Michael Foreman's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Michael Foreman's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Synopsis

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is one of the most enduring classics of children's literature, and is presented afresh here in a striking new edition accomanied by Michael Foreman's stunning watercolours.  This artwork uses imagery taken both from the original pioneering photography of Lewis Carroll, and the famous Tenniel illustrations commissioned by Carroll Himself.

Foreman's gift is to unite these elements and yet to create an Alice who is distinctive and modern.  Her character has proved to be remarkably timeless: bold, curious, resourceful and charming, every age has cast in her its own image.  Here, Foreman's illustrations combine aspects of Alice Liddell - the 'real Alice' - who so fascinated Lewis Carroll, as she appeared in his powerfully enigmatic sepia photographs, with his own distrinctive imaginative characters and landscape.  Magical, nonsensical and extravagant, Wonderland entices us to enjoy its appeal all over again...

About the Author

Lewis Carroll is the pen-name of Charls Lutwidge Didgson, who told the original 'Alice' tales to his young friend Alice Liddell and her two sisters one summer's day in 1862 while they were out picnicking on a boat trip.  Dodgson was a young mathematics professor at Christ Church College, Oxford, where Alice's father, Henry Liddell, was the Dean.  Encouraged by the reaction to the stories he told to amuse the children, he was persuaded to publish them three years later, in an extended version which became Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.  The book was an immediate success and has endured as one of the most popular classics of childhood literature throughout the world.

Michael Foreman's artwork has earned him widespread recognition as one of the world's leading illustrators.  He has created a vast range of children's books, and has collaborated with Terry Jones on all of his books for children.  He also writes and illustrates his own books, including War Boy and War Game, winners respectively of the Kate Greenawat medal and the Smarties Book Prize, and After the Wat Was Over.  He has also illustrated many classic stories including Peter Pan and Wendy, The Wind in the Willows, and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Review

Like the 'real Alice', we spent our summer visiting our favourite parks and picnic spots and had the added pleasure of reading this book together as a family.  Not only did I enjoy re-visiting this popular story which I loved throughout my own childhood, but as an adult I also developed a new appreciation for Lewis Carroll's imaginativness and wit.

Our almost six year old was absolutely mezmerised from cover-to-cover and thoroughly enjoyed studying the illustrations depicting Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.  Satine regularly refers to the characters and their antics and is looking forward to travelling to wonderland again!

If you're looking for a timeless gift then this is the book for you - Michael Forman's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is a must for every family's book collection.  Whilst the more confident reader will enjoy this publication on their own, I highly recommend you take some time out of your busy schedules, find yourself a comfortable shady spot, and share Alice's Adventures in Wonderland together.

Reviewed by: Franciska

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