Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, ill. by Ángel Domínguez | 1996, originally published 1865 | Artisan Books | Hardcover, out of print

“Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” has delighted children and adults the world over for more than 100 years. Now, in an exquisite new edition of Lewis Carroll’s masterwork, acclaimed Spanish illustrator Ángel Domínguez captures all of the original’s pungent wit and whimsy in his own surrealistic style. Artisan’s beautifully designed and produced volume of “Alice” will be a treasured addition to the international body of classic children’s literature.

This is a re-read for me, a story that I enjoyed as a child and wanted to revisit for Classics Club. As a kid I thought it was kind of a funny story, though heavily associated with the animated film version from Disney; I thought it would be fun to revisit the book as an adult. That said, this review applies specifically to this illustrated edition of the Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

The illustrations by Ángel Domínguez are DELIGHTFUL. They’re all quite meticulous, with gorgeously done botanicals and touchable-looking feathers or fur on the animal characters. But what I particularly admire about them is the little details that only show themselves on careful study — like the reappearance of a character from “The Rabbit Sends in a Little Bill” in the background of a picture from “Pig and Pepper”, or the charmingly rabbit-shaped cottage in the scenery for “A Mad Tea-Party”. These whimsical little extras fit perfectly with the tone of the story and, in my opinion, take this classic book to the next level.

There are several little verbal jokes that I think went over my head as a kid, and a few references to things that I think are distinctly Victorian, so I’m glad I took the time to re-read this book as an adult with a little more context. I think I enjoyed the book when I was younger because it’s a surreal adventure that apparently has no strict moral meaning to it, unlike most classic tales for children. I enjoyed it again as an adult because it is so cleverly written and creative; it makes very little sense on purpose, but has somehow captured public imagination in such a way that the story has been referenced or retold again and again well over a century after its original publication.

I don’t think this edition of the book is still in print, but if you can find a gently-used copy of it I would highly recommend snatching it up. It might also make a nice gift for a bookish child or a bibliophile who appreciates illustrated classics.

Links:

• Website of illustrator Ángel Domínguez
• The Lewis Carroll Society of North America
• The Lewis Carroll Society (UK)
• Biography of Lewis Carroll from the British Library
• The Lewis Carroll Scrapbook at the Library of Congress

Publication information: Carroll, Lewis. Alice’s adventures in Wonderland. New York, NW: Artisan Books, 1996. Hardcover.
Source: Personal library.
Disclaimer: I am not compensated, monetarily or otherwise, for reviews of books or other products.