Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Amsterdam Athenaeum-Polak en Van Gennep 2009
User reviews
LibraryThing member JudithProctor
This is the only book in my collection to be tagged both 'fiction' and 'non-fiction'. It's a fascinating addition to Alice. There are all kinds of snippets of information and the original version of all the poems that Lewis was parodying. It gives historical and cultural information as well as
Do NOT read this volume if you just want to settle down with the story - you'll get lost in the anecdotes. Have a copy of 'Alice in Wonderland 'as well as the Annotated Alice.
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looking at the derivations of Lewis's portmanteau words.Do NOT read this volume if you just want to settle down with the story - you'll get lost in the anecdotes. Have a copy of 'Alice in Wonderland 'as well as the Annotated Alice.
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LibraryThing member AlexTheHunn
Alice is one of my favorite works of all times. I found the book profoundly influential as a child, providing as it did a entry into the world of Victorian literature and history, to say nothing of the sheer delight and humor of the piece. The annotated version is quite helpful to make sense of the
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more obsure elements. Show Less
LibraryThing member kencf0618
The more I understand something, the more wonder is engendered. (As Socrates remarks somewhere, wonder is the beginning of philosophy.) Gardner does a fantastic job of delving into every crevice of Wonderland; Siouxsie would be pleased.
LibraryThing member celephicus
An excellent edition of Alice for modern readers. Even though I am a great fan of Martin Gardner, sometimes even his comments grate on my ears, such as when he advises that readres in (psycho) analysis should not read Alice (presumably because of the multiplicity of new symbols). Still, most of the
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notes are quite illuminating. As a one-ime resident of Oxford this book was my companion on a few Sunday rambles, and I am indebted to Gardner for the information that the Mad Hatter was based on a prominent eccentric furniture dealer of that town. Why else would he ask a riddle about writing desks (unanswered, of course), and why are there so many more references to furniture in the tea-party chapter? Show Less
LibraryThing member jpsnow
It's a classic that everyone should read for cultural literacy if nothing else. I'm imaginative but this story never grabbed me - not as a kid, and not now.
LibraryThing member DameMuriel
The extremely long annotation in Through the Looking Glass about infinite regress....GREAT CAESAR'S GHOST! And I mean that in a good way.
LibraryThing member Shijuro
Excellent version of the Alice books with notes by Martin Gardner throughout, pointing out interesting trivia, discussing wordplay, cross-referencing other sources, etc. It made rereading this a fresh experience.
LibraryThing member amerynth
Always enjoyed Alice in Wonderland -- such a well put together and entertaining story.
This was my first read of "Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There." I didn't enjoy it quite as much as the original -- perhaps because I'm not familiar with chess so the nuances were lost on
Gardner's annotations to the text (and the original illustrations) are sometimes fascinating and sometimes a little silly. However, they definitely added to the reading by shining a little more light onto Carroll and his inspiration for certain passages.
This was my first read of "Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There." I didn't enjoy it quite as much as the original -- perhaps because I'm not familiar with chess so the nuances were lost on
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me.Gardner's annotations to the text (and the original illustrations) are sometimes fascinating and sometimes a little silly. However, they definitely added to the reading by shining a little more light onto Carroll and his inspiration for certain passages.
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LibraryThing member frecked
Illustrated by John Tenniel. With an introduction and notes by Martin Gardner
LibraryThing member RandyStafford
What Gardner adds to these two classics. This my reaction on reading this in 1990.
Gardner's "Introduction" talks about Carroll’s shyness, his fondness for little English girls (nothing untoward went on between him and them), his undistinguished life as an Anglican deacon and Oxford mathematician
"Alice's Adventure's in Wonderland" -- Gardner’s notes explain the historical and literary allusions (particularly to the execrable songs and poems parodied) and notes relevant details from Carroll’s personal life.
"Through the Looking Glass" -- Gardner points out how Humpty Dumpty raises some serious questions of a philosophical, linguistic, and artistic nature. Do things have no names beyond what we arbitrarily decide? If words can’t mean what me want them to, how are puns and poetry possible? If words aren’t rigidly defined by others, how is communication possible? The annotations in this book are even more valueable than those for Alice in Wonderland. In addition to explaining allusions, Gardner points out the philosophical, mathematical, scientific, and logical questions raised by Carroll’s playfulness -- explaining Carroll’s continuing appeal to scientists and mathematicians. The annotations also help explain the strange chess game central to the story. All the moves are legal -- just not done in the proper white-red-white sequence). He also notes the many literary takeoffs of Carroll. Last, but not least, Gardner (with help from the Oxford English Dictionary) explains that the famous Jaberwocky poem isn’t quite as strange as it seems.
Gardner's "Introduction" talks about Carroll’s shyness, his fondness for little English girls (nothing untoward went on between him and them), his undistinguished life as an Anglican deacon and Oxford mathematician
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(though some of his writings touch on metalogic), and his special relationship with Alice Liddell. Gardner also takes jabs at the many allegorical and Freudian interpretations of the Alice books. Gardner, who I only know through his science and puzzle writings, is surprisingly diverse in citing literature that shares Carroll’s strange, absurd view of the world."Alice's Adventure's in Wonderland" -- Gardner’s notes explain the historical and literary allusions (particularly to the execrable songs and poems parodied) and notes relevant details from Carroll’s personal life.
"Through the Looking Glass" -- Gardner points out how Humpty Dumpty raises some serious questions of a philosophical, linguistic, and artistic nature. Do things have no names beyond what we arbitrarily decide? If words can’t mean what me want them to, how are puns and poetry possible? If words aren’t rigidly defined by others, how is communication possible? The annotations in this book are even more valueable than those for Alice in Wonderland. In addition to explaining allusions, Gardner points out the philosophical, mathematical, scientific, and logical questions raised by Carroll’s playfulness -- explaining Carroll’s continuing appeal to scientists and mathematicians. The annotations also help explain the strange chess game central to the story. All the moves are legal -- just not done in the proper white-red-white sequence). He also notes the many literary takeoffs of Carroll. Last, but not least, Gardner (with help from the Oxford English Dictionary) explains that the famous Jaberwocky poem isn’t quite as strange as it seems.
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LibraryThing member hcubic
Gardner's comments are the reason to buy this book. Brilliant.
LibraryThing member Moem
Lovely, funny and smart. Everything you always wanted to understand about this classic, but didn't know whom to ask. Even the chess moves are explained.
LibraryThing member Lauren2013
The Annotated Alice
3.5 Stars
A wonderfully whimsy tale that reveals insightful social satire and criticism of the time.
This particular edition is intended for students and scholars. In this respect, it is long on the annotation but short on the analysis. As a scholarly work it is missing some
A different edition might be preferable for those interested in the story alone.
3.5 Stars
A wonderfully whimsy tale that reveals insightful social satire and criticism of the time.
This particular edition is intended for students and scholars. In this respect, it is long on the annotation but short on the analysis. As a scholarly work it is missing some
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deeper insights. A different edition might be preferable for those interested in the story alone.
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LibraryThing member DinadansFriend
Both Wonderland and "Through the Looking glass" are presented and annotated, with the illustrations from Tienniel. If an adult this is the book. As an artistic experience, well, I admit to owning a reprint in less footnoted format...
LibraryThing member brittaniethekid
This is a great version of the classic story in that it has notes, definitions, historical facts, and other tidbits that tie into the story and help the reader better understand the plot. It's also great for people just interested in the general history of Carroll and his writings. I recommend this
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to anyone who hasn't read it, because it's unabridged (the first copy of Alice... I owned had many parts missing I didn't even know about till I read this version) and because it's well thought out and put together. Show Less
LibraryThing member DrT
Book title and author: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (by Lewis Carroll) Reviewed 5/17/23
Why I picked this book up: it was the next book in The Banned Books Compendium: 32 Classic Forbidden Books by Gringory Lukin (Editor) I win in April 23
Thoughts: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (commonly
It received positive reviews upon release and is now one of the best-known works of Victorian literature; its narrative, structure, characters and imagery have had widespread influence on popular culture and literature, especially in the fantasy genre. It is credited as helping end an era of didacticism in children's literature, inaugurating an era in which writing for children aimed to "delight or entertain". The tale plays with logic, giving the story lasting popularity with adults as well as with children. The titular character Alice shares her given name with Alice Liddell, a girl Carroll knew.
The book has never been out of print and has been translated into 174 languages. Its legacy covers “for screen, radio, art, ballet, opera, musicals, theme parks, board games and video games. Carroll published a sequel in 1871 entitled Through the Looking-Glass and a shortened version for young children, The Nursery "Alice" in 1890.
It’s hard to believe a charming, nonsense book like that would have any opposition, and yet… In 1900, the book was suspended from classroom use, pending review, at the Woodsville High School in Haverhill, New Hampshire, because of "expletives, references to masturbation and sexual fantasies, and derogatory characterizations of teachers and of religious ceremonies." More recently, the book became controversial because of what some people thought were drug references. In Chapter 5 Alice meets a Caterpillar sitting on top of a mushroom: in recent times, this been cited for drug references.
In 1931, the book was banned in China by the Governor of Huan Province on the grounds that “Animals should not use human language, and…it [is] disastrous to put animals and human beings on the same level.”
I saw this book as an uncle sharing a story. Sometimes illogical, silly, fantastical and sometimes funny. I didn’t like some parts, there were different characters and it was a fun little read.
Why I finished this read: I finished because I wanted to see why it was bannned for thing like drug use like the caterpillar smoking from a hookah. I did not see where they claimed it was talking about masterbation I did not see,
Stars rating: when I got past the silly, unrealistic story and took it as a story told from an uncle, I really enjoyed the chapters. 5 of 5 stars.
Why I picked this book up: it was the next book in The Banned Books Compendium: 32 Classic Forbidden Books by Gringory Lukin (Editor) I win in April 23
Thoughts: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (commonly
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Alice in Wonderland) is an 1865 English novel by Lewis Carroll. It details the story of a young girl named Alice who falls through a rabbit hole into a fantasy world of anthropomorphic creatures. It is seen as an example of the literary nonsense genre. The artist John Tenniel provided 42 wood-engraved illustrations for the book.It received positive reviews upon release and is now one of the best-known works of Victorian literature; its narrative, structure, characters and imagery have had widespread influence on popular culture and literature, especially in the fantasy genre. It is credited as helping end an era of didacticism in children's literature, inaugurating an era in which writing for children aimed to "delight or entertain". The tale plays with logic, giving the story lasting popularity with adults as well as with children. The titular character Alice shares her given name with Alice Liddell, a girl Carroll knew.
The book has never been out of print and has been translated into 174 languages. Its legacy covers “for screen, radio, art, ballet, opera, musicals, theme parks, board games and video games. Carroll published a sequel in 1871 entitled Through the Looking-Glass and a shortened version for young children, The Nursery "Alice" in 1890.
It’s hard to believe a charming, nonsense book like that would have any opposition, and yet… In 1900, the book was suspended from classroom use, pending review, at the Woodsville High School in Haverhill, New Hampshire, because of "expletives, references to masturbation and sexual fantasies, and derogatory characterizations of teachers and of religious ceremonies." More recently, the book became controversial because of what some people thought were drug references. In Chapter 5 Alice meets a Caterpillar sitting on top of a mushroom: in recent times, this been cited for drug references.
In 1931, the book was banned in China by the Governor of Huan Province on the grounds that “Animals should not use human language, and…it [is] disastrous to put animals and human beings on the same level.”
I saw this book as an uncle sharing a story. Sometimes illogical, silly, fantastical and sometimes funny. I didn’t like some parts, there were different characters and it was a fun little read.
Why I finished this read: I finished because I wanted to see why it was bannned for thing like drug use like the caterpillar smoking from a hookah. I did not see where they claimed it was talking about masterbation I did not see,
Stars rating: when I got past the silly, unrealistic story and took it as a story told from an uncle, I really enjoyed the chapters. 5 of 5 stars.
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Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1960 (Annotated Alice)
Physical description
247, 207 p.; 25 cm
ISBN
9789025364212