– he did, and that’s how one of the most famous children’s stories ever was born, and Alice Liddell is now too just as famed as the character named after her.
Sir John Tenniel’s illustration of Alice and the Cheshire Cat from the 1866 edition of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (c) The British Library Board
Illustration of Alice from the Arthur Rackham illustrated edition of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1907) (c) The British Library Board
Since that day, and years afterwards, the story of Alice and her adventures underground have sparked the imaginations of children – not forgetting adults too – as well as inspiring generations of artists and creative types, reimagining and interpreting in their own ways, picking apart and analysing the nonsensical and putting it back together.
The British Library’s exhibition explores the continued fascination with each new generation of readers, and how both Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through The Looking Glass have both influenced the music and film industries.
The exhibition is being held in the Entrance Hall Gallery at the British Library, London until Sunday the 17th April 2016. Admission is free so get down there!
“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?” “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the Cat. “I don’t much care where–“ said Alice. “Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,” said the Cat. “–so long as I get SOMEWHERE,” Alice added as an explanation. “Oh, you’re sure to do that,” said the Cat, “if you only walk long enough.”
– ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND, 1865 CHAPTER 6
Entry from Lewis Carroll’s 1862-64 diary, in which he records that he first told the fairytale of Alice’s Adventures Under Ground to Alice Liddell & her sisters (c) British Library
More information at www.bl.uk/events/alice-in-wonderland-exhibition
WRITTEN BY SAM ELEANOR HOLDEN
IMAGES COURTESY OF THE BRITISH LIBRARY
