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The Dark Side of Alice in Wonderland
Although the children's story Alice in Wonderland has been in print for over 150 years, the mysteries and rumors surrounding the story and its creator Lewis Carroll have continued to grow.
The Dark Side of Alice in Wonderland is the first time anyone has investigated the vast range of darker, more threatening aspects of this famous story and the way Alice has been transformed over the years.
This is the Alice of horror films, Halloween, murder and mystery, spectral ghosts, political satire, mental illnesses, weird feasts, Lolita, Tarot, pornography and steampunk. The Beatles based famous songs such as Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds and I am the Walrus on Alice in Wonderland, while she has even attracted the attention of world-famous artists including Salvador Dali. Take a look at why the Japanese version of Lolita is so different to that of novelist Vladimir Nabokov - yet both are based on Alice. This is Alice in Wonderland as you have never seen her before: a dark, sometimes menacing, and threatening character.
Was Carroll all that he seemed? The stories of his child friends, nude photographs and sketches affect the way modern audiences look at the writer. Was he just a lonely academic, closet pedophile, brilliant puzzle maker or even Jack the Ripper?
For a book that began life as a simple children's story, it has resulted in a vast array of dark concepts, ideas and mysteries. So step inside the world of Alice in Wonderland and discover a dark side you never knew existed!
The Dark Side of Alice in Wonderland is the first time anyone has investigated the vast range of darker, more threatening aspects of this famous story and the way Alice has been transformed over the years.
This is the Alice of horror films, Halloween, murder and mystery, spectral ghosts, political satire, mental illnesses, weird feasts, Lolita, Tarot, pornography and steampunk. The Beatles based famous songs such as Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds and I am the Walrus on Alice in Wonderland, while she has even attracted the attention of world-famous artists including Salvador Dali. Take a look at why the Japanese version of Lolita is so different to that of novelist Vladimir Nabokov - yet both are based on Alice. This is Alice in Wonderland as you have never seen her before: a dark, sometimes menacing, and threatening character.
Was Carroll all that he seemed? The stories of his child friends, nude photographs and sketches affect the way modern audiences look at the writer. Was he just a lonely academic, closet pedophile, brilliant puzzle maker or even Jack the Ripper?
For a book that began life as a simple children's story, it has resulted in a vast array of dark concepts, ideas and mysteries. So step inside the world of Alice in Wonderland and discover a dark side you never knew existed!
192 pages, Hardcover
Published April 5, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
February 21, 2021
Before reading this book, my knowledge about Alice in Wonderland was what I remembered from reading it several years ago. As far as its author and the real-life Alice, I had heard of the controversy and confusion regarding the relationship between them. When I first saw this title, many different ways of interpreting this title came to mind. Did this dark side concern: the author; his relationship with Alice Lindell; the book; or the Alice character? After reading this book, the answer is yes.
In her book The Dark Side of Alice in Wonderland, Angela Youngman uses her skill as a reporter to explore what I mentioned previously. We are then given ways on how these have influenced hobbies (Murder mystery Alice); movies (Horror Alice); art (surreal Alice); politics (Bizarre Alice); alternative lifestyles (X-rated and Banned Alice, Drug Alice, Occult Alice); and ways of thinking (Mad Alice: psychiatry, specifically Freudian). The early chapters gave me the backstory that I lacked, laying the foundation for what was to follow.
A favorite chapter of mine is titled Lolita Alice (chapter five) where the “cultural collision between East and West regarding the “Alice concept” is unfolded. The Japanese, for example, have embraced Alice in Wonderland, seeing elements in common with their legends and myths. Alice is sweet, and innocent; the shojo (little woman) between the ages of seven and eighteen. The term “Lolita” is used to denote a delicate and doll-like way of acting and dressing. The image of Alice/shojo Lolita can be seen in Manga, Anime, fashion (Sweet Lolita, Gothic Lolita, Classic Lolita), and culture. The term “Lolita” is used to denote delicacy and a doll—like way of dressing and acting. Western society is very much the opposite. As an “Alice” novice, this was all very engaging and enlightening.
I recommend this book for anyone who wants to explore The Dark Side of Alice in Wonderland.
I would like to thank NetGalley, and Pen & Sword Books Ltd for the opportunity to read and review this book.
In her book The Dark Side of Alice in Wonderland, Angela Youngman uses her skill as a reporter to explore what I mentioned previously. We are then given ways on how these have influenced hobbies (Murder mystery Alice); movies (Horror Alice); art (surreal Alice); politics (Bizarre Alice); alternative lifestyles (X-rated and Banned Alice, Drug Alice, Occult Alice); and ways of thinking (Mad Alice: psychiatry, specifically Freudian). The early chapters gave me the backstory that I lacked, laying the foundation for what was to follow.
A favorite chapter of mine is titled Lolita Alice (chapter five) where the “cultural collision between East and West regarding the “Alice concept” is unfolded. The Japanese, for example, have embraced Alice in Wonderland, seeing elements in common with their legends and myths. Alice is sweet, and innocent; the shojo (little woman) between the ages of seven and eighteen. The term “Lolita” is used to denote a delicate and doll-like way of acting and dressing. The image of Alice/shojo Lolita can be seen in Manga, Anime, fashion (Sweet Lolita, Gothic Lolita, Classic Lolita), and culture. The term “Lolita” is used to denote delicacy and a doll—like way of dressing and acting. Western society is very much the opposite. As an “Alice” novice, this was all very engaging and enlightening.
I recommend this book for anyone who wants to explore The Dark Side of Alice in Wonderland.
I would like to thank NetGalley, and Pen & Sword Books Ltd for the opportunity to read and review this book.
April 1, 2021
The Dark Side of Alice in Wonderland is a well-researched nonfiction book and it is something new for me.
I found out the dark side of Lewis Carroll/Charles Dodgson and Alice Liddell, that I did not know, and now I know 😉.
The author is telling us how the story changed through the years.
I enjoyed it, thanks to Netgalley for this adventure.
I found out the dark side of Lewis Carroll/Charles Dodgson and Alice Liddell, that I did not know, and now I know 😉.
The author is telling us how the story changed through the years.
I enjoyed it, thanks to Netgalley for this adventure.
February 27, 2021
I’ve always been a fan of the Alice in Wonderland stories and have several editions in my collection. I was intrigued to find out more about the darker side of this world, as I knew little about the author and his background.
The Darker Side of Alice in Wonderland provides an insight into Charles Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) and I found some of the details (i.e.: his long-standing fascination with Alice Liddell even after the family had mysteriously and suddenly cut contact with him, as well as his letters to parents asking to photograph their children nude and to be with them unchaperoned) to be unnerving, sinister and manipulative, even by the differing standards and opinions of the day.
The book also shows how people can twist a story to suit to suit their own theories, agenda and imagination. It is fascinating (and equally disturbing) how other researchers and authors have taken elements of Dodgson’s life and the Alice stories themselves and rethought them to suit their own darker purposes. The Jack the Ripper theory is one that I found particularly funny and ridiculous.
The book can get a bit repetitive in place – the author repeats the same ideas or facts in several chapters – however, I loved how they introduced the reader to other Alice-related works of art and books. I spent a lot of time googling the artists and books mentioned and have them to thank for my ever-expanding ‘To Read’ list!
Any die-hard Alice superfan will love the new perspectives that this book presents!
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Darker Side of Alice in Wonderland provides an insight into Charles Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) and I found some of the details (i.e.: his long-standing fascination with Alice Liddell even after the family had mysteriously and suddenly cut contact with him, as well as his letters to parents asking to photograph their children nude and to be with them unchaperoned) to be unnerving, sinister and manipulative, even by the differing standards and opinions of the day.
The book also shows how people can twist a story to suit to suit their own theories, agenda and imagination. It is fascinating (and equally disturbing) how other researchers and authors have taken elements of Dodgson’s life and the Alice stories themselves and rethought them to suit their own darker purposes. The Jack the Ripper theory is one that I found particularly funny and ridiculous.
The book can get a bit repetitive in place – the author repeats the same ideas or facts in several chapters – however, I loved how they introduced the reader to other Alice-related works of art and books. I spent a lot of time googling the artists and books mentioned and have them to thank for my ever-expanding ‘To Read’ list!
Any die-hard Alice superfan will love the new perspectives that this book presents!
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 19, 2021
So, I'm going to wipe my mind clean of everything I just read here. La la la la laaaa....I didn't read that!
Seriously, this book wrecks your innocent enjoyment of Alice.
I mean, truth - Alice was always dark and surreal, but holy crap, people are weird. Lewis Carroll had...issues. And what was with the Jack the Ripper thing??? And the...um...adult Alice stuff with a turn toward Lolita and now I need to go pet a puppy.
The book was good. Some of the stuff on Carroll necessarily had gaps that moved into speculation. But the book was well written and may have just destroyed my innocence.
Seriously, this book wrecks your innocent enjoyment of Alice.
I mean, truth - Alice was always dark and surreal, but holy crap, people are weird. Lewis Carroll had...issues. And what was with the Jack the Ripper thing??? And the...um...adult Alice stuff with a turn toward Lolita and now I need to go pet a puppy.
The book was good. Some of the stuff on Carroll necessarily had gaps that moved into speculation. But the book was well written and may have just destroyed my innocence.
May 30, 2024
・❥・4 ✧.*
Wow, I loved this! I can’t say too much but my favorite book of all time is Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland so I was highly invested in read this book. I have had this for a few years now and I remember vaguely trying to read this while in college but ended up putting it down due to finals. It’s been a few years since then and I have finally read this!
There is so much interesting information about Charles Dodgson as well as the impact that this book has had on multiple areas of life. I loved learning a bunch of new things about my favorite book. I wish it was longer and that it was a little more detailed though. It does more of a skim on most of the subjects which I wish had been more detailed. There is a lot of information to discuss when thinking about the mysteries surrounding this book and the impact it has had on society throughout the ages.
I have some recs on books, movies, etc. that I will soon try out from this book. I think this is a book that only big fans of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland will enjoy, so those are the only ones I can recommend this too.
Wow, I loved this! I can’t say too much but my favorite book of all time is Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland so I was highly invested in read this book. I have had this for a few years now and I remember vaguely trying to read this while in college but ended up putting it down due to finals. It’s been a few years since then and I have finally read this!
There is so much interesting information about Charles Dodgson as well as the impact that this book has had on multiple areas of life. I loved learning a bunch of new things about my favorite book. I wish it was longer and that it was a little more detailed though. It does more of a skim on most of the subjects which I wish had been more detailed. There is a lot of information to discuss when thinking about the mysteries surrounding this book and the impact it has had on society throughout the ages.
I have some recs on books, movies, etc. that I will soon try out from this book. I think this is a book that only big fans of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland will enjoy, so those are the only ones I can recommend this too.
March 1, 2021
I honestly don’t remember if I read Alice in Wonderland as a child but I was fascinated by the story and the author. Unfortunately the book didn’t have enough information about Charles Dodgson. Which was disappointing to me. Alice Liddell (the inspiration of Alice) wasn’t mentioned much in the book except in the beginning. Instead the book delved into how ‘Alice’ was remade into video games, parties, occult’s, drugs, music, movies, and books that was inspired from the books. Which honestly, I skimmed some of it.
The parts of Charles that I read that was disturbing to me was he that took nude photos of young girls. I can’t imagine or understand it. Now that I find him creepy I don’t know if I could read his materials. Sorry for his fans.
What’s most intriguing to me was that he wrote a simple story that lead to 150 years worth of music, games, movies and books. For example I had no idea the book Lolita was derived from Alice.
Overall, it was a good book but I was hoping for more on his history.
I received this copy from the publisher and Netgalley for my honest review and opinion.
The parts of Charles that I read that was disturbing to me was he that took nude photos of young girls. I can’t imagine or understand it. Now that I find him creepy I don’t know if I could read his materials. Sorry for his fans.
What’s most intriguing to me was that he wrote a simple story that lead to 150 years worth of music, games, movies and books. For example I had no idea the book Lolita was derived from Alice.
Overall, it was a good book but I was hoping for more on his history.
I received this copy from the publisher and Netgalley for my honest review and opinion.
October 9, 2022
An interesting and all-encompassing thinkpiece meditating on the dark edges of Lewis Carroll’s beloved Alice in Wonderland.
Youngman does an excellent job of presenting information but allowing the reader to draw their own conclusions about it, which feels particularly important when discussing the controversial figure that is Charles Dodgson.
A lot of the content at the beginning of the book regarding Dodgson’s “child friends” is pretty creepy. Certainly most of us were aware of the basics of it, but it’s fairly unsettling to read about in detail. Even acknowledging different cultural values than we have today, it’s hard to say Dodgson was completely innocent of any bad behavior.
One of the most interesting sections of the book is the Jack the Ripper chapter, though the evidence is pretty clear that Dodgson cannot be the mysterious killer. Also interesting are the many odd and sometimes very dark directions in which modern interpretations of Carroll’s work have gone. From the completely harmless (Wonderland murder mystery weekends and escape rooms! American McGee’s video games!) to the more morally nebulous (Lolita Alice, Alice in porn), it’s fascinating to see all the different ways that the story has been adapted to suit an update, a retelling, or a reworking.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
Youngman does an excellent job of presenting information but allowing the reader to draw their own conclusions about it, which feels particularly important when discussing the controversial figure that is Charles Dodgson.
A lot of the content at the beginning of the book regarding Dodgson’s “child friends” is pretty creepy. Certainly most of us were aware of the basics of it, but it’s fairly unsettling to read about in detail. Even acknowledging different cultural values than we have today, it’s hard to say Dodgson was completely innocent of any bad behavior.
One of the most interesting sections of the book is the Jack the Ripper chapter, though the evidence is pretty clear that Dodgson cannot be the mysterious killer. Also interesting are the many odd and sometimes very dark directions in which modern interpretations of Carroll’s work have gone. From the completely harmless (Wonderland murder mystery weekends and escape rooms! American McGee’s video games!) to the more morally nebulous (Lolita Alice, Alice in porn), it’s fascinating to see all the different ways that the story has been adapted to suit an update, a retelling, or a reworking.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
February 19, 2021
As an Alice in Wonderland aficionado, I was extremely excited to read this book. I knew some sparse details about Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, aka Lewis Carroll, but was excited to learn more about the mysterious writer of my favorite tale. Not only did this book discuss some of the gossip that has followed Dodgson around for years (questions ranging from, did he have an unhealthy relationship with young girls? to could he possibly have been Jack the Ripper?), it also delved into the different ways that the story of Alice in Wonderland has influenced society - through books, film, celebrations, style and couture, pornography, food, video games, etc etc. This book was interesting, though I found some of the chapters to be more tedious to get through than others. Overall, it was a fun quick little read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me a copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me a copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.
February 19, 2021
Alice in Wonderland has long been a beloved children's book, but there is a side to the story that most didn't know. After reading this book, I was blown away with the amount of information that was presented! Holy moly! I had no clue that Alice was based on a real person, or that she distanced herself from the author.
The different nuances that are presented in this book will have you rethinking the way you look at this classic children's story, and make you want to read it again - to see if you can pick up on anything that was mentioned in this book! I know that I am going to be reading it a bit deeper than I did before.
Informative and engaging! This book was everything I hoped it would be and more!
The different nuances that are presented in this book will have you rethinking the way you look at this classic children's story, and make you want to read it again - to see if you can pick up on anything that was mentioned in this book! I know that I am going to be reading it a bit deeper than I did before.
Informative and engaging! This book was everything I hoped it would be and more!
March 2, 2021
I love alice in wonderland so much. I have read a lot of books about it, but i have to say this one is one of my favorites. It was the right kind of dark for my dark mind. This was really amazing
February 16, 2021
First I want to thank NetGalley and the Author Angela Youngman for letting me read and review this book. When I first seen the cover of this book I was thinking I was going to read a great fantasy book. Not at all. This book is all about, Lewis Carroll, the author of Alice in Wonderland. But, I have to admit that I did enjoy this book. I really learned a lot! I intend on reading Alice in Wonderland now. Angela did a great job researching for this book.
⭐⭐⭐/5 stars
If you are a fan of Alice in Wonderland or like learning new things I would recommend this book. I enjoyed it.
⭐⭐⭐/5 stars
If you are a fan of Alice in Wonderland or like learning new things I would recommend this book. I enjoyed it.
April 13, 2022
This was a very interesting look behind the scenes of Alice in Wonderland and the long lasting influence the story has had, often in surprising and unexpected ways. This book doesn't just focus on the potential dark side of the story itself but also its origins, its author, and the influence it's had over the years in many and varied places. As with all Pen and Sword works it is well researched and well written with an easy flowing style that draws you down the rabbit hole just as much as the story at its heart did.
July 14, 2021
Now most people will know of Alice in Wonderland from their childhood, either through the books or the Disney or Tim Burton films, what they may not know, however is the story of the book’s creation or its very wide and varied influence on many other genres and wide use throughout society over the years.
Angela Youngman’s book delves deeper into the books and its writer Charles Dodgeson, or Lewis Carroll as he is better known. Particularly his friendships with young girls and their connection to his passion for the new-fangled hobby of photography. These friendships had been a cause for much speculation and scandal in his lifetime and couple this with his photographs of these girls naked defiantly added to the belief of possible paedophilia. However, it is also pointed out that at the time these types of photographs were very fashionable and not thought of in the same way that we see them today. Another rumour that Dodgson was in fact ‘Jack the Ripper’ is touched on but quickly dismissed, but it is an entertaining theory none the less.
The book then goes onto examine Alice in Wonderlands wider influence. The illustrator John Tenniel was also the main cartoonist for the satirical publication ‘Punch’ and after the success of Alice in Wonderland he used it as a theme in many of his later political cartoons. Sadly, this was not the last time that Alice was used to this effect. The Nazis also used various themes from the book to support their ideology. I found the final section of the book to be perhaps the most interesting and it showed just how much the tale is still referenced today in modern culture. The theme of Alice is widely used in films of all types including Porn films. The ‘Steam Punk’ movement and fashion is heavily influenced by Alice in Wonderland. There have been Alice themed ‘escape rooms’ and murder mystery nights. Even the Chief Heston Blumenheck (as I call him) staged a Mad Hatters Tea Party at his restaurant and on his television programme. Dodgson’s book lends itself well to food related activities due to the Tea Party and Alice themed food and drink events are popular worldwide.
All in all, I found this to be an interesting and fascinating look into the origins of the children’s book and the its wider influences and I must admit that I found the latter section of the book to be the most interesting.
Angela Youngman’s book delves deeper into the books and its writer Charles Dodgeson, or Lewis Carroll as he is better known. Particularly his friendships with young girls and their connection to his passion for the new-fangled hobby of photography. These friendships had been a cause for much speculation and scandal in his lifetime and couple this with his photographs of these girls naked defiantly added to the belief of possible paedophilia. However, it is also pointed out that at the time these types of photographs were very fashionable and not thought of in the same way that we see them today. Another rumour that Dodgson was in fact ‘Jack the Ripper’ is touched on but quickly dismissed, but it is an entertaining theory none the less.
The book then goes onto examine Alice in Wonderlands wider influence. The illustrator John Tenniel was also the main cartoonist for the satirical publication ‘Punch’ and after the success of Alice in Wonderland he used it as a theme in many of his later political cartoons. Sadly, this was not the last time that Alice was used to this effect. The Nazis also used various themes from the book to support their ideology. I found the final section of the book to be perhaps the most interesting and it showed just how much the tale is still referenced today in modern culture. The theme of Alice is widely used in films of all types including Porn films. The ‘Steam Punk’ movement and fashion is heavily influenced by Alice in Wonderland. There have been Alice themed ‘escape rooms’ and murder mystery nights. Even the Chief Heston Blumenheck (as I call him) staged a Mad Hatters Tea Party at his restaurant and on his television programme. Dodgson’s book lends itself well to food related activities due to the Tea Party and Alice themed food and drink events are popular worldwide.
All in all, I found this to be an interesting and fascinating look into the origins of the children’s book and the its wider influences and I must admit that I found the latter section of the book to be the most interesting.
March 2, 2021
Let me start out by saying I am not the greatest at writing so bare with me through my review this is something new for me.
This book I really enjoyed reading. The details it had throught out the story was very interesting. There were so many things of Lewis Carrol past that I had never known or have ever heard. So after reading this it was great to get inside his life and see his past life and a bit of his life. I thought it was and again excuse my writing here I need work on my vacab skills but I thought I rather interesting how different the times are and how people thought compared to times now. It brings up a lot of questions and some answers. I also was wonderfully surprised about all the different styles and stories or even plays for that matter that had become from this story it self or had blossomed from it. Even the style it self was a big trend and still is to this day. I wanted to highlight some of the information in this book because I wanted to go find those books, videos, plays or tarot cards but I only had this copy for so long. I was very lucky to have been able to read it before its release. I can't beileve the details of the past relationship with him and alice and how unfortunately we will never know the full truth of what happened. He did such great thinga though through his time while reading this book that I never knew and did things I also did not know. I also love how the author touches on how others try to take many different plays on the story and interpret it into what they thought it was trying to say or into something of its own.. I highly recommend this book if you are a lover of all things Alice and want to learn the back story or more about who Lewis Carrol was. It gives such great detail and who was in and out of his life. It also gives so much detail of the different style of alice today. So for me I definitely would recommend this to all my alice friends because this is right up your ally. Definitely give this book a read!
This book I really enjoyed reading. The details it had throught out the story was very interesting. There were so many things of Lewis Carrol past that I had never known or have ever heard. So after reading this it was great to get inside his life and see his past life and a bit of his life. I thought it was and again excuse my writing here I need work on my vacab skills but I thought I rather interesting how different the times are and how people thought compared to times now. It brings up a lot of questions and some answers. I also was wonderfully surprised about all the different styles and stories or even plays for that matter that had become from this story it self or had blossomed from it. Even the style it self was a big trend and still is to this day. I wanted to highlight some of the information in this book because I wanted to go find those books, videos, plays or tarot cards but I only had this copy for so long. I was very lucky to have been able to read it before its release. I can't beileve the details of the past relationship with him and alice and how unfortunately we will never know the full truth of what happened. He did such great thinga though through his time while reading this book that I never knew and did things I also did not know. I also love how the author touches on how others try to take many different plays on the story and interpret it into what they thought it was trying to say or into something of its own.. I highly recommend this book if you are a lover of all things Alice and want to learn the back story or more about who Lewis Carrol was. It gives such great detail and who was in and out of his life. It also gives so much detail of the different style of alice today. So for me I definitely would recommend this to all my alice friends because this is right up your ally. Definitely give this book a read!
March 3, 2021
As a fan of the Alice stories (Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass), I was intrigued by this title - the concept of Alice and the various denizens of Wonderland appear in books, cartoons, movies, artwork and I have always wanted to learn more about the story behind the original work.
Youngman provides an introduction to the origins of the Alice tales and how Charles Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) knew the Liddell family. Over the years, while I had heard some comments about Carroll's relationship with the Liddell’s, and young Alice in particular, the details provided by the author, make for uncomfortable reading. Of course, it is difficult to be completely sure of how events occurred and the intentions involved as we are relying on letters and information many decades later. But the situation is discomforting to say the least.
Youngman takes this information and uses it to create a pathway towards investigating some of the darker tales and theories surrounding Alice/Lewis. These vary from fashion to erotica and even artwork - not to mention, the bizarre and frankly disturbing notion that Carroll was in fact, Jack the Ripper!
Exceptionally well researched, this novel serves as a good introduction into the world of Alice/Carroll, along with the incredibly varied art forms where Alice features. There are many facts and interesting elements about the world of Alice uncovered by the author. Anime Alice? Yes, she exists. Murder mystery Alice? Ditto. Erotica and even pornographic Alice? Oh, yes those forms also exist.
I did find that the text became repetitive after a while, and for this reason, found some pages boring. Otherwise this would have been a 5 star review.
Youngman provides an introduction to the origins of the Alice tales and how Charles Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) knew the Liddell family. Over the years, while I had heard some comments about Carroll's relationship with the Liddell’s, and young Alice in particular, the details provided by the author, make for uncomfortable reading. Of course, it is difficult to be completely sure of how events occurred and the intentions involved as we are relying on letters and information many decades later. But the situation is discomforting to say the least.
Youngman takes this information and uses it to create a pathway towards investigating some of the darker tales and theories surrounding Alice/Lewis. These vary from fashion to erotica and even artwork - not to mention, the bizarre and frankly disturbing notion that Carroll was in fact, Jack the Ripper!
Exceptionally well researched, this novel serves as a good introduction into the world of Alice/Carroll, along with the incredibly varied art forms where Alice features. There are many facts and interesting elements about the world of Alice uncovered by the author. Anime Alice? Yes, she exists. Murder mystery Alice? Ditto. Erotica and even pornographic Alice? Oh, yes those forms also exist.
I did find that the text became repetitive after a while, and for this reason, found some pages boring. Otherwise this would have been a 5 star review.
March 2, 2021
I loved the cover and title of this book. Youngman offers quite a complete and well-written discussion of the mind, life and habits of Charles Dodgson/Lewis Carroll and the meaning of his creative constructions, Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. I did not know that Alice in Wonderland was self-published! While the beginning of the book imparts information that can be had (with music, experts and visuals) on YouTube, the vast middle section offers a rather thorough breakdown of every conceivable manner that Alice in Wonderland has impacted culture, how that evidence is displayed, what it means, and how it might all have been premeditated. (Shiver. Let's hope not.) These offerings are categorized into the departments one might expect--fetishism, occult significance and impact, psychological connotations, ad infinitum. One cannot help but conclude that no young genius could have conscientiously imbued his narrative with so many symbols and meanings on purpose. I personally found the political tie-ins convincing. How can anyone not be subconsciously impacted what people are arguing about, night and day? The argument is strong (and convincing) for politics to have influenced the illustrator, Sir John Tenniel, who Dodgson himself sought out and paid to do the artwork. Tenniel was also a political cartoonist. By the end, this wonderful book grows legs and walks. While I am not expert on the many books written to explore the hall of mirrors that was the psyche of Charles Dodgson, The Dark Side of Alice in Wonderland struck me as a very good jumping off point--articulate and organized, something one might value as a reference book at home on a shelf, which one might want to consult in order to argue a point.
July 14, 2021
This book examines how Alice in Wonderland has been used in ways not expected by Lewis Carroll. The book begins by discussing Alice Liddell, the river trip, information on Lewis Carroll, the original version of Alice in Wonderland and when Alice's mother had all the letters between Alice and Dodgson destroyed.
I think that can easily be considered a rather extreme action and indicative of some major problem having happened. Carroll's use of photography is discussed and again here there is a major problem in how people view some of the photos he took.
Some of those included young (around 3 years old to maybe abound 17 at the upper end) where some of the photos show the children clothed and some of them have the children nude which, in today's world, would result in an arrest.
The book also discusses how important Alice is in Japan and how this relates to the Lolita/Gothic Lolita movement. The book covers X-rated version of Alice in Wonderland (books and movies), naming some specific examples.
There's a rather odd discussion about a book that claims that Charles Dodgson was actually Jack the Ripper. The book covers various entertainment things like having a mystery program set in where people can take part in solving something related to Alice in Wonderland. The Hunting of the Snark is also discussed.
The author notes some things that may have been mental/physical problems that he had including a minor form of epilepsy, depression, an eating disorder, migraines and insomnia.
Some other ways Alice is used are discussed such as the use of drugs, horror, the occult, steampunk and pornography.
I think it does a pretty good job covering such a wide variety of topics in relation to Dodgson and his Alice writings.
I think that can easily be considered a rather extreme action and indicative of some major problem having happened. Carroll's use of photography is discussed and again here there is a major problem in how people view some of the photos he took.
Some of those included young (around 3 years old to maybe abound 17 at the upper end) where some of the photos show the children clothed and some of them have the children nude which, in today's world, would result in an arrest.
The book also discusses how important Alice is in Japan and how this relates to the Lolita/Gothic Lolita movement. The book covers X-rated version of Alice in Wonderland (books and movies), naming some specific examples.
There's a rather odd discussion about a book that claims that Charles Dodgson was actually Jack the Ripper. The book covers various entertainment things like having a mystery program set in where people can take part in solving something related to Alice in Wonderland. The Hunting of the Snark is also discussed.
The author notes some things that may have been mental/physical problems that he had including a minor form of epilepsy, depression, an eating disorder, migraines and insomnia.
Some other ways Alice is used are discussed such as the use of drugs, horror, the occult, steampunk and pornography.
I think it does a pretty good job covering such a wide variety of topics in relation to Dodgson and his Alice writings.
March 28, 2021
My thanks to Pen & Sword History for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Dark Side of Alice in Wonderland’ by Angela Youngman in exchange for an honest review.
Alice in Wonderland has been in print for over 150 years and this work of nonfiction examines the mysteries and rumours surrounding the story and its creator Charles Dodgson/Lewis Carroll as well as the wide range of interpretations that the story has inspired over the years. Notably this is the first time that anyone has investigated the range of darker, more threatening aspects of the story and how the character of Alice has been appropriated.
Before reading this I had very little knowledge of the history of the Alice in Wonderland stories, its creator and his muse, Alice Liddell, or the publication history. However, I have read a number of novels and watched films and the like inspired by the original, or that referenced it, like The Matrix.
So I found this fascinating and it proved quite an eye-opener in all kinds of ways, some of them disturbing and ‘out there’.
Youngman rounds off the main text with a list of resources, an index, and a selection of photos and images, including unusual ones from Alice-themed escape rooms, murder mystery games, and theatrical productions.
While Alice in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking Glass remain much loved children’s classics, this book is clearly intended for mature readers interested in literary studies and the books’ wide cultural influences.
Overall, I found this a well researched and interesting study that has increased my knowledge of and appreciation of the Alice in Wonderland stories.
Alice in Wonderland has been in print for over 150 years and this work of nonfiction examines the mysteries and rumours surrounding the story and its creator Charles Dodgson/Lewis Carroll as well as the wide range of interpretations that the story has inspired over the years. Notably this is the first time that anyone has investigated the range of darker, more threatening aspects of the story and how the character of Alice has been appropriated.
Before reading this I had very little knowledge of the history of the Alice in Wonderland stories, its creator and his muse, Alice Liddell, or the publication history. However, I have read a number of novels and watched films and the like inspired by the original, or that referenced it, like The Matrix.
So I found this fascinating and it proved quite an eye-opener in all kinds of ways, some of them disturbing and ‘out there’.
Youngman rounds off the main text with a list of resources, an index, and a selection of photos and images, including unusual ones from Alice-themed escape rooms, murder mystery games, and theatrical productions.
While Alice in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking Glass remain much loved children’s classics, this book is clearly intended for mature readers interested in literary studies and the books’ wide cultural influences.
Overall, I found this a well researched and interesting study that has increased my knowledge of and appreciation of the Alice in Wonderland stories.
March 3, 2021
This is 100 % a very unique read. I do not know what i think about Lewis Carrol or Alice in Wonderland anymore, it's the kind of thought-provoking read that will have you questioning it and thinking about it for weeks to come. But it's also one of those reads that could come across as many different things, and many different opinions, depending on the person reading it.
Although I did thoroughly enjoy this book, I don't remember much of Alice in Wonderland, just what I read as a child and the Disney animation. I will be rereading it though, just to get a feel of it again and see if i can then make my mind up on Lewis Carroll, As i can see two points of view. Innocent and Guilty!
I could not put this one down and read it in a full sitting, (more or less) even though it was repetitive at the beginning of every chapter, and a bit twisted at times, it was a very powerful story, that shocked me at every chapter!
I recommend this to anyone who would like to know a bit more about the following of Alice in Wonderland, if you have the stomach for it, as it does contain a lot of triggers.
But also do not recommend it to any super Alice fans, if you don't want your feelings to change toward the book, because this read will definitely make you think!
Although I did thoroughly enjoy this book, I don't remember much of Alice in Wonderland, just what I read as a child and the Disney animation. I will be rereading it though, just to get a feel of it again and see if i can then make my mind up on Lewis Carroll, As i can see two points of view. Innocent and Guilty!
I could not put this one down and read it in a full sitting, (more or less) even though it was repetitive at the beginning of every chapter, and a bit twisted at times, it was a very powerful story, that shocked me at every chapter!
I recommend this to anyone who would like to know a bit more about the following of Alice in Wonderland, if you have the stomach for it, as it does contain a lot of triggers.
But also do not recommend it to any super Alice fans, if you don't want your feelings to change toward the book, because this read will definitely make you think!
Want to read
April 11, 2021This is the first time I have DNF'd a NetGalley book. I know my reading tastes really well, so I generally know I'm going to like a book before I request it. Which is exactly what I thought would happen with The Dark Side of Alice in Wonderland by Angela Youngman. I have always been fascinated by the book, the story itself, the strange rumors surrounding author, Lewis Carroll, so anytime I come across a book about it, I immediately want to devour it.
From page one I felt like I was writing a really long and wordy book report from when I student taught high school english. (Which is one of the reasons I ended up teaching Kindergarten!) It was incredibly repetitive and mechanically filled with information. It felt more like a listing of interesting facts and stories the author found rather than a well thought out and organized book. It felt academic while not actually being up to par with a quality academic paper.
After about half way through, I just couldn't bring myself to pick it back up again.
From page one I felt like I was writing a really long and wordy book report from when I student taught high school english. (Which is one of the reasons I ended up teaching Kindergarten!) It was incredibly repetitive and mechanically filled with information. It felt more like a listing of interesting facts and stories the author found rather than a well thought out and organized book. It felt academic while not actually being up to par with a quality academic paper.
After about half way through, I just couldn't bring myself to pick it back up again.
February 25, 2021
★★★☆☆ 2.5/5
the content of the book was good. definitely a lot of information i never knew and was very interested to learn. i would absolutely recommend this to anyone who’s an alice in wonderland fan looking to discover more about the origin of the story, and how it has become so popular and weaved into so much of our society today. however, this book kind of read like an essay you’re trying to reach the word count for so you’re constantly repeating the same information over and over again. the author reintroduces the book at the beginning of every chapter, as if he expects his reader to have never read alice in wonderland, or at least has forgotten about it since the last chapter. it was enjoyable, but kind of overwhelming.
(arc provided by netgallery and pen and sword history. all thoughts and opinions are my own)
the content of the book was good. definitely a lot of information i never knew and was very interested to learn. i would absolutely recommend this to anyone who’s an alice in wonderland fan looking to discover more about the origin of the story, and how it has become so popular and weaved into so much of our society today. however, this book kind of read like an essay you’re trying to reach the word count for so you’re constantly repeating the same information over and over again. the author reintroduces the book at the beginning of every chapter, as if he expects his reader to have never read alice in wonderland, or at least has forgotten about it since the last chapter. it was enjoyable, but kind of overwhelming.
(arc provided by netgallery and pen and sword history. all thoughts and opinions are my own)
April 15, 2021
Digital ARC provided by Netgalley
When he published "Alice in Wonderland" in 1856, Lewis Carroll ignited the imagination of readers around the world with his story full of exotic and bizarre characters, reforming children's literature. Six years later, with the appearance of the second book in the series, "Alice through the looking glass", the author definitely won his place in the top of the most beloved writers, and the story of little Alice became a prolific international phenomenon.
Even if the info found in this book are not all new, there were some very interesting facts that made me pay more attention to the phenomenon in other parts of the globe. The strange characters created by Lewis Carroll are top landmarks in global popular culture and are found in countless entertainment products, from movies, plays, TV adaptations, music and even fashion and art.
When he published "Alice in Wonderland" in 1856, Lewis Carroll ignited the imagination of readers around the world with his story full of exotic and bizarre characters, reforming children's literature. Six years later, with the appearance of the second book in the series, "Alice through the looking glass", the author definitely won his place in the top of the most beloved writers, and the story of little Alice became a prolific international phenomenon.
Even if the info found in this book are not all new, there were some very interesting facts that made me pay more attention to the phenomenon in other parts of the globe. The strange characters created by Lewis Carroll are top landmarks in global popular culture and are found in countless entertainment products, from movies, plays, TV adaptations, music and even fashion and art.
February 10, 2021
This book was not I expected. There was lots of information about Lewis Carroll and his relationship with Alice and information about the real Alice and her family.. I found it really hard to get into and skipped a lot of the pages only read what I found the interesting . I definitely recommend this book of fans of Lewis Carroll and Alice in wonderland. I really like the book cover and very eye catching which is the reason why I wanted to read it. Thank you NetGalley and Angela Youngman
October 25, 2025
A concise but pretty interesting if flawed look at both Lewis Carroll's life, that of Alice Liddell (later Hargreaves) whom he wrote "Alice in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking Glass" to as gifts as well as all the weird and disturbing interpretations people have made of those books as well as the author's life.
Author Angela Youngman starts by presenting the basic facts about Carroll, his friendship with the Liddells and how he wrote the books (as well as how the Liddell family broke off their relationship with him during a time of his life about which he destroyed his diaries both for no apparent reason) in order to dispel many of the stranger interpretations people have made of him and his work e. g. the one about him being a paedophile. Even if it does not help that the first Russian translation of "Alice in Wonderland" was done by none other than... Vladimir Nabokov. Who apparently got the idea for "Lolita" while translating. Another chapter describes and debunks the argument made for Carroll supposedly being the real identity of Jack the Ripper, by Ripperologist Richard Wallace. Whose reasoning rests on several passages in "The Nursery Alice" (a simplified version of "Alice in Wonderland" written by Carroll for very small children) that can be re-arranged to anagrams reading out confessions by Carroll to the Jack the Ripper murders. Youngman points out that during several of the murders, Carroll himself was either sick and bedridden in his home or can be documented to have visited friends in Oxford far away from London.
Nonetheless, it's entertaining to read about the many twisted and perverted interpretations of the Alice books that people have come up with. The chapter about pornographic parodies of Alice (which would probably have horrified Carroll), the best known being the 1976 X-rated musical film starring Kristine DeBell, also mentions that one manufacturer of sex toys sells an entire range of dildos and vibrators themed around the Wonderland characters out of which the best-selling model is apparently the one modelled on the Cheshire Cat! I know that is probably too much information for many of my followers, but I found that revelation too hilarious to not share.
The other most amusing fact to be found in here I encountered in the chapter about the many interpretations of the Alice books as metaphors for psychedelic drug trips, which mentions that in 1971 the US government commissioned an educational film titled "Curious Alice" where Alice's trip to Wonderland was explicitly re-framed as a warning against drug use. For example the March Hare tries to get her hooked on amphetamines, the Mad Hatter offering LSD laced sugar cubes at his tea party and the King of Hearts using a hypodermic needle (filled with heroin) as his sceptre. Within a year of its release, the US Department of Education found "Curious Alice" to have been counterproductive as a result of its psychedelic visual style making drug use look fun and intriguing rather than disturbing. The same chapter also mentions a 1969 film titled "Alice in Acidland" also aimed as a warning against drug use just aimed at an older audience, but in fact playing out like a softcore porn flick full of LSD-laced lesbian poolside orgies and coming across as a journey of sexual liberation for the heroine more than a descent into madness. (making the ending where Alice ends up committed to a psychiatric institution seem weirdly tacked on perhaps to appease censors?)
The only reason I am only giving this book 3/5 is the presence of several maddening factual errors that I can't believe the editors didn't spot, like one chapter describing Ken Russell as the director of "A Clockwork Orange" which was in fact directed by Stanley Kubrick, which casts into doubt how trustworthy the information about other topics really is. At any rate this book still made me want to check out a lot of weird and offensive "Alice" adaptations I have never heard of until now.
Author Angela Youngman starts by presenting the basic facts about Carroll, his friendship with the Liddells and how he wrote the books (as well as how the Liddell family broke off their relationship with him during a time of his life about which he destroyed his diaries both for no apparent reason) in order to dispel many of the stranger interpretations people have made of him and his work e. g. the one about him being a paedophile. Even if it does not help that the first Russian translation of "Alice in Wonderland" was done by none other than... Vladimir Nabokov. Who apparently got the idea for "Lolita" while translating. Another chapter describes and debunks the argument made for Carroll supposedly being the real identity of Jack the Ripper, by Ripperologist Richard Wallace. Whose reasoning rests on several passages in "The Nursery Alice" (a simplified version of "Alice in Wonderland" written by Carroll for very small children) that can be re-arranged to anagrams reading out confessions by Carroll to the Jack the Ripper murders. Youngman points out that during several of the murders, Carroll himself was either sick and bedridden in his home or can be documented to have visited friends in Oxford far away from London.
Nonetheless, it's entertaining to read about the many twisted and perverted interpretations of the Alice books that people have come up with. The chapter about pornographic parodies of Alice (which would probably have horrified Carroll), the best known being the 1976 X-rated musical film starring Kristine DeBell, also mentions that one manufacturer of sex toys sells an entire range of dildos and vibrators themed around the Wonderland characters out of which the best-selling model is apparently the one modelled on the Cheshire Cat! I know that is probably too much information for many of my followers, but I found that revelation too hilarious to not share.
The other most amusing fact to be found in here I encountered in the chapter about the many interpretations of the Alice books as metaphors for psychedelic drug trips, which mentions that in 1971 the US government commissioned an educational film titled "Curious Alice" where Alice's trip to Wonderland was explicitly re-framed as a warning against drug use. For example the March Hare tries to get her hooked on amphetamines, the Mad Hatter offering LSD laced sugar cubes at his tea party and the King of Hearts using a hypodermic needle (filled with heroin) as his sceptre. Within a year of its release, the US Department of Education found "Curious Alice" to have been counterproductive as a result of its psychedelic visual style making drug use look fun and intriguing rather than disturbing. The same chapter also mentions a 1969 film titled "Alice in Acidland" also aimed as a warning against drug use just aimed at an older audience, but in fact playing out like a softcore porn flick full of LSD-laced lesbian poolside orgies and coming across as a journey of sexual liberation for the heroine more than a descent into madness. (making the ending where Alice ends up committed to a psychiatric institution seem weirdly tacked on perhaps to appease censors?)
The only reason I am only giving this book 3/5 is the presence of several maddening factual errors that I can't believe the editors didn't spot, like one chapter describing Ken Russell as the director of "A Clockwork Orange" which was in fact directed by Stanley Kubrick, which casts into doubt how trustworthy the information about other topics really is. At any rate this book still made me want to check out a lot of weird and offensive "Alice" adaptations I have never heard of until now.
February 14, 2021
This book flows really well, but the formatting of the pdf was off a little when trying to divide up each chapter. This book is definitely a interesting insight that was easily understandable even to someone with a learning disability like me. There was so much information that I have never heard before, even as someone best friends with a girl who’s hyper fixation is Alice in wonderland. I will definitely be recommending this to my group of friends and anyone that will listen. #NetGalley
October 7, 2023
I am a fan of fairytales or children's stories that are written from a whole different perspective - adult-oriented and darker or even dystopian. This did not disappoint that side of my reading choices! Granted this is not for everyone because it is "dark". However, for those who like stories written as I described will thoroughly enjoy where the author has taken us while visiting Alice in Wonderland! Thank you to Pen & Sword for the opportunity to read and review this advance reader copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #TheDarkSideofAliceinWonderland
March 3, 2021
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review of, The Dark Side of Alice in Wonderland, by Angela Youngman.
First of all, this book was not what I expected. I thought it was going to be a dark Alice in Wonderland retelling. However, it's an investigative report basically of the author, Charkes Dodgson, aka Lewis Carroll and the way his story, Alice in Wonderland, was remade into many different media. For example, video games, movies, art, etc. And, how these new pathways of exploring the story have dark and potentially sinister agendas.
First of all, this book was not what I expected. I thought it was going to be a dark Alice in Wonderland retelling. However, it's an investigative report basically of the author, Charkes Dodgson, aka Lewis Carroll and the way his story, Alice in Wonderland, was remade into many different media. For example, video games, movies, art, etc. And, how these new pathways of exploring the story have dark and potentially sinister agendas.
April 4, 2021
This was quite frankly some dark topics. It was interesting to read some different and how it became. I wasn't expecting it to be like this. It through me off. But I still enjoyed it none the less.
February 15, 2021
An interesting view of the dark aspects of Alice in Wonderland. The author's obsession with children, especially young girls, his obsession with photography, etc. lead the reader to ponder meanings. Trouble is though, trying to view it through a modern instead of a Victorian view. There are a lot of puzzling aspects regarding the real Alice and Lewis Carroll, and while he wrote a short version of this story for her, after a picnic by the lake, he obviously added to it before publishing it himself. From the Victorian times, through the Freudian times, to the modern there are a lot of interpretations that may or may not be the case. Why the touches of madness? Why the touches of evil? Why the touches of cruelty? I would argue many of the old fairy tales have this and more, so just because it is thought to be a story for children doesn't make it innocent.
A lot of the discussion about Lewis Carroll made him seem a bit odd at times, but while peculiar I didn't get the sense he was abusive or cruel. Some suggested he was a pedophile, some suggested he was a murderer, and so on. I beg to differ without more evidence, but it is also hard not to judge through modern views. In some ways, reading of his taking children on trips and visits (after asking the parents of course) reminded me of Michael Jackson inviting children to stay at his ranch in California. I see a similarity there in both cases.
I did like this book, and I liked how it made me rethink a book that I read many years ago. The twists shown in movies, the different views, all made for a good read. At times got a little repetitive and didactic, which cost a star, but otherwise highly recommend this book. And to quote the Mad Hatter in a riddle "Why is the Raven like a writing desk?" and when Alice said she didn't know and asked him for the answer he replied "I haven't the slightest idea." Sometimes a book needs to be enjoyed for the journey.
A lot of the discussion about Lewis Carroll made him seem a bit odd at times, but while peculiar I didn't get the sense he was abusive or cruel. Some suggested he was a pedophile, some suggested he was a murderer, and so on. I beg to differ without more evidence, but it is also hard not to judge through modern views. In some ways, reading of his taking children on trips and visits (after asking the parents of course) reminded me of Michael Jackson inviting children to stay at his ranch in California. I see a similarity there in both cases.
I did like this book, and I liked how it made me rethink a book that I read many years ago. The twists shown in movies, the different views, all made for a good read. At times got a little repetitive and didactic, which cost a star, but otherwise highly recommend this book. And to quote the Mad Hatter in a riddle "Why is the Raven like a writing desk?" and when Alice said she didn't know and asked him for the answer he replied "I haven't the slightest idea." Sometimes a book needs to be enjoyed for the journey.
February 17, 2021
Thank you to Net Galley and Pen & Sword for providing me with an eArc in exchange for an honest review.
The Dark Side of Alice in Wonderland is a deep dive into the many reimaginings of the classic children’s tale, while also taking a look at the mysterious Lewis Carol and the real main behind the famous pseudonym.
The chapters that focused more on Charles Dodgson life we’re definitely the more compelling, as these were backed up with excerpts from his own diaries and people related to his life. It was a fascinating look into one of the most famous writer’s of history, whom we really don’t know much about.
Some of the other sections of the book lean in to more conspiracy theory territory and I can understand that might not interest everyone. A lot of the information given is drawing on very thin correlations, so it is solely for entertainment and not real research. If you are a fan of the story or the cultural impact that literature can have on society, you will get some level of enjoyment from this.
Overall, I enjoyed my reading it. The bits that were a little too fantastical and less credible, still had entertainment value to them. Just take the more dubious chapters with a pinch of salt!
The Dark Side of Alice in Wonderland is a deep dive into the many reimaginings of the classic children’s tale, while also taking a look at the mysterious Lewis Carol and the real main behind the famous pseudonym.
The chapters that focused more on Charles Dodgson life we’re definitely the more compelling, as these were backed up with excerpts from his own diaries and people related to his life. It was a fascinating look into one of the most famous writer’s of history, whom we really don’t know much about.
Some of the other sections of the book lean in to more conspiracy theory territory and I can understand that might not interest everyone. A lot of the information given is drawing on very thin correlations, so it is solely for entertainment and not real research. If you are a fan of the story or the cultural impact that literature can have on society, you will get some level of enjoyment from this.
Overall, I enjoyed my reading it. The bits that were a little too fantastical and less credible, still had entertainment value to them. Just take the more dubious chapters with a pinch of salt!
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