Alice in Wonderland discussion

Hello everyone,

I re-read Alice for the first time in more than 20 years. I'd read it repeatedly as a kid and even into high school. It was the beginning of my love affair with the Victorian era. I tried picking the book up again a few years ago and just got a bit bored, but this time, after an absence, I sailed through it and remembered why I loved it. Any other fans?

Some thoughts. I think the reasons for this book's endearing popularity include not just the author's skill, tone, imagery and imagination, but the way he absolutely nails describing childhood. Wonderland it seems to me is a place where Alice, the child, gets to confront the adult world on her own terms. She fearlessly examines and judges the actions of the various creatures, which come across as adults, and feels free to label them as wrong, or mad, or silly, and she constantly questions the lessons she's been taught and how to apply them. Kids just get that. They find nothing unusual about chatting with a disappearing, grinning cat but would like to question why a queen gets to call for people's heads.

One other thought I had on this re-read. If Charles Dodgson had lead what would appear to be a normal married life, we'd never be questioning his sexuality - which must be sort of fascinating but can only be imagined. We'd just assume Dodgson had a gift for describing the childhood mind and move on. His eccentric behavior and the level of his obsessiveness with children instead leave us tantalized. Otherwise he'd be an "ordinary," respected author of children's literature.

On to Looking Glass.

Thank you!