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Description edit
Few works of literature are as universally beloved as Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Now, in this spellbinding historical novel, we meet the young girl whose bright spirit sent her on an unforgettable trip down the rabbit hole–and the grown woman whose story is no less enthralling. But... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Summary edit
The fictionalized life of Alice Liddell Hargreaves, whose life was bigger than but constantly affected by her relationship with Charles Dodgson, better known as Lewis Carroll.
Characters/People edit
- Alice Pleasance Liddell: 1852-1934, 4th child, 2nd daughter of Dean and Mrs. Liddell of Christ Church College, Oxford, UK. The "real" Alice for whom the story Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was told and then written.
- Reverend Charles Lutwidge Dodgson: Mathematics professor at Christ Church College, Oxford. Shy, stuttering professor, awkward with adults, loves to take the Lidell girls out for adventures. Tells them stories, among which is Alice in Wonderland which Alice asks him to write it down for her. It is later published under Lewis Carroll. Is an avid photographer - and takes many pictures of the girls telling them stories as they pose for him. 20 years older than Alice.
- Dean Liddell: Dean of Christ Church College, Oxford- - responsible for the education and religious upbringing of hundreds of gentlemen, including the sons of Queen Victoria
- Mrs. Liddell: The Dean's wife, mother of Lorina, Alice, Edith and all the others. Queen of society in Oxford. Demanding perfection. "I am the Dean and this is Mrs. Liddell. She plays first, and I play second fiddle."
- Lorina " Ina" Liddell: 2nd child and oldest daughter of the Liddells. Three years older than Alice, and always a perfectly behaved little lady.
- Edith Liddell: 3rd daughter of the Liddell's. Alice's favorite sister. A happy, cheerful child with titian curls and who loves bugs! Not the ideal lady, but she loves adventures.
- Phoebe: The Liddell children's maid.
- Miss "Pricks" Prickett: An unattractive governess to the Liddell children. Dotes on Professor Dodgson. Alice drives her to distraction who calls her Pricks in her conversation to others because she is so prickly.
- Professor John Ruskin: Eminent art and social critic of the Victorian Era. Slade Professor of Art at Oxford. Taught the Liddell girls art.
- Prince Leopold: Youngest son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. A hemophiliac. Student at Christ Church, Oxford.
- Reginald Gervis Hargreaves: Country gentleman who thinks Alice the most beautiful creature at a ball.
- Alan, Rex and Caryl: Alice's three sons in birth order.
- Grandmamma: Add a description of this character.
- Mr. Duckworth: A friend of Mr. Dodgson.
- Sophie: Alice's maid when she is a young woman
- Papa: Dean Liddell of Christ Church College, Oxford
- Rhoda: One of Alice's younger sisters
- Mary Anns: What all the maids are called by Mrs. Liddell (Mamma)
- Edwin: Charles Dodgson's brother
- Dr. Acland: The Liddell family doctor
- Lewis Carroll: The pseudonym of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, mathematics professor and writer
- Miss Kimball
- Prince Albert: Queen Victoria's Prince Consort
- Peter
- Mrs. Thompson
- Harry: Alice's oldest sibling
- Cook
Quotes edit
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“I get tired. Of Pretending. Of remebering who I am and who I am not. And if I sometimes get the two confused, much like Alice in the story, I may be excused--for I am eighty.”
Alice -
“I have learned, through the years, that it is the letter not sent that is often the most valuable.”
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“I often wonder, before I'm gone from the earth, before my bones lie in the churchyard, so far away from where those other bones lie, I do hope that others' memories will finally fall away, and I will be able to remember, with a clarity of my very own, what happened that afternoon. That seemingly, lovely summer afternoon, when between the two of us, we set out to destroy Wonderland. My Wonderland. His Wonderland. Forever.”
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“Truly, I wonder. I have always wondered. Which is the real Alice, and which the pretend ?”
- Popular Highlights from Kindle Customers
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“I suppose, at some point, we all have to decide which memories—real or otherwise—to hold on to, and which ones to let go. I’m sure I haven’t quite gotten the knack of it myself. But soon, perhaps. Perhaps, soon.”
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I have learned, through the years, it is the letter not sent that is often the most valuable.
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There is always so much talk about the sins of the fathers, but it is the sins of the mothers that are the most difficult to avoid repeating.
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I had wanted to live forever as a gypsy girl; I had wanted to live forever as a child, tumbling down a rabbit hole. I had been granted both wishes, only to find immortality was not what it had promised to be; instead of a passport to the future, it was a yoke that bound me to the past.
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For if princes and princesses couldn’t live a fairy tale, what hope did the rest of us have?
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My head grew muddled with it all; the silly ways adults acted with one another, never saying what they meant, trusting in sighs and glances and distance to speak for them instead. How dangerous that was! How easy it must be to misinterpret a sigh or a look.
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“Why couldn’t it be you? You’ve never brought me anything but pain, while she has brought me nothing but joy.”
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I knew that no matter what I said, it would not be enough; when you’re on the other side of the looking glass, nothing is as it seems.
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“I mean that you’ve spoiled yourself for a man who didn’t deserve you, and now you’re unfit for one who does. That’s your greatest fear, isn’t it?”
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I could not have loved my sons more, that I knew. What I would never know is if my capacity to love might have been greater had I married my true heart’s desire.
Highlighted by 12 Kindle customers
Setting & Locations edit
- Oxford: Alice's childhood home when she lived in the Deanery.
- Godstow: A favorite picnic spot for the Liddell girls up the Isis.
- London
- Wonderland: From Dodgson's story, where all of Alice's wounderous adventures take place.
- Wales
- Cuffnells
- Lord Newry
- Meadow
- France
- England
- Christ Church
- Scotland
First Sentence edit
But oh my dear, I am tired of being Alice in Wonderland.
Table of Contents edit
I. Cuffnells,1932
II. Oxford, 1859
III. Oxford, 1875
IV. Cuffnells, 1914
Themes & Symbolism edit
Series & Lists edit
This book is in NPR Summer Books 2010. (authoritative list)
Authors & Contributors edit
- Melanie Benjamin (Author) - Pseudonym of Melanie Hauser.
First Edition edit
Original Language: English
Publisher: Delacourt Press
Country: United States of America
Publication Date: 2009
ISBN: 978-0-385-34413-5
Page Count: 351
Publisher: Delacourt Press
Country: United States of America
Publication Date: 2009
ISBN: 978-0-385-34413-5
Page Count: 351
Classification edit
- Library of Congress: PS3608.A876 A79 2009
- Dewey: 813.6
Subjects edit
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Links to Supplemental Material edit
- Melanie Benjamin: The author's personal website, which includes additional information about what Alice Little's life would have been like.
- More about Alice Liddell and Alice in Wonderland
More Books Like This edit
Books with Additional Background Information edit
Books That Influenced This Book edit
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