Alice in Posterland

Guinness advert from 1954 magazine.

Alice Through the Fibreglass or an AA Checkmate: Playbill.

1948 Pantomime.

Folding single sheet, with a very pretty cover.

‘Produced and Directed by the AA Panto Committee 1948. Curtains and Costumes by courtesy of Fibreglass Ltd.’

Illustrations by Andrew Johnson.

Published by Candleshoe Books, 2011.

First edition hardback, no dustjacket.

ISBN: 978-0982508992

Alice’s adventures re-told entirely in verse- it’s really rather fun! For example- in the hall of doors, trying to reach the key on the glass table:

Beneath the soaring table now:
A tiny biscuit box—
And there within, a little sin:
A tasty paradox.
A little bite, perhaps it might
Reverse—to some degree—
The ill-effect and redirect
Up to the mocking key.

..and at the trial:

“We’ve heard the charge brought by the Hare
Upon this crucial matter.
And now, before we hang this rogue,
We’ll listen to the Hatter…”

From publisher:

Who really stole the Queen’s tarts? Whatever did become of the Walrus & the Carpenter after their nefarious jot down the briny beach with the little Oysters? Is there truly any sense to be found in nonsense at all?

Come follow Alice down the rabbit-hole once again as Lewis Carroll’s timeless classic is reimagined through the lyrical language of Wonderland…where a Caterpillar dispenses an indelible lesson, a Cat offers safe haven and  (fairly) sound advice, and a Hatter and Hare throw a mad tea party before matching wits at the trial of the century!

Reviews:

‘The rumored ‘lost rhymes’ of Lewis Carroll are the inspiration behind Alice in Verse: The Lost Rhymes of Wonderland, a compilation of masterful poetry. While adding new and interesting elements, Holden has managed to keep the timeless appeal of the original works, allowing true fans to insatiably dig in. From the absurdity of the verse to the well-composed rhyme to the shrewd black-and-white illustrations, this book is certainly a literature lover’s delight.’ –The Children’s Book Review

‘A deftly crafted compendium of original poetry, accompanied by superb black-and-white illustrations. Classic elements of bothWonderland and Looking-Glass are imaginatively reinterpreted for a thoroughly unique and entertaining reading experience. Highly recommended for academic and community library collections, Alice in Verse: The Lost Rhymes of Wonderland should be included on any supplemental reading list for students and fans of Carroll’s original works.’ –The Midwest Book Review

‘Rich in dramatic irony…sophisticated and amusing…the two writers [Holden and Carroll] become nearly indistinguishable.’ –ForeWord Reviews

Tales from Wonderland Volume 2

Published by Zenescope.

Second edition paperback, 2010.

ISBN: 978-0982363027

From the publishers:

The Red Queen finally has her chance at revenge. The shocking origin of the very first Mad Hatter comes to light, The Cheshire Cat is out in the real world and he’s ready to have some fun and Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum are doomed to repeat a nightmare of a lifetime.

Contains Tales from Wonderland: The Cheshire Cat, Tales from Wonderland: The Red Queen, Tales from Wonderland: Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum, and Tales from Wonderland: The Mad Hatter part 2.

Wonderland: House of Liddle

Written by Dan Wickline. Artwork by Dave Hoover. Cover art by Sean Chen.

Published by Zenescope, 2011. First edition paperback.

From the publishers:

If walls could speak, these would scream! When Calie left the Liddle home she had no idea of the terrible legacy she was leaving behind. A house possessed by the evil of Wonderland, it has been taking victims for years and years. Some innocent… some not so. Now the story of the house of madness is collected here for the first time ever!

Illustrated by Albertine Randall Wheelan.

Published 1900. Hardback, no dustjacket. Published by The Dodge Publishing Company.

Rather nice black and white plates and many text illustrations.

A young niece of Alice first becomes involved in adventures with a number of Wonderland characters, and then the book continues with stories told to her by various animals.

Albertine Randall Wheelan was a costume designer and cartoonist, who drew The Dumbunnies during the 1920s. She was born in San Francisco, the youngest of four children, and attended the San Francisco School of Design. She drew magazine illustrations for Harper’s Bazaar, Harper’s Young People, St. Nicholas and others.

There’s an Evertype version available on Amazon: Pictureland

Anna Gaskell

Published by powerHouse Books, 2001. First edition hardback.

ISBN: 1576870693

Two of Gaskell’s photographic series (Wonder and Override) are based on a loose re-interpretation of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. Both included in this book.

From the publisher:

Anna Gaskell’s first monograph showcases the artist’s famed photographic series and rarely seen drawings. Through such diverse references as Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland and 1970s horror films All About Eve and Carrie, Gaskell plumbs the strangeness of growing up female in a haunting and provocative style of photography.

Anna Gaskell was born in Iowa in 1969. She studied at the Art Institute of Chicago, where she received a B.F.A. in 1992. She received an M.F.A. from Yale University in 1995.

Some of the photos here…

Available on Amazon: Anna Gaskell

Birthday present from my boyfriend’s parents! How cool!

Illustrated by Margaret Tarrant.

Undated, but I think it’s a reprint from 1950, as the 1935 first edition was published undated in blue cloth rather than the beige of my copy.

Hardback, no dustjacket.

Coloured frontispiece and 15 colour plates, plus many line drawings- all of children and various flower fairies.

Margaret Winifred Tarrant (1888 – 1959) was an English illustrator specialising in depictions of fairy-like children and religious subjects. She began her career at the age of 20, and painted and published into the early 1950s.

She was known for her children’s books, postcards, calendars, and print reproductions.

The book tells of Joan’s journey through Flowerland after falling asleep in the sun one day.
Bought in Fosters in Chiswick. Lovely shop.

Sometimes turns up on Amazon: Flowerland

Alice in Wonderland Through the Visual Arts

Published to accompany the Tate Liverpool exhibition, 4 November 2011. Soft back.

ISBN 978 1 85437 991 7

From the back cover:

Lewis Carroll’s stories based around the character of Alice have proved to be among the most enduring literary creations of all time. For almost 150 years they have led a double life, on one hand classics of children’s literature and on the other endlessly fascinating source material for artists, writers, filmmakers and creatives of all kinds.

For the first time, this extensively illustrated book examines the visual art that has been inspired by the Alice stories. Beginning with Lewis Carroll’s original sketches and Tenniel’s iconic illustrations it then explores the appearance of the books extraordinary characters in drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking, film animation and video. Essays by Gillian Beer, Alberto Manguel, Christoph Schulz and Edward Wakeling grant fresh insights Carroll’s life and work together with a new fairy tale specially written by Carol Mavor.

Artists featured include Fiona Banner, Salvador Dali, Max Ernst, Anna Gaskell, Dan Graham, Paul Nash, Yayoi Kusama, Robert Smithson, Annelies Strba, Diana Thater and Luc Tuymans.

Gavin Delahunty is Head of Exhibitions and Displays at Tate Liverpool. Christoph Schulz is an independent curator.

Bought from the Tate, but available on amazon: Tate Alice in Wonderland