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The Philosopher's Alice: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass
512 pages, Paperback
Published May 26, 2025
1 person is currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
Lewis Carroll
6,162 books8,423 followersThe Reverend Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, better known by the pen name Lewis Carroll, was an English author, mathematician, logician, Anglican clergyman and photographer.
His most famous writings are Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and its sequel Through the Looking-Glass as well as the poems "The Hunting of the Snark" and "Jabberwocky", all considered to be within the genre of literary nonsense.
Oxford scholar, Church of England Deacon, University Lecturer in Mathematics and Logic, academic author of learned theses, gifted pioneer of portrait photography, colourful writer of imaginative genius and yet a shy and pedantic man, Lewis Carroll stands pre-eminent in the pantheon of inventive literary geniuses.
He also has works published under his real name.
His most famous writings are Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and its sequel Through the Looking-Glass as well as the poems "The Hunting of the Snark" and "Jabberwocky", all considered to be within the genre of literary nonsense.
Oxford scholar, Church of England Deacon, University Lecturer in Mathematics and Logic, academic author of learned theses, gifted pioneer of portrait photography, colourful writer of imaginative genius and yet a shy and pedantic man, Lewis Carroll stands pre-eminent in the pantheon of inventive literary geniuses.
He also has works published under his real name.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
September 14, 2025
The Philosopher’s Alice by Peter Heath takes the familiar format of Martin Gardner’s Annotated Alice, but instead of focusing on literary or historical notes, it examines the tales through a logico-philosophical lens. Each chapter pairs Carroll’s text with commentary that teases out questions of logic, meaning, and philosophical play.
Many of the points were fascinating, particularly in Through the Looking-Glass, where the themes of reflection, duality, and wordplay naturally lend themselves to philosophical inquiry. That said, some interpretations didn’t quite resonate with me, especially in the introduction where Heath argues that Carroll’s writing is “absurd” rather than truly “nonsensical” when compared to Edward Lear.
Even so, this was a fun and engaging read, like walking alongside Alice while also viewing her adventures through a philosopher’s eye. For readers curious about the logical puzzles and philosophical undercurrents woven into Carroll’s worlds, this book makes for a thoughtful and occasionally provocative companion.
Many of the points were fascinating, particularly in Through the Looking-Glass, where the themes of reflection, duality, and wordplay naturally lend themselves to philosophical inquiry. That said, some interpretations didn’t quite resonate with me, especially in the introduction where Heath argues that Carroll’s writing is “absurd” rather than truly “nonsensical” when compared to Edward Lear.
Even so, this was a fun and engaging read, like walking alongside Alice while also viewing her adventures through a philosopher’s eye. For readers curious about the logical puzzles and philosophical undercurrents woven into Carroll’s worlds, this book makes for a thoughtful and occasionally provocative companion.
Displaying 1 of 1 review