Alice in Sunderland

by Bryan Talbot

Sunderland! Thirteen hundred years ago it was the greatest center of learning in the whole of Christendom and the very cradle of English consciousness. In the time of Lewis Carroll it was the greatest shipbuilding port in the world. To this city that gave the world the electric light bulb, the stars and stripes, the millennium, the Liberty Ships and the greatest British dragon legend came Carroll in the years preceding his most famous book, Alice in Wonderland, and here are buried the roots of his surreal masterpiece. Enter the famous Edwardian palace of varieties, The Sunderland Empire, for a unique experience: an entertaining and epic meditation on myth, history and storytelling and decide for yourself—does Sunderland really exist?

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, History, Nonfiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Biography, Art

328 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Talbot began his comics work in the underground comix scene of the late 1960s. In 1969 his first work appeared as illustrations in Mallorn, the British Tolkien Society magazine, followed in 1972 by a weekly strip in his college newspaper.

He continued in the scene after leaving college, producing Brainstorm Comix, the first three of which formed The Chester P. Hackenbush Trilogy (a character reworked by Alan Moore as Chester Williams for Swamp Thing).

He started The Adventures of Luther Arkwright in 1978. It was originally published in Near Myths and continued on over the years in other publications. It was eventually collected together into one volume by Dark Horse. Along with When the Wind Blows it is one of the first British graphic novels.

In the early to mid-eighties he provide art for some of 2000 AD's flagship serials, producing 3 series of Nemesis the Warlock, as well as strips for Judge Dredd and Sláine.

The Tale of One Bad Rat deals with recovery from childhood sexual abuse.

Talbot moved to the American market in the 1990s, principally for DC, on titles like Hellblazer, Sandman and Batman. He also produced the art for The Nazz by Tom Veitch and worked with Tom's brother Rick Veitch on Teknophage, one of a number of mini-series he drew for Tekno Comix.

Talbot has illustrated cards for the Magic: The Gathering collectible card game.

He has also illustrated Bill Willingham's Fables, as well as returning to the Luther Arkwright universe with Heart of Empire. He has also worked on The Dead Boy Detectives.

In 2006, he announced the graphic novel Metronome, an existential, textless erotically-charged visual poem,written under the pseudonym Véronique Tanaka. He admitted that he was the author in 2009.

In 2007 he released Alice in Sunderland, which documents the connections between Lewis Carroll, Alice Liddell, and the Sunderland and Wearside area. He also wrote and drew the layouts for Cherubs!, which he describes as "an irreverent fast-paced supernatural comedy-adventure."

His upcoming work includes a sequel to 2009's Grandville, which Talbot says is "a detective steampunk thriller" and Paul Gravett calls it "an inspired reimagining of some of the first French anthropomorphic caricatures". It is planned as the first in a series of four or five graphic novels.

Source: Wikipedia

Reviews

[Paul Bryant · Rating 2 out of 5]

'I should understand this book far better,' said Alice to herself, 'if I started at the beginning again. But how curiously it twists! It's more like a corkscrew than a book! Well, this turn goes to Sunderland, a large northern English city, and this goes straight back to Lewis Carroll! Well then, I'll try it the other way.'

And so she did: turning page after page, back and forth, but always coming back to Sunderland or Lewis Carroll.

'It's no use talking about it,' Alice said, looking up at the book and pretending it was arguing with her. 'I'm not going in again yet. It confuses me so!'

When she looked up from her book, there at the end of the garden was Bryan Talbot.

'Ah, look, it's the author!" said Alice to the roses growing near her head.

'No use talking to us, dear,' they said, nodding as if to say, what a silly goose.

'I think I'll go and meet him,' said Alice.

'Where do you come from?' said Mr Talbot when she had arrived at the end of the garden. 'And where are you going? Look up, speak nicely, and don't twiddle your fingers all the time.'

Alice attended to all these directions, and explained, as well as she could, that she had lost her way in his book.

'I don't know what you mean by your way,' said he: 'all the ways in my book belong to me. Don't mumble so, enunciate your vowels, open your mouth a little wider when you speak. Repeat after me : Mr Talbot, your book is funny, thought-provoking, entertaining, whimsical, poignant, polemical, a heady cocktail of fact and fiction, a sumptuous multi-layered journey parochial in its focus yet universal in its themes and bound to win many many prizes. Go on, child, your turn.'

'I don't care to,' said Alice.

'What?' cried the author, 'you don't care to? I declare you are the rudest child I have encountered this whole year. And why do you not care to, hmm?'

'Well,' said Alice, looking nervously at her shoes, 'you see, I always said what is the use of a book without pictures, so yours must be the most useful book in the world, and it was very pretty, but I am so very sorry to say it bored the living bejesus out of me.'

And Alice woke up with a start to find once again she had dozed off whilst trying to finish Alice in Sunderland.

[MJ Nicholls · Rating 4 out of 5]

This queeriarse and queeriarser creation from comics legend Bryan Talbot isn’t so much an “entertainment” as a documentary in GN form, interweaving the history of Sunderland with the history of Lewis Carroll and Alice in her fictional and factional forms. An epic work, this seems to have been conceived as an historical and regional-interest-type production (as the back-of-book bitterness about the author’s lack of council grant testifies), a dizzying mixture of cheesy tourist guide to Sunderland, and an imaginative summary of the Carroll and Alice myths. Talbot inks himself in as narrator, telling the story from the Empire Theatre, occasionally inking himself as he’s inking most postmodernically (remember when that word used to be cool? was it ever an actual word?), and covers the history of the region from the age of trilobites up to the then-present now-past. Readers seeking Alice arcana and Carroll-love will be disappointed by the tangential nature of the thing (the Alice info is pretty drive-by basic), and hip GN fans will dislike the creaky Britishness of the humour. As an overall production, this is a visually exciting work: Talbot parodies and homages many old-book old-storytelling styles, mixes Victorian illustrations, photographs and newspaper cuttings often on the same page, to really bring his history to life in a sincerely passionate way. As impressive and amusing as a BBC4 documentary, and 94% less smug.

[Ｆｒａｎｋｈ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I should state from here on out that I intensely identify with Lewis Caroll's Alice and that I've considered her as a fictional counterpart, most especially Alan Moore's re-imagining of this character in Lost Girls. Last year, while working late night at our student publication's office, I came across a manual for artists which belong to the art section, and it listed Bryan Talbot's Alice in Sunderland as one of the references. I was immediately intrigued because it was an Alice-based graphic novel, and I knew Talbot from his illustrations in The Sandman volume 6. I was able to download a .cbr copy and I only scanned through the pages and realized that it was not a linear narrative structure but more of a historical thesis in sequential art form.

It was only in the Manila International Book Fair that September when I was happy to see a singular hardbound copy of this book. I took it home and began to read. Alice in Sunderland is a challenging visual experience; it's engrossing in many parts but nevertheless an often historical lecture on the origins of Caroll's creation of the Alice/Wonderland lore that could be very trying for one's attention span. The stylistic language and presentation of this book resemble what Alice might have felt when she fell down the rabbit hole, and readers will get to experience the same stressful effect because reading through this is overwhelming at times. One thing I can guarantee is that this piece of work is not bland even when it's confusing. The writing is quite schizophrenic; one moment it's a documentary with an omniscient third-person narrator talking to the audience and the next it's split into anecdotes and flash fiction weaved into several disjointed arcs.

What I can suggest when consuming this book is to take a break every once in a while and don't attempt to read this in one sitting or it will dilute your appreciation for both its form and content. Talbot infused this tapestry of stories with pages and pages of allegory, alliteration and every kind of figurative language that it's often indulgent and verbose for its own good. Nevertheless, one can forgive the book's unreliable narrator, and truly enjoy the scope of Alice in Sunderland as an exceptional work of the imagination. The book also attempts to juxtapose Sunderland's history and the history of comics as influenced by Caroll's Alice legends.

This is not the kind of book a reader should expect emotional pay-off from. Upon finishing it, all that is left is the realization that Alice is Sunderland has better parts than its entirety, but it is nonetheless audacious and thrilling. The visual landscapes and setting are some of the best drawings and illustrations I have encountered. Those alone should be enough to make this book a worthwhile occupation.

RECOMMENDED: 8/10
* Visually challenging and sensually appealing all at once.

[Ferdy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spoilers

-This was a bit of mixed bag — some parts were engrossing and other parts were messy and boring.

-At times it felt like I was watching a play or documentary and other times I felt like I was sitting in a science or history class. Which wasn't always a bad thing when the topic that was focused on was
interesting, but when the subject was dull it made for rubbish reading.

-There were a number of things Alice in Sunderland covered — the history of Britain, local Sunderland history, literature, theatre, Lewis Carroll's life/inspirations and Alice Lidell's life.

-The artwork and photography was a mixture of impressive and not so impressive. A lot of the photographs were blurred for some reason or another — it was kind of annoying. There were some illustrations/photos that were presented well but for the most part they were confusing and a tad overwhelming.

-There was a lot of local history that I found boring, but some parts were fascinating like the tragedy in Victoria hall that killed nearly 200 children, and the Hartlepool monkey legend was great and Jack Crawford's life/story was interesting.

-The different narrators didn't really work for me, the narraters seemed to switch at random, and it was rather jarring.

-I did enjoy all the parts that discussed Lewis Carroll and the real Alice. They had such an odd relationship — a middle aged man hanging out with a bunch of little girls? Yea, it's weird. I'm still not sure if the relationship was innocent or twisted.

-All in all, Alice in Sunderland was quite good but I had a lot of issues with it.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although Alice in Sunderland is marketed as a graphic novel, it is not really a novel so much as a portmanteau of a history text, a Ken Burns-style documentary, an ontological conundrum worthy of Tom Stoppard, a biography, an art lesson, and a literary analysis. And "portmanteau" is an appropriate word, as it comes directly from one of the main subjects of the work: Lewis Carroll and the Alice books. Although this book has plenty to say (both directly and indirectly) about Carroll, his works, and the historical Alice Liddell, it also covers such varied topics as English history (literary, political, economic) from the pre-Celts to the present, music-hall entertainments, history of comics (from the Bayeaux Tapestry through Hogarth engravings to British underground comics of the 1960's), and local legends of the city of Sunderland and its environs.

Of particular interest to Mythopoeic folks is Talbot's exploration of the many connections between Lewis Carroll and the Sunderland area. He cites many references to support the claim that, contrary to popular belief (a belief that may have been intentionally manufactured), Carroll was not a shy and sheltered academic who never left Oxford. He details the many connections between Carroll and the Liddell family and the Sunderland area, and looks at the various controversies around Carroll's life and relationships.

In order to accomplish the varied tasks of the book, author/artist Talbot has inserted himself into the narrative in the forms of three (at least) different characters: "The Plebian", a man-on-the-street bloke who wanders into the empty Sunderland Empire theater, "The Performer", who strides onto the stage and begins the historical narrative for the often-bored Plebian, and "The Pilgrim", the artist who gets up from his drawing table and takes the readers on a walking (and sometimes boating) tour of Sunderland, telling the stories of various landmarks and introducing us to real people along the way.

Bryan Talbot is a respected comics writer/artist, best known for graphic novels such as the paratime psychedelic SF fantasy The Adventures of Luther Arkwright, its somewhat more conventional sequel Heart of Empire, and the mainstream story The Tale of One Bad Rat. In Alice in Sunderland he supplements his own excellent artwork with photographs, antique drawings, old theater handbills and the like, to create a kaleidoscopic combination of images that support and complement the text. Some pages are what we normally think of as "comics" – drawn panels with characters and dialogue balloons. Some are collages of visual materials with text running through. The visual mix increases with Talbot's occasional pastiches, as he includes sequences drawn in the styles of old MAD comics, Herge's Tintin books, 1950's Boy's Own adventure comics, and EC horror stories (complete with the requisite "Good Lord! *choke*"), and makes further visual allusions to Tenniel illustrations, Warner Brothers cartoons, and Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics.

This is also a frequently self-referential work, breaking the "fourth wall" and commenting on itself. As the Performer launches into a particularly dry historical account, the Plebian heckles him with fake snores and yells for him to get off the stage; the author is metaphorically winking at the audience and saying, "I know this is kind of dull, but bear with me." Talbot plays freely with levels of reality, more than once depicting himself as artist drawing the very scene on the page the viewer is holding, and inserting dream sequences in such a way as to cast doubt on his own veracity. At one point the visual style shifts into fumetti (photo-based comics) and features the artist himself saying, "What am I doing? Nobody's going to believe this. They'll think I made it all up!"

In keeping with the "entertainment" reference of the title, the book is designed as a theater: the front & back endpapers are meant to look like safety curtains; the frontispiece is a lobby-card advert; there is an intermission in the middle, and a great big "THE END" at the end (although it's not really the end). And in keeping with the main theme, the final pages allude to the "it was all a dream" endings of both Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass.

Reading through this book, one is struck by the immense variety of subjects and stories presented here. But Talbot manages to tie everything together into a cohesive unity, even though it doesn't always seem like it. This is an impressive work, entertaining, enlightening, and fun.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alice in Sunderland is technically a “graphic novel,” but an unruly, bursting, whimsical one that makes the experience of interacting with it engaging and fun. It often forgoes the frames of traditional sequential storytelling in favor of busy scrapbook-like collages that reinforce the intricate, intertextual, interwoven, self-referential story about a story about a story (ad infinitum) motif that defines and dominates this graphic novel. It is a reading experience unlike any other you’re likely to have.

With the premise of some bloke wandering into a theater, the reader of Alice in Sunderland is taken on a schizophrenic and tangential trip through the history of England in general and Lewis Carroll and his infamous and influential work Alice in Wonderland in particular.

The book is big (almost a full foot tall and 8 inches wide) and long (319 pages!) and colorful (red! blue! yellow!). It’s a very ambitious work and quite impressive. Its scope would be considered “high-concept” as it consistently squirms away from any one genre or aesthetic or subject like a stubborn kid wiggling away from a smelly aunt. It explodes with tidbits of trivia and random facts with pictures and photographs and drawings of every color and style. It is a veritable kaleidoscope of imagery and ideas and history and culture and art. If it were made into a movie, Baz Luhrmann would have to direct. Maybe Terry Gilliam.

Overall, Alice in Sunderland is a little too researched and too little crafted (or maybe over-crafted) and a lot too much indulged. Many times I turned a page and muttered, “You think you’re so clever…”

But I was quite satisfied with Talbot’s achievement in Alice. The scale and style and ambition of it all are notable. And entertaining. When it doesn’t drag. Which it does sometimes. Especially at the end. I was really ready for it to be over already.

[Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can honestly say I've never read anything like that before.

Alice in Sunderland is essentially a history of the North East from Saxon times to the modern day, mixed with a study of Lewis Carrol's forgotten (or, if you are feeling paranoid, 'surpressed') links with the area.

On top of that you have interviews, reviews, polemic, politics, biography and tenuously linked sidebars. The characters include the Author (playing three parts), Sid James, George Formby, Alice Liddel, The Lady in Grey, local historians, artists and writers, as well as many historical figures, both famous and obscure.

All of that is crammed into just over 300 pages of oversized, beautiful art. It needs and bears close reading, although to try and absorb the whole thing in one sitting would likely burst your brain. Seriously.

It is a remarkable achievement. Read it. Please.

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book makes my brain hurt. I'm not much of a visual reader, this I know, but this book actually made me a bit dizzy. The artwork is amazing--very stimulating; collage-like and colorful. The story is probably good too; sort of a history of England and the world of fiction, focusing on Lewis Carroll. The two pieces together, though, are like a giant strobe light in my linear, text-based mind. If you like graphic formats, and are comfortable reading them, this is probably ok. Graphic formats are challenging to me, and they're a way for me to push my boundaries, but I couldn't do this one.

[Lauradical · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I learned? My head was blugeoned open with the sheer volume and spread like a fine paste. You'll need Ritalin to stay with it and your eyeballs should fall out at the end if you've done it right. Which is perfect in the context. There's history, gossip, literary allusions, art and anything else you could want, just wait a few pages.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will admit that I struggled with this book a bit which was a bit of surprise considering how much I have loved other works by Bryan Talbot.

The easiest way would be to describe this book as a "letter to Sunderland and the north east", it charts the connection of yes you guessed it Lewis Carroll and other historical characters and events to the City an its surrounds.

Now this is not the reason why I struggled with the book -rather the style in which it was presented. Now I am not an artist however much I wished I were so I cannot criticise the style but I did find it overwhelming and confusing in place and I do believe after reading the book that it was well founded in places but it didn't not make it any easier on my eye.

So a great concept and one I suspect that was fuelled I suspect by previous successes but one that I felt did not reach the same creative heights as some of his other works which I really do rate. But like most books what appeals to one may not to another and so I am glad had the opportunity to read this book and I shall keep on looking out for his work in the future

[G · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars - The book didn't turn out as dull as I expected; "not-as-dull-as-it-seems" being the only praise one can reserve for this graphic novel of jumbled info-dump.

[Sesana · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a strange, ambitious book. The idea presented on the cover is that Talbot will be writing about the various influences Sunderland had on the Alice books. And that happens, sure. But really, the book is far more concerned with presenting a rambling history of Sunderland itself, only occassionally going back to what is meant to be the main topic. I got the impression that Talbot was originally inspired by Alice, and became absorbed in the history of Sunderland. And it is interesting, at least to me, but it's not really what I expected. Especially since the cover copy also implies that it will lead you to question the existence of Sunderland. Which it does not, by any stretch of the imagination.

The art is, frankly, dated. Rather too much of it seems to be made up of photographs (or art reproductions, which amounts to the same thing) run through a Photoshop filter to give it a pastel effect. It might have looked interesting in the 90s, (though the book was released in 2007) but it looks more tacky today.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book of facts related to Alice in Wonderland and even some loosely related items. This is a very thorough and sometimes the author goes on a tangent but I found it interesting.

[George Siehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first graphic novel, this seems more like a closely illustrated history text. Talbot uses full page illustrations, collages, or comic strip panels to present the story of the city of Sunderland in North East England. This history begins with the peopling of the area and subsequent invasions and wars as well as its economic and cultural development. Myths and legends play their role, but Talbot's main purpose is to show the role the area played in the development of Lewis Carroll's famous work of children's literature, Alice in Wonderland. Carroll spent time living in the area and absorbing much of its history and geography, elements that Talbot links to parts of the Alice book.
He also identifies many ancestral family links to Alice Liddell,the "real life Alice." She is the young girl for whom Carroll composed the story of adventures underground.

Stepping aside from the story line, he adds side trips into discussion of many of the well known people of Sunderland, or the elaboration of local myths, such as the legend of the Lambton Worm.
He also injects a number of cameos presenting moments from comic strip art. These are pleasant interludes in the overall narrative.

Talbot literally draws himself into the story, appearing as an onstage performer at the historic Empire Theater in Sunderland, delivering the narrative history to an audience of one, a young man who wandered into the theater to kill time. The art work is outstanding, often colorful, intricate, or both. The long tale is further lengthened with a coda incorporating immigration and a pictorial flourish intimating that the whole story is a dream sequence.

There is much of national and literary history contained in this novel. The accompanying artwork is masterful. Together it provides the reader with real world knowledge and the aesthetic enjoyment of both the artistry of illustration and the artistry of storytelling. It was a rewarding first exposure to the graphic novel for this reader.

[Raina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I give this five stars not because I loved the book.
I gave this five stars because I admire (and was amazed by) the innovation in the medium and form.
It feels like an annotated Alice in Wonderland, without the original text, in comic form. Plus all kinds of historical background on the region and context for the story. Basically a big lovesong to Sunderland, a region in England.

One quibble I have is that the author occasionally uses the term "the East End" to refer to the place, and that made me think (in my ignorance of English geography) that it might be the same thing as the East End of London. Which, after a quick Google map search, it definitely is not. A little bit of orientation might have helped with that.

Talbot collages together photographs, illustrations, and his own comic illustrations to give us access to primary sources as well as his accessible comic form. For a history geek, it was totally fascinating, though not always easy to follow. I think it would have helped to have foldout pages (I keep finding myself referring back to Dash Shaw's Bodyworld) or end papers with a map on one side and a timeline on the other, as it was hard to keep track of how the incidents related to each other.
But I just went with it, and was amazed.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first read of a book in the Graphic Novel style since the Classics Illustrated comics of the 1950s. There is very little fiction in this book. It is a combination of the history of Sunderland, England and one its famous residents, Charles Lutwidge Dodson, best known by is pen name of Lewis Carroll. Oh yes, and a girl named Alice Liddell -- the young girl that Charles (Lewis) used tell stories. When Lewis Carroll finally wrote a story modeled after Alice -- Alice's Adventures Under Ground. When devising a title to replace the Adventures Under Ground, Lewis went for Alice in Wonderland. This title is very likely a play on words -- Wonderland from Sunderland. This book is subtitled -- An Entertainment. It succeeds admirably at that. Sunderland turns out to be a city that has experienced all of the invasions: Picts, Scots, Romans, Danes, Normans -- to name but a few. In WWII, Sunderland and its shipyards were bombed. It keeps on re-inventing itself while preserving relics of the ancient inhabitants.
I got this book from the library, but have ordered my own copy.

[Cheryl A · Rating 3 out of 5]

...And you thought Alice in Wonderland was a trip!

Author Bryan Talbot has given us a mind boggling, eye popping tale of the culminative history of influence on the creation of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. From the beginning of history of Sunderland (wood weevils and limestone) to the restoration of the docksides (doors to the future and steps to the past), the audience of the Sunderland Empire theater (audience of one, plus a couple of ghosts) and the reader are randomly informed of the history and events that influenced Carroll's creation.

Just like Alice, we are taken on a chaotic ride. A linear thinker, I found it difficult to follow at times, but acknowledge the artistry and brillance of the author (which he does as well). Traditional comic format is included as are posters, statuary, advertisements and even the Bayeaux Tapestry, which is apparently a graphic novel itself.

Allow yourself a couple of days to get through this massive work of art...you'll need a fresh eye and time for the mind to settle.

[Steven Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fairly bonkers local history of Sunderland. Must go visit the place some day.

[Gavin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The most thrilling edutainment ever.

Now I've written it, that looks like I'm calling it dire. But it's not dire, unless you think being cornered by your chippy infovore mate - obsessed with the connectedness of his shite hometown to the heights of world culture (esp. comedy) - when he's three drinks in - is dire. Unless you insist on finding nothing about 1800-1970 England interesting. And who insists that?

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This graphic novel is a whirlwind of history and legends of the people and places related, sometimes to a questionable degree, to Alice Liddell, Lewis Carroll, and his famous novels. It's one of the most creative things I've ever read, but it's really not for everyone. The history can get dry, and you often wonder why you're reading about these obscure people from the 11th century.

It jumps around a lot, which keeps the energy high but the comprehensibility kinda low. It also takes forever to end because there are about 6 endings, two of which are kind ham-handed (a British nationalist one and a "look at this baby, life is so beautiful" one).

But he does some fabulous things. The entire thing is brilliantly researched, and if you have the slightest interest in history, you'll enjoy this. I don't. It was the stuff related directly to Carroll, Alice, and the books that kept me interested. Some of folklore was pretty neat. And many of the sections make good use of the graphic novel/comic medium to twist your perception around. (Also some fun pastiche on other comic genres.)

So: very mixed feelings. I feel good about it, and I'm glad it's on my shelf... but I'm not sure I'd ever read it through again. There are sections I want to see again, though. So... there you go. 4 stars for the lovely parts.

[Bonnie · Rating 2 out of 5]

What is there to say about Alice in Sunderland? Off the top of my head I can say that I’m happy I finished it finally. When I reached that ending, an ending that felt like it was miles away no matter the closer I got to it, it felt like a great relief.

It isn’t that Sunderland isn’t interesting, it is, but it makes you feel like you’re being bombarded by information left, right, and centre, because you are.

Sunderland is a graphic novel of information overload based around the history and connections of Sunderland, Lewis Carroll, and Alice in Wonderland. I would have loved all this information if it wasn’t absolutely drenched in it and had an easier way of either relating to the reader or a smoother delivery.

This is a chaotic collection of information and facts dressed up in what is meant to be a fun way to experience it all, but it makes me feel like I should have had my umbrella, raincoat, and perhaps taken some form of hallucinogens before embarking on this adventure.

For the rest of my review please visit my blog.

[dejah_thoris · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dark Horse laid one with Talbot's Alice In Sunderland. I would recommend this book only for series Alice and Carroll enthusiasts because most of the text is a dry recitation of history with different images Photoshopped together into a background. Talbot does try to create 3 versions of himself to tell the "story" behind Carroll's life and Sunderland's ties to history but their interaction seems forced at best. There are a few highlights to the book, such as learning about "The Wasp In A Wig", but the premise that part of the book is false and the tension that creates is completely destroyed 3/4 of the way in leaving the reader with a feeling of worthlessness if they were trying to play along. In sum, if you are reading the back of this book thinking it will be exciting, let me assure you it isn't. I like historical graphic novels but this one does not live up to its description. So borrow it if you must, but don't buy it.

[Mieczyslaw Kasprzyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely superb!... and you know, the shame of it is that so few people will read it because they're snobbish about "comics".
This is a tour-de-force journey through the North-East, or more specifically, the Wear Valley with its focus on Sunderland and the amazing people that made/make up its personality. It is also an astounding series of interconnections and coincidences that link George Formby with Alice Liddell and Lewis Carroll, amongst so many others. It is an amazing cornucopia, a fount of knowledge... a wonderland.
The things I learned, the places I saw. It makes me want to pack my bags and drive up there using this book as a guide! History book, guide book, facts and legends... and at the heart of it that most marvellous of all books; Alice in Wonderland.
Read it - you'll never regret it!

[Suzammah · Rating 2 out of 5]

The devil is most certainly in the detail. This is the closest to a PhD thesis in comic-book form as I think is possible. A labour of love. I perhaps didn't love it as much as the author but it's impossible to dislike something that's written with such passion.

[Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

An eclectic history of the Sunderland region, with recurring references to the life of native Lewis Carroll and the possible influences of local history and geography on his famous novel.

[Álex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un collage en toda regla y en todos los sentidos: estilístico pero también imaginativo, argumental y documental. El torrente Alicia y su relación con Sunderland (próximo destino turístico; ¡gracias, Mr. Talbot!) es tan abrumador que es imposible no perderse a menos que te lo leas de un tirón y con una libreta de apuntes al lado. En el debe, el amor puesto a la obra de Lewis Carroll, al personaje de Alicia/Alice Liddell y al medio narrativo; en el haber, tanto detalle acaba agotando.

¿Qué más podría añadir? El interés por la génesis de los mitos: ese es un tema realmente jugoso y que da para llenar más páginas si cabe.

La anécdota: la relación entre Sunderland y el Athletic de Bilbao :)

[BrokenMnemonic · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was rather splendid, even though as a Geordie by birth, I'm the natural target for humour from the Mackems, something mentioned frequently in the text! This is a great and glorious madcap gambol through the history and folklore of Sunderland and the wider Tyne and Wear region, hung around a narrative skeleton based on the life and works of Lewis Carroll, and was well worth the read.

[Tony Laplume · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting if hugely indulgent tour of English history ostensibly centering on Alice in Wonderland (the origins of which Talbot continually speculates over without really offering much by way of his own conclusion).

[Stefan Grieve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of entertainingly displayed facts and stories related to Alice in Wonderland and Sunderland, (including it's history and influences,) this is a fun, if information dense, book.

[Gary Butler · Rating 1 out of 5]

19th book read in 2017.

Number 580 out of 584 on my all time book list.