A New Alice in the Old Wonderland

by Anna Matlock Richards Jr, Anna Matlock Jr. Richards

First published in 1895 in Philadelphia, thirty years after the initial publication of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," Anna Matlack Richards' "A New Alice in the Old Wonderland" is a splendid and worthy successor to Lewis Carroll's original tales. Instead of Alice Liddell, it is Alice Lee who makes her way to Wonderland... Richly illustrated in the style of John Tenniel by the author's daughter, this book will delight any reader thirsting for a new adventure in Carroll's wondrous world.

Genres: Fiction, Fantasy

184 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1895

Reviews

[N.S. Neill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Featuring an American Alice this time journeying through her literary heroine’s Wonderland, this features all the classics from Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass and yet it doesn’t quite master C.S Lewis’ charm.
Delightful at time but dull at others with an overwhelming amount of poetry. A side addition is that the author’s daughter (also called Anna Richards) was able to mirror the style of John Tenniel for the accompanying artwork.
I’m a huge fan of Alice in Wonderland so I do consider this a nice collector’s piece but for a sequel trying to mimic the style of C.S Lewis I just don’t think it quite got there. Too often this Alice reaches a scene devoid of life or in disarray and reflects of the previous Alice’s adventures there making us nostalgic for the original rather than invested in this.

[Janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

It wasnt as adventerous as I thought it would be. I did enjoy the characters and tbe way they think of things in wonderland. It made me smile. I would suggest that you are familar with Alice In Wonderland because they visit the same places and dont really describe them since you should already know Wonderland.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think only diehard Wonderland fans would find this interesting enough to finish it but I doubt they'd particularly like it either

[Mj · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland remains one of the most charming and unique reading experiences I have had as a young reader. It was absurd and adult, with complex riddles and puzzles strewn throughout that still keep me entertained. (Try figuring out the chess game played between the White and Red Queens sometime!)

As such, I'm protective of the story and quick to dismiss cash-ins on the work. I'm considering starting a "Tim Burton Must Be Stopped" fund soon. However, this book is a love letter to the stories that I love, and is a family affair. (Mother wrote it and daughter illustrated it.) The illustrations are shockingly close to Tenniel's own, and are a joy unto themselves.

The story is essentially a retreading of Wonderland with an American girl whose name is also Alice. This takes a considerably meta tone when Alice is already in love with Lewis Carroll's books, so she already knows (and anticipates) who she will meet.

Richards employs false humility at the start of the book by claiming "We're not original, nor wise, nor witty." However, as far as a reconstructed Wonderland, New Alice shines for readers as much now as it did when it was published.

[Matthew · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this book up because it is written by the daughter of the original artist for Lewis Carroll's work -- so, really, it's the only book with fam...moreI picked this book up because it is written by the daughter of the original artist for Lewis Carroll's work -- so, really, it's the only book with familial ties to the masterwork.

Richards does well creating her own Wonderland, even if it's not as splendid as Carroll's. Richards has a problem with poetry (as in, she's not very good at it) so she decided to omit a lot of poetic devices. This led to an awkward Wonderland that wasn't as musical as I remembered it.

That said, New Alice is bookended by phenomenal sections. The Little Piggies reference in the beginning was charming, and I loved the Tweedle chapter at the end (and even the "escape" from Wonderland was well done). It's just unfortunate that the middle section didn't live up to my expectations.

[Jodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a revisit to Wonderland. It was close to the original journey. It was great. I really liked it.

[Theresa Tapp · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book but I think I would have gotten more from it if I had read Alice in Wonderland beforehand.