02 Jul Lewis Carroll

Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865) holds a special place in the hearts (and minds) of many people, adults and children alike. It’s fantasy, of course, but it’s also deeply satirical, totally illogical and lots of fun. Try this brief extract: “But I don’t want to go among mad people,” Alice remarked. “Oh, you can’t help that,” said the Cat: “we’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad.” “How do you know I’m mad?” said Alice. “You must be,” said the Cat, “or you wouldn’t have come here.”

Lewis Carroll was born (as Charles Lutwidge Dodgson) in 1832 in the village of Daresbury (Cheshire) where his father was the local vicar. The parsonage in which he was born and spent his early childhood was destroyed by fire long ago. However, there’s a lovely stained glass memorial window in Daresbury’s All Saints Church, featuring characters from the Alice books. Well worth a visit on your next literary tour of England. Attached to the church is the Lewis Carroll Centre, with informative exhibits outlining Carroll’s fascinating life.