Alice - The Legacy
Judi Dench and Ruby Bentall in the World Premiere of Peter and Alice
“So long as men can breathe and eyes can see, So long lives this and this gives life to thee.” - William Shakespeare
Alice Liddell Hargreaves died on November 16, 1934, but her legacy — and its inextricable link to Lewis Carroll’s classic Alice in Wonderland tales — refuses to die. Who was the little girl that inspired Carroll to write what is possibly the greatest children’s story of all time?
John Logan, the playwright (Red) and screenwriter (Skyfall, Hugo, Sweeney Todd, The Aviator, Gladiator), has written a new fictional play about Alice that is directed by Michael Grandage and is currently playing at the Noel Coward Theatre in London. Inspired by the fact that at the opening of the Lewis Carroll exhibition in London in 1932, Alice Liddell Hargreaves met Peter Llewelyn Davies at the Bumpus bookshop, Logan wondered what the two immortal inspirations (the girl who fell down the rabbit hole and Peter Pan, the boy who refused to grow up) might have said to each other. After all, as Alice points out in the play, “We’re practically our own children’s department.” And yes, that’s quite some legacy.
Judi Dench (Alice) and Ben Whishaw (Peter) in Peter and Alice
In the production, Alice, played by Academy Award winning actress Judi Dench (Shakespeare in Love), and Peter, played by Ben Whishaw, recall their pasts, the fantastical worlds they each inhabited, the joyful and sad memories of childhood, and the personal experiences that shaped them into the people they have become today.
It’s not the first time a story about Alice Liddell Hargreaves has been inspired by the 1932 centenary of Lewis Caroll’s birth. Dreamchild, the 1985 British drama film written by Dennis Potter and directed by Gavin Millar, begins with the elderly Alice’s arrival in New York to receive an honorary degree from Columbia University and participate in America’s centenary celebrations of the world famous author. Here too, the story depicts Alice as an 80-year-old woman reminiscing her past, although this is a somewhat darker reflection of a woman who finds herself somewhat haunted by the characters which once upon a time had entertained her.
Judi Dench as Alice Liddell Hargreaves in Peter and Alice
Meanwhile, in just a few weeks time, on May 3, 2013, another “Wonderland in Wales” prepares to once again inspire visitors with the non-fictional story of Alice Liddell Hargreaves on Alice Day. Llandudno in Wales has a long connection to Alice Liddell Hargreaves. It was here that Alice’s father, Henry Liddell (who inspired the White Rabbit), his wife Lorina, and the governess Miss Pricks (who inspired the Queen of Hearts), sisters Lorina and Edith (who inspired the Lory and the Eaglet respectively), and the rest of the Liddell family gathered each summer to holiday at the family ‘s large, gothic styled vacation home, which they called Penmorfa. Many famous celebrities of the day, including Prime Minister William Gladstone, came to visit them. As the Alice in Wonderland books became more famous, Alice Liddell also became an important celebrity in this town. Tourists visited the beautiful Llandudno resort, perfectly situated on the western shores of Wales, curious to learn more about the story behind one of the greatest children’s stories of all time.
A.L.I.C.E., which stands for Alice Liddell’s Innovative Community Enterprise, continues to keep Llandudno’s connection to Alice Liddell alive and in the public domain. In addition, as Simon Burrows, one of the co-founders and organizers confirms, “It is a great excuse for a party and a jam tart.” Not content with achieving a world record for eating the most jam tarts (1,716) in a single Alice In Wonderland party last year, the organizers are hoping for a bigger audience and even more fun this time round. They have been working closely with local schools on a number of new educational initiatives while continuing to update Alice exhibitions around the town and to develop their much anticipated digital Alice e-tour. Alice Day on May 3rd has also become the annual event to celebrate the end of each Miss Alice Llandudno’s year long reign.
And so it makes me wonder… what might the original inspiration for the girl who fell down the rabbit hole 151 years ago have to say about all this?
C. M. Rubin
Photos courtesy of Johan Persson
C. M. Rubin is the author of two widely read online series for which she received a 2011 Upton Sinclair award, “The Global Search for Education” and “How Will We Read?” She is also the author of three bestselling books, including The Real Alice in Wonderland.
Follow C. M. Rubin on Twitter: www.twitter.com/@cmrubinworld
Alice - In Germany
Annelies Štrba - Nyima 438, 2009. Courtesy Annelies Štrba and Frith Street Gallery, London.© VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2012.
Ever since Lewis Carroll gave the original manuscript of Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland to 10-year-old Alice Liddell as an early Christmas gift in 1864, the visualization of the story has been an integral aspect of the work. From the late 19th century to the present day, visual artists around the world have found their own ways to reflect and portray the imaginative dreamlike world first discovered by an extremely curious and courageous little girl. So what do Carroll’s “Alice” books mean to Germans young and old?
The Hamburger Kunsthalle is now presenting its own Alice in the Wonderland of Art exhibition, a considerably modified version of the Alice in Wonderland exhibits shown earlier this year at the Tate Liverpool (UK) and the MART Rovereto (Italy). The exhibit features many new works drawn from Hamburger Kunsthalle’s own collection as well as from other major international museums and private collections. I asked the Curator of the exhibit, Dr. Annabelle Görgen-Lammers, to take me down the rabbit hole and talk me through the fantastic experience that visitors to the Hamburger Kunsthalle have in store.
Thorsten Brinkmann - Bertha von Schwarzflug mit Zahmesdunkel, 2010.Courtesy Galerie Mathias Günther. © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2012.
What do Lewis Carroll’s “Alice” books mean to Germans young and old?
Most Germans seem to remember Carroll’s “Alice” from their childhood. Their parents have read it to them and they have read it to their children, or they have seen one of the multiple “Alice” films. Thus for most visitors, the first association with the exhibition is going back into their own childhood and rediscovering the childhood feelings and childhood questions. However, especially with the last popular film (by Tim Burton), “Alice” has become very popular with all people. Finally, with cult-films of the 1990s like Matrix referring to scenes from “Alice”, mid-life people started to rediscover the wide range of interpretations and different layers of the story. As “Alice” has become part of the collective memory worldwide, and this to a great degree based on the multiple films, we also placed an emphasis on film rooms with artistic interpretations of the story from the very first film (1903) onwards. We also added historical and recent popular theatre references — costumes and films — of productions our public in Germany remembers (e.g. a Robert Wilson show with music from Tom Waits).
What can visitors to the Hamburger Kunsthalle “Alice in the Wonderland of Art” exhibit expect to discover when they visit?
The broad range of media on show demonstrates the variety of approaches to this subject matter, and with a special mise-en-scene, the exhibition transforms itself into a striking visual wonderland. Visitors can thus expect to discover new information on the making and reception of the story and exhibits of the highest art-historical quality. In addition, they also can expect to dive emotionally and psychically into a wonderland themselves. They are confronted with very sensual art works, film rooms and whole room installations, in which their own bodies will seem to have shrunk together or expanded like Alice’s. With these corporal experiences they can start to understand in an emotional way all the metamorphoses Alice had to go through. They actually can experience what it is like to be confronted with repeated metamorphoses of the rooms, the language, the images, and their own bodies, and thus they can experience what it means to be confronted like Alice with the constant metamorphoses of your very self.
Pipilotti Rist - Das Zimmer, 1994. Friedrich Christian Flick Collection in Hamburger Bahnhof.© Courtesy Pipilotti Rist and Hauser & Wirth. Photo: Stefan Rohner.
What will make the Kunsthalle’s exhibit unique in contrast to the Mart and the Tate version?
The artistic reflections on the subject of Alice in Wonderland clearly show that hidden within this apparently simple children’s story is an intricate web of references to the history of ideas, principles of logic and philosophical concerns. At the same time it is a highly entertaining story that contains many absurd, alogical or nonsense elements, and it is also peppered with subtle wit and irony. The imaginative dream-like world of the narrative thus allows existential issues to be explored in a “playful way.” We took this “playful way” of experiencing highly philosophical questions “seriously.” We took it as a model for our additions and remodeling of the exhibition. We added more than 20 additional artistic positions. Amongst others, we added fascinating works of very well-known artists like Pipilotti Rist, Leonor Fini, and Sir John Tenniel. We added major works of well-known German artists such as Stephan Balkenhol, and room-installations of Stephan Huber, but we also included very playful, sensual works of unknown young artists such as an interactive installation of the Finnish artist Hanna Haaslahti. In addition, we arranged the exhibition in a completely new way. We quit the strict chronology and invented a course of metamorphoses that the visitor can experience himself. To help the public, which may not be completely clear anymore on the fascinating ideas and texts of the original book, we placed in every room one of the illustrations of John Tenniel, like a motto, introducing the specific topics and social or philosophical questions to which the artists displayed in the room refer.
Sir Peter Blake - Illustrationen für Through the Looking-Glass, 1970. Tate Collection.© Peter Blake 2002. VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2012.
Can you tell us about some of the German artists and writers that have been inspired by Lewis Carroll’s works? Are any of these important artists or their works featured in the Kunsthalle exhibit?
We added a lot of important works by international as well as German artists such as Max Ernst, Richard Oelze, Thorsten Brinkmann, Stephan Balkenhol, and Stephan Huber. Stephan Huber’s room installation for example consists of a tiny, secret door through which all visitors have to pass, to encounter behind this a giant hat of more than 2 meters size, which finally speaks to you, citing experiences that Alice had.
Do you think Germans are aware of the story behind the story, i.e. that Alice Liddell was Carroll’s inspiration for the story and also that many of the characters in the book were inspired by her family and her environment?
I think after the visit to the exhibition, which includes a lot of material on Dodgson and the Liddell family, the visitor’s view on Alice is enriched on not only this point. As I have already experienced in the first weeks of the exhibition, this information is of great interest to the public who want to learn more about the historical background of this most imaginative story. Finally, we even have a photo by Dodgson of Alice Liddell as our main marketing motif and thus everyone dives into the wonderland by first getting to know the context of its creation.
Kiki Smith - Pool of Tears II (after Lewis Carroll), 2000.© Kiki Smith/Universal Limited Art Editions, Inc.
What does this exhibit mean to you?
I think it is a great chance for every visitor to rediscover himself and his own childhood dreams — the fears as well as the hopes, the fantastic as well as the cruel sides of growing up. Thus it is a chance to reflect on one’s own life, in addition to discovering fascinating and historically prominent artworks. In the two years preparation, I myself had the chance by diving back into the book again to completely fall in love again with the story, its wit, and its deep content. Even if Wonderland is cruel in some parts, Carroll showed us that humor is a way to solve things. It is a highly philosophical book, which can be read on different layers like the exhibition we created about it and out of its spirit.
What are some of your personal favorites in the exhibits?
As I am a specialist on surrealist art, I highly respect and value the reflection of the book by the surrealists, such as in Max Ernst’s “Alice from 1941.” But I also love the room installations allowing the spectator to become a playful participant and forcing him or her to reflect on his or her own identity. I highly appreciate the fascinating art films on Carroll’s inventions, such as Jan Svankmeier’s film, Jabberwocky, or Gary Hills’ Come on Petunia. But indeed, as in Wonderland, it is not the single encounter or one single work which puts things into question, it is the whole deliberately incoherent flow of the story and thus the totality of our reworked exhibition which is my favorite.
For more information on the Hamburger Kunsthalle “Alice” exhibit
Dr. Annabelle Görgen-Lammers and C. M. Rubin
All photos are courtesy of the Hamburger Kunsthalle.
C. M. Rubin is the author of two widely read online series for which she received a 2011 Upton Sinclair award, “The Global Search for Education” and “How Will We Read?” She is also the author of three bestselling books, including The Real Alice in Wonderland.
Alice — Join in the Race!
“What is a Caucus Race?” said Alice.
“Why,” said the Dodo, “the best way to explain it is to do it.”
Saturday, July 7 and Sunday, July 8, 2012 will be the fifth Alice’s Day event (celebrating 150 years since Lewis Carroll’s first telling of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland) in the historic city of Oxford, England.
While the majority of Alice’s Day activities will take place on Saturday July 7, The Caucus Race, a free outdoor event on Sunday, July 8, is also expected to attract thousands of visitors to the historic city the day before the Olympic flame for London 2012 passes through.
“We are proud to be selected to feature in the London 2012 Festival, part of the Cultural Olympiad,” says Cath Nightingale, Communications Director of the Story Museum. “Our Caucus Race is different from any other race since everyone can take part and there are no rules!”
The Caucus Race — a madcap re-enactment of the race featured in chapter three of Lewis Carroll’s classic story, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland — will take place on Merton Field, part of Christ Church where Lewis Carroll originally penned the novel. This very different multi-art-form kind of race is presented by the Story Museum in collaboration with Big Dance, and is directed by Cirque Bijou.
Dance, music, street theater, and creatures ranging from the Dodo to the Dormouse, promise spectacular Wonderland entertainment for young and old that is not to be missed. And those wanting to get into a Caucus Race musical mood can do so the day before. The Caucus Race story will be presented by the renowned Oxford Girls’ Choir, featuring opera singer baritone Roderick Williams as the Dodo. This is the first time that Williams, who wrote the children’s opera, Alice in Wonderland, will also be performing in it. I had the opportunity to chat with Williams about the production.
Roderick, please tell us about your children’s opera, Alice In Wonderland.
I wrote the full-scale children’s opera, adapting Lewis Carroll’s novel, which was first performed by the Oxford Girls’ Choir in 1992. There were dozens of solo parts for the singers, choral set-pieces, dances and the like, and it was accompanied by a chamber orchestra of 16 players. The opera was in two acts, with the first concerning Alice’s fall down the hole and her attempts to get into the garden, and with the second act describing her adventures when she finally finds her way in. Since then, the entire opera has been performed several times. I have also transcribed the piece for piano and smaller ensemble. The extract that we are performing on Saturday, July 7 is a short scene from the first act, The Caucus Race, where Alice meets various animals who have been swimming to safety from the pool of tears she created when she was larger. The Caucus Race comes about as an attempt to dry themselves off.
What inspired you to write the opera?
I had performed Dido and Aeneas alongside the Oxford Girls’ Choir several times and had seen first hand how well they could sing, act and dance. Richard Vendome, Musical Director of the choir, and I discussed a project that would make the most of the Oxford connection, a story based specifically around a young girl rather than a boy, which would make the most of all the talent in the choir. He then commissioned me to write the opera.
What for you is most special about the choir’s performance?
It is always a special and priceless experience to see anyone else perform something you have written. The act of taking a piece which was once mine and making it theirs is in essence what music is about, and I find that process profoundly exciting.
Why do you think the world is still crazy about Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,147 years after its original publication?
I think all of us have tried to make sense of an adult world which is fundamentally crazy. In Alice we see the world from her innocent point of view, and while it is magical, it is also utterly bizarre. I think all of us can relate to Alice’s struggle. Lewis Carroll, for all his quiet, academic existence, seems to have been able to empathize directly with his child heroine, and I think that is why his story is so completely absorbing.
The Caucus Race story, an extract from the children’s opera Alice in Wonderland, will be presented by the Oxford Girls’ Choir featuring Roderick Williams in the courtyard of the Story Museum, Oxford on Saturday, July 7 at 11 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. For more information on Alice’s Day:http://www.storymuseum.org.uk/the-story-museum/alice
Roderick Williams and C. M. Rubin
Photos courtesy of The Story Museum and Roderick Williams
C. M. Rubin is the author of two widely read online series for which she received a 2011 Upton Sinclair award, “The Global Search for Education” and “How Will We Read?” She is also the author of three bestselling books, including The Real Alice in Wonderland.
Follow C. M. Rubin on Twitter: www.twitter.com/@cmrubinworld
Alice: Why July 7, 2012
Oxford, England’s historic city, and the surrounding area will be the great stage for considerably curious goings-on this July 7, 2012.
Why July 7, 2012?
“All in a summer’s afternoon full leisurely we glide; for both our oars, with little skill, by little hands are plied…” — Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
July 7, 2012 is the beginning of a weekend of Alice-related events celebrating the 150th anniversary of the first telling of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland to Alice Liddell and her sisters. The Alice story begins at Christ Church, Oxford.
Why Christ Church in Oxford?
“And what is the use of a book,” thought Alice, “without pictures or conversations?”
— Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
It was at Christ Church, Oxford that Charles Dodgson (pen name Lewis Carroll) first met the children of then-Dean Henry Liddell (head of the College). Their names were Harry, Alice, Lorina and Edith. Dodgson was photographing the College Cathedral from the Deanery garden. While in the process, he was approached by Alice and her two sisters who wanted to be photographed. A friendship blossomed and they became regular visitors to his rooms, and Dodgson to their nursery. During the long process of sitting to have their photographs taken, Dodgson would tell the children stories to keep them entertained. He was inspired by familiar things and people in the surrounding town when telling these stories. Hence, Christ Church College and other parts Oxford played a very important part in the creation of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Since 2008, the Story Museum of Oxford has produced Alice’s Day to celebrate Carroll’s famous stories. “This year being the 150th anniversary, we have some special events lined up to make the weekend extra special,” said The Story Museum’s Marketing and Communications Director, Cath Nightingale. Special events such as performances by Curious Company.
Why Curious Company?
“Every time I perform I am inspired by the encounters I have with complete strangers, privileged encounters allowed only by the rules of fantasy and the imagination.”
— Louise Rennie, producer/performer/owner of Curious Company.
My daughter Gabriella and I first experienced Curious Company in 2008. And if you come to our book signing at Waterstone’s in Oxford on July 7, you will discover why we featured them in our book, The Real Alice in Wonderland. On Alice’s Day, Curious Company will be staging another one of its now famously innovative Alice in Wonderland themed performances on the streets and in other public spaces around the city of Oxford. This gem of a theatrical organization revels in bringing something magical and memorable to each presentation that guarantees to take everyone down the rabbit hole and show him a really good time. “We are gatekeepers to Wonderland,” explains Louise Rennie. “We make theater that wraps itself around the audience; they stop being audience if they even ever thought they were in the first place.” On July 7, performances are built around the themes of Cards and Croquet.
Why the Cards?
“Why the fact is, you see, Miss, this here ought to have been a red rose-tree and we put a white one in by mistake; and if the Queen was to find out, we should all have our heads cut off.”
— Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
The Cards have a simple but important job to do in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, and that is to paint the roses RED! The penalty for failure is fatal, so their motivation is strong. What can we expect from Curious Company’s 5-handed card game?
“Being cards as well as soldiers,” explains Louise, “they perform complex and seemingly pointless marching routines all prompted by the language of card games, such as ‘cut’, ‘split’ and ‘shuffle’, and offer up card tricks to order. With healthy doses of slapstick, acrobatics, clowning and contemporary dance, the Cards animate all manner of spaces and will amuse all kinds of audiences.”
The Cards will be dealt at The Story Museum in Oxford. All bids are raised as they split through the town to the Ashmolean Museum before shuffling across to the Museum of Natural History to play a game of Croquet with the Queen.
Why Croquet?
“The Queen! The Queen!” — Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
On Alice’s Day when the Queen barks, “You DO play croquet!” members of the audience need to say “Yes!” and give her their best curtsey or bow. You will already know if you are a hoop or a hedgehog, so it is just a matter of whose team you are on. Either way, be prepared to keep the Queen happy. And if the Queen is in one of her moods (which is more than likely), you need to do what she tells you. Remember, the Queen likes to be flattered. Presents are good too.
The Rules of the Game?
“Rules? What rules?” says Louise. “Alice doesn’t have a chance!”
Why July 8, 2012?
“What is a Caucus Race?” asked Alice. — Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
On Sunday, July 8, the day before the Olympic flame passes through Oxford, the organizers of Alice’s Day are turning convention on its head with their own eccentric forerunner to the Olympic Games. In the spirit of the original story, the Caucus Race is a…
“No room, No room!” cried the Editor.
Find out more about Alice’s Day in upcoming articles…
Photos courtesy of Curious Company.
C. M. Rubin is the author of two widely read online series for which she received a 2011 Upton Sinclair award, “The Global Search for Education” and “How Will We Read?” She is also the author of three bestselling books, including The Real Alice in Wonderland.
Follow C. M. Rubin on Twitter: www.twitter.com/@cmrubinworld
Alice — Victoria!
Welcome to the 2012 Victorian Extravaganza in Llandudno, the largest street entertainment event in Wales.
My Dearest Cousin Anne,
Have been invited to Llandudno in Wales first week of May to participate in the town’s annual Victorian Extravaganza celebrations. Shall also be doing book signings at Waterstones book store for my book, The Real Alice in Wonderland. Wondering if you would be interested in joining me?
*****
My Dear Cousin Cathy,
I’m in! I assume when you say Victorian Extravaganza, you’re referring to Victoria as in the British Queen (24 May, 1819 - 22 January, 1901); real name: Alexandrina Victoria; nickname: Drina. Born in England, only spoke German until age 3. Married first cousin, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, at age 16 (she had to propose to him because as Queen that was the protocol). Ascended British throne in 1837 at age 18. Had nine children who produced 42 grandchildren. Married them all off to members of European Royal families. Became known as the Great Grandmother of Europe(FYI, cousin — the present Queen, Elizabeth II and husband, Prince Phillip are both her great-great grandchildren!) Her 63-year, 7-month reign (the longest of any female monarch in history) is known as the Victorian Age, noted for great industrial, cultural, political, scientific, and military innovation. Britain became most powerful country in the world, and Victoria, the ruler of one quarter of the world’s population. And she was only 5 feet tall! Hence her famous quote, “Everybody grows but me!”
*****
My Dearest Cousin Anne,
‘Tis the one and same Victoria. I recall reading that a pair of her royal bloomers measured 50 inches around the waist (a 28 inch increase from her accession dress) in the 1890s. Alice in Wonderland might have commented, “Don’t talk nonsense. You know you’re growing too.”
Some historical trivia on the real Alice and Victoria: Alice Liddell and her family regularly spent holidays at their holiday home in Llandudno. Alice was actually romantically linked to Victoria’s youngest son, Prince Leopold… it’s all in my book, The Real Alice in Wonderland!
On the subject of Llandudno, some interesting things two cousins should know: Kate and Wills (Duke and Duchess of Cambridge) live close by in Anglesey. The town’s origins go back over 4000 years, thanks to some of the oldest and finest copper mines in the world. We could visit the oldest mine on Llandudno’s mountain, the Great Orme. We can take the tramway to the St. Tudno church at the summit, from which the town takes its name. The great Victorian transformation of the town into the largest seaside resort began in 1809. By 1864, it was known as “Queen of the Welsh Resorts.” Along its North Shore runs a wide curving Victorian promenade. An award-winning pier was built in 1878 (Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova appeared here). Building the pier had the same effect as building an airport. Holiday seekers begin arriving in droves to enjoy the beautiful scenery and breathe the clean sea air. We should check out Professor Codman’s Punch and Judy show, which opened in 1860 and remains open today near the entrance to the pier. The Happy Valley, originally a quarry that became an area of landscaped gardens (a gift to the town to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Victoria in 1887), has two miniature golf courses, a putting green and a popular open air theater. There are so many interesting hotels along the promenade. Where shall we stay cousin?
*****
My Dear Cousin Cathy,
Naturally, where the most famous have stayed. Some options…
The St. Georges Hotel: Past guests include Benjamin Disraeli (1804-81), The Right Honorable William Ewart Gladstone (1809-98), The Right Honorable David Lloyd George (1863-1945), Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965), and Lady Margaret Thatcher (1925 -). Other guests: French emperor Napoleon III and wife Eugenie, and Otto von Bismarck.
The Grand Hotel (featured in the film Yanks with Richard Gere): Past guests include Sir Winston Churchill, The Right Honorable David Lloyd George, Sir Oswald Mosley, The Right Honorable Clement Atlee, The Right Honorable Harold Wilson and Sir Edward Heath.
The Castle Hotel in Conwy: Past guests include the 18th-century author and lexicographer Samuel Johnson, Victorian poet Charlotte Brontë and poet William Wordsworth.
What about the St Tudno? Alice Liddell and her family stayed there before building their holiday home, Penmorfa.
*****
My Dearest Cousin Anne,
Please surprise me! On other Victorian Extravaganza matters — some one million people are expected to descend on the town over the three day period. WE have been asked to join the town’s VIPs at the Queens Hotel for refreshments prior to commencement of the opening ceremony on May 5 and grand parade, after which WE shall be returning to the Queens Hotel for a light luncheon. Might I RSVP that WE shall indeed be honored to accept?
My Dear Cousin Cathy,
WE are honored to accept! Let street entertainers, steam engines, arts, crafts, vintage cars, parades, rides, theatrical performers, barrel organs, Victorian costumes and town criers transport us back in time to the age of Queen Victoria at the 2012 Victorian Extravaganza in Llandudno, Wales.
Are you nervous about having to speak at the opening ceremony Cousin?
*****
My Dearest Cousin Anne,
To answer your question, allow me to share one of my favorite Queen Victoria quotes:
“Great events make me quiet and calm; it is only trifles that irritate my nerves.”
See more of the Llandudno Victorian Extravaganza
All photos are courtesy of Allan Cuthbertson.
With special thanks to Ffion Llwyd-Jones, Margaret Lyon, Cllr. Mayor Greg Robbins, Deborah Thompson, and Kimberley Barr.
Follow C. M. Rubin on Twitter: www.twitter.com/@cmrubinworld
Alice, Is This Cool?
“Johnny Depp has made it cool to like Alice,” was Miss Alice Llandudno Nicol Thompson’s answer to my question — Why do children today still love Alice in Wonderland? With Johnny Depp’s 3-D visual spectacle of a movie currently standing at a worldwide gross of $1,024,299,904, I suspect he made Alice in Wonderland very cool for a lot of Disney executives too.
But what about serious Carroll fans? How do they view Disney’s 21st-century technological efforts to keep the legacy “cool”?
“Despite the errors and license used by Disney in the story, it is Disney that continues to bring Aliceto the children of today,” comments Lewis Carroll Society member Keith Wright (Chairman and Editor, Daresbury Chronicle). “Tim Burton’s Alice, although not an Alice that Lewis Carroll would recognize, did contain the Wonderland characters and used some of the text from the books.”
Lewis Carroll (aka Charles Dodgson) wrote his Alice books for children. His inspiration for Alice, namely Alice Liddell, is the focus of a magnificent 160th birthday celebration in Llandudno, Wales on May 4, 2012.
“Charles Dodgson was a man who enjoyed teaching children; he liked a child with an inquiring mind but he was not a disciplinarian,” adds Wright. And Alice Liddell was indeed a child with an inquiring mind. Her favorite expression was “Let’s pretend,” and so it didn’t take long for her to become Mr. Dodgson’s favorite child. She adored the fun escape an undisciplined teacher offered in the disciplined world of Victorian life at Christ Church, Oxford during the mid 19th century. Mr. Dodgson would take Alice and her siblings on fun outings, which always included exciting storytelling. The most famous outing of all is the one credited with Dodgson’s first full telling ofAlice’s Adventures in Wonderland. This took place on Friday, July 4, 1862. Soon after hearing the story, young Alice pestered Mr. Dodgson to write it down for her. Thanks to Alice’s persistence, Mr. Dodgson (who had never written down any of his amazing tales) finally did create the book and presented it to her as an early Christmas gift on Nov. 26, 1864. The book, which took Dodgson 18 months to finish, and which he originally called Alice’s Adventures Underground, was handwritten and hand-illustrated by him.
Miss Alice Llandudno, Nicol Thompson
Over 145 years later, artists and creators are still reaping huge rewards from adapting Lewis Carroll’s classic books for every form of media and for each new generation of audiences. Tim Burton and Disney opted to update the story so that it would be “cool” for today’s younger movie going audience. But how do literary societies such as the Lewis Carroll Society, which strive to preserve Carroll’s classics in their original format, feel about staying “cool” in terms of appealing to younger fans?
“There is no doubt that literary societies in the UK have their backs to the wall,” explains Keith Wright. The younger generations do not join literary societies. They see them as elitist organizations, which does not help. Meetings containing research papers are not accessible to a generation brought up on getting their knowledge in a fairly unchallenging way — that is via TV or the Internet.”
Mr. Wright is a good friend and in ways a teacher to Miss Alice Llandudno, Nicol Thompson, who admits she prefers “reading the book to watching the films.”
There are currently Alice weekends in many towns around England supported by the Lewis Carroll Society, including Oxford (where the book was born), Lyndhurst in Hampshire (where Alice Liddell lived after she was married), Blists Hill Victorian Town in Ironbridge, and of course Llandudno in Wales (where Alice Liddell vacationed with her family), which is preparing for its commemorative Alice affair on May 4, 2012. All these towns attempt to appeal to fans both young and old.
Llandudno has historically enjoyed a healthy tourist trade thanks to its connection to Alice Liddell. This connection grew stronger in the 1970s when local residents Muriel Ratcliffe and her husband Murray began to consider an idea for an Alice adventure.
The couple found a basement in a property in the town that was damp and often flooded. With the help of local tradesmen, they created and launched the Rabbit Hole. The Rabbit Hole tourist attraction complete with life-size models of the book’s characters remained very popular with tourists from 1990 until Muriel Ratcliffe decided to retire in 2009.
At this point the content was put up for sale and was purchased by entrepreneurs and owners of Alice In Wonderland Ltd., Barry Mortlock and Simon and Eileen Burrows.
Much like the approach taken by Burton and Disney, Mortlock and the Burrows saw an opportunity to build a bigger and grander Alice adventure, utilizing cutting edge technology to create a 21st-century experience that was both modern and educational for children of all ages.
They worked with local government to conceptualize a Llandudno Alice Trail, which would utilize key locations around the town, including a popular tourist spot known as Happy Valley.
“The upcoming Alice Day is an excellent opportunity to reaffirm the connection that Llandudno has with Alice, and also with the Alice Trail that the County and Town Councils have funded to be built in the town. This will feature sculptures, a giant pocket watch and a new bandstand in Happy Valley, which will have the various characters from the stories cast into it. We already have a Cheshire Cat in the Happy Valley!” says Llandudno’s Mayor, Greg Robbins.
Mortlock and the Burrows will continue development over the summer with a young creative team of 3D artists and technical wizards. Their big picture concept? A visual spectacle such as has never been seen before in any other attraction in the UK.
So what might Alice Liddell have said about these creative upgrades to her favorite story in her summer vacation town?
I don’t know for sure of course. I do know Alice was a talented artist herself whose favorite expression as a child was “Let’s pretend.” Hence I like to imagine she might be thinking “Cool!”
Photos courtesy of Alice In Wonderland Ltd. and Keith Wright
C. M. Rubin is the author of two widely read online series for which she received a 2011 Upton Sinclair award, “The Global Search for Education” and “How Will We Read?” She is also the author of three bestselling books, including The Real Alice in Wonderland.
Follow C. M. Rubin on Twitter: www.twitter.com/@cmrubinworld
Alice — Meet Alice
“Without Alice there would be no Wonderland.” — Ian Turner
“Magic, beauty, color, amusement, character, intrigue, questions, excitement, puzzlement, amazement, fear, suspense, fun and a happy ending” are the reasons why Alice’s Adventure’s in Wonderland is still a classic today, according to Ian Turner, celebrity host of Llandudno, Wales’ Alice Day on May 4, 2012.
And Turner’s favorite character in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland? “Why Alice of course. Without Alice there would be no Wonderland, no White Rabbit, no Mad Hatter, no Queen of Hearts, no Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, no March Hare and no Tea Party,” he comments.
Counselor Greg Robbins, Llandudno’s Mayor, explains that “the Town Council has kept the role of Miss Alice in a very special place.” The annual Miss Alice competition is an historical and distinguished Llandudno tradition. Girls aged between 8 and 10 years, who live in one of the 5 Llandudno wards — Craig-y-Don, Gogarth, Mostyn, Penrhyn, and Tudno — are all eligible to enter. Five judges preside over the entrants to the contest and the criteria for selection of the winner is based on the contestants’ knowledge of the Alice in Wonderland books, presentation and appearance on the day of the competition.
Once Miss Alice is appointed to this most prestigious of positions, her duties are fairly extensive. They include public appearances at the town’s most important events alongside the Mayor of Llandudno. This is after all the town where Alice Liddell, Lewis Carroll’s original inspiration, spent her summer vacations. “Miss Alice not only reminds everyone of the link that Llandudno has to Alice Liddell but also to the Victorian heritage of our town,” explains Mayor Robbins.
Alice Day organizers at Alice in Wonderland Ltd. are planning to bring together all the Miss Alice’s from 1982 to the present day for a very special reunion tea party which shall take place during a Victoriana Extravaganza weekend immediately following Alice Day. May 4, 2012 itself, which would have been Alice Liddell’s 160th birthday, will have the spotlight firmly focused on the current Miss Alice.
So how does 9 year old Nicol Thompson feel about the most important day in her year? I was curious to meet Miss Alice and find out.
“The Town Council has kept the role of Miss Alice in a very special place.” — Mayor Greg Robbins
When did you first discover the book Alice in Wonderland?
Mummy used to read it to me when I was tiny. It’s always been there. I must have about half a dozen different book versions (as I’ve handed on my baby versions now) plus about 4 different DVD versions. I prefer reading it to watching the films.
Why do you think the story is still so popular with children today?
Because it’s an adventure and children like to use their imaginations. It’s very popular with adults too and Johnny Depp has made it cool to like Alice!
Can you tell us what we can expect at your Mad Hatter’s tea party on Friday, May 4, 2012?
Lots of fun. The Town Band will be playing, there will be music, actors, street entertainers, birds of prey, art competitions, the Mad Hatter, Lewis Carroll (I mean Charles Dodgson, of course), Mayors and Mayoresses from all over the place, and 100s and 100s of guests. There will even be a Victorian fun fair in the town that weekend! And lots of cakes and jam tarts! I have even invited the Queen of Hearts - as long as she promises not to cut off anyone’s head! And the White Rabbit has promised not to be late for this very important date.
“The event I will remember forever is meeting the children from Chernobyl.”— Miss Alice, Nicol Thompson
What are you most looking forward to on this special Llandudno day?
That’s a tough one. There are lots of things but probably most of all is to see everyone having fun.
Which event in your Alice year so far was your favorite and why?
Another tough one, as there have been so many things. It was great fun being arrested by the cards, and amazing getting a VIP tour of Christ Church in Oxford and seeing the Jabberwocky. Closer to home, my fear of dogs was cured when I had to judge 6 dog shows. The event I will remember forever is meeting the children from Chernobyl. They have been through so much, have so little and are so poor - but yet they remain so happy.
“My advice to the next Miss Alice is to enjoy every moment as it is a dream and that dream won’t last forever.” — Miss Alice, Nicol Thompson
What has being Miss Alice and representing Llandudno meant to you? What have you learned during your year?
Llandudno is a beautiful place to live. I have always known this but being Alice has made it even clearer and has allowed me to share this with other people. Being Alice has also shown me that the things my Mummy and Dad have taught me, like good manners, politeness and speaking nicely are really important. How much nicer the world would be if everybody was like this! We’re lucky in Llandudno. Not only is it the Queen of Welsh resorts and the Daffodil Capital of Wales, it has also recently been voted the happiest place to live in Wales.
So being Miss Alice has meant the world to me - I was chosen to represent the town I love so much.
What advice will you give to the next Miss Alice who is to be appointed on May 26?
My advice to the next Miss Alice is to enjoy every moment as it is a dream and that dream won’t last forever. But at the same time, remember that you are representing Llandudno, your school, your family and yourself - make everybody proud!
Thank you Miss Alice Llandudno. You certainly make us curiouser and curiouser………..
For curious people:
www.wonderland.co.uk/wonderland-news
www.facebook.com/AliceinWonderlandLlandudno
Nicol Thompson (Miss Alice) and C. M. Rubin
Photos courtesy of Deborah Thompson.
C. M. Rubin is the author of two widely read online series for which she received a 2011 Upton Sinclair award, “The Global Search for Education” and “How Will We Read?” She is also the author of three bestselling books, including The Real Alice in Wonderland.
Follow C. M. Rubin on Twitter: www.twitter.com/@cmrubinworld
Alice —May 4, 2012
“One of the deep secrets of life is that all that is really worth the doing is what we do for others.”— Lewis Carroll
Everybody’ s got Alice fever in Alice town — Llandudno, Wales — but no one is as curious or as excited as me!
That’s because on Friday, May 4, this famous seaside Welsh resort is launching a fantastical Wonderland event. It will celebrate what would have been the 160th birthday of my distant relative, Alice Liddell, the Alice behind what is arguably the greatest children’s book of all time —Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. The Liddell family, who were close friends of the book’s author, Lewis Carroll, owned a holiday home in this charming town recently voted the happiest place to live in Wales. Their home, formerly called Penmorfa, sat on the top of a high cliff at the West Shore. And to this town and to this family home came many celebrities of the day, including family friends Sir William Blake Richmond and British Prime Minister William Gladstone. It was here that Sir William painted his famous painting called The Sisters, featuring young Alice and her siblings. It was here that young Alice and her sisters learned that the great Mr. Gladstone suffered from vertigo. And so they tenderly guided him down the steep path to the beach with his eyes shut!
It is here that I shall be staying on May 4, 2012!
The May 4 Alice Day event is the day before the town’s world famous Victoriana Extravaganza, which offers another three days of fun filled Victoriana themed festivities, stalls, shows, a grand parade, and streets brimming with talented entertainers. Talk about the best week in the year to head out to Llandudno in Wales!
Organizers at Alice in Wonderland Ltd. of the May 4 Alice Day birthday celebration have been inundated with young passionate Alices, White Rabbits, Mad Hatters, Queens of Hearts, and Cheshire Cats requesting details of the Wonderland festivities planned, and begging to be involved in this highly anticipated event which will be launched on the town’s promenade at 12:30 pm promptly on the big day.
Llandudno’s charming and talented Miss Alice 2011-2012, Miss Nicol Thompson, whose public duties during the year have included public appearances at local and national events, has been very busy. She has been sending special Mad Hatter Tea Party invitations to dignitaries, including lucky old me. This means I shall have the great honor of sitting at Miss Alice’s top table for what promises to be the very best Mad Hatter Tea Party of all time! During the course of tea and jam tarts, Miss Alice has promised to reenact for us the first encounter between Alice and Charles Dodgson (aka Lewis Carroll), a momentous occasion that the audience (including over 700 school children) are looking forward to seeing. Local hoteliers are busy importing extra tables and chairs to accommodate all the participants, and the town’s chefs have promised they shall not run out of jam tarts for the world record attempt for jam tart eating! Street performers, actors, art competitions, on-site illustrators, face painters, fancy dress, birds of prey and live music promise to keep families entertained throughout the day. Members of the Lewis Carroll Society will be dressing as characters from the Alice books.
The day will be hosted by the local celebrity Ian Turner, who is an Alice in Wonderland fan. His stage is already set with the backdrop of a 1910 Llandudno Victorian Tram.
So would you like a little more Alice Tea? Then why not join us at 12:30 p.m. on the Promenade in Llandudno! Bring a picnic, bring a friend, but most important, bring your passion and your curiosity for a children’s story with an enduring legacy.
For more information:
http://www.facebook.com/AliceinWonderlandLlandudno
Photos courtesy of the St. Tudno Hotel.
C. M. Rubin is the author of two widely read online series for which she received a 2011 Upton Sinclair award, “The Global Search for Education” and “How Will We Read?” She is also the author of three bestselling books, including The Real Alice in Wonderland.
Follow C. M. Rubin on Twitter: www.twitter.com/@cmrubinworld
Alice in Italy
The Mart: the Modern and Contemporary Art Museum of Trento and Rovereto
Alice In Wonderland is the first exhibition to comprehensively focus on Lewis Carroll’s classic “Alice” books and their enormous influence on the world of visual arts from the first publication ofAlice’s Adventures in Wonderland in 1865 to the present day.
From the 25th of February to the 3rd of June 2012, the visual extravaganza (organized by the Tate Liverpool in collaboration with the Mart di Rovereto and the Hamburger Kunsthalle) will take center stage at the Mart. Lewis Carroll was an active participant in the artistic scene of his time as both an innovative photographer and a scholar interested in art and artists. He kept company with talent like the poet and artist Dante Gabriel Rossetti, the sculptor Alexander Munro, and the artist Sir John Everett Millais. Paintings by Rossetti and Millais are part of the Mart’s Alice In Wonderland exhibition along with others by William Holman Hunt and Arthur Hughes about whom Carroll wrote in his famous diaries.
The timing of the exhibition is perfect of course since July, 2012 is the 150th anniversary of the first telling of the Alice in Wonderland story to Alice Liddell, Carroll’s inspiration for Alice. 2015 will mark the 150th anniversary of Macmillan’s first publication of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. I asked Cristiana Collu, Director of the Mart, the Modern and Contemporary Art Museum of Trento and Rovereto, to share her views on the exhibition and what Alice in Wonderland means to Italians.
Annelies Strba - Nyima 445
What do Lewis Carroll’s Alice books mean to Italians young and old?
Carroll’s books are classics and form part of the Western collective imagination. I don’t know if there is a specifically Italian perception of Alice as character, but I am sure that there are numerous versions and translations, the last of which I have heard is A s´àtera ala de s´ispigru and su chi Alisedda b´at agatadu; in other words, a version in Sardinian (which is the region I come from myself). The example is a very significant one because it uses the tale of Alice to revive not only a language that has fallen into neglect but also to create neologisms, and finally to combine the richness of the culture of the place, founded on the intangible heritage of oral transmission, with codified literature. A process of recognition and appropriation is set into motion that says much if not all about the extraordinary strength of the Alice story.
Paul Laffoley - Alice Pleasance Liddell
What can visitors to the Mart’s Alice in Wonderland exhibit expect to discover when they visit? What will make the Mart’s exhibit unique in contrast to the Tate’s version?
The exhibition is a world of marvels, just as is the museum, offspring of the wunderkammer (an encyclopedic collection of objects). In this sense, the marvel is not only that which surprises, astonishes and leaves us open-mouthed, but on the contrary that which functions as a veritable detonator of our creativity, our capacity for reaction and problem-solving, our willingness to see things in a different way and the world from new points of view; when all is said and done, it calls things into question. Having doubts for Alice is not synonymous with the fragility of her being but with her capacity for growth, for ‘muchness’. Our visitors will find this ‘muchness’ in the presentation of the exhibition, in the way the exhibition has been laid out, which we have sought to interpret with a precise visual identity corresponding to the reading of the references made between museum, literary work, works on display, interludes and scores held together by a graphic design that is able to maintain the weight of the whole throughout, without ceasing to lighten it with irony and freshness.
Max Ernst - Alice in 1941
Can you tell us about some of the Italian artists and writers that have been inspired by Lewis Carroll’s works? Are any of these important artists or their works featured in the Mart’s exhibit?
Carroll’s tales have enjoyed an extraordinary following in Italy too. We could draw up infinite lists of translations, free interpretations, adapted versions for children and freely inspired transpositions (including the fine one by Gianni Rodari, Alice nelle figure), and those for adults (Aldo Busi’s version, for instance) and for the film festival in Rome, “Alice nella città” and its logo, designed by Marti Guixé. I believe that Alice really is a sort of catch-all, an emblematic metaphor of which art and its various forms, from cinema to design, painting to sculpture and video art, have made use to ‘illustrate’ even the dark and dense part that the girl and her author have represented.Alice in Wonderland, however, does not contemplate works by Italian artists; we shall instead draw some in who will offer their personal vision, taking the suggestions offered by the exhibition in tune or opposition to their style so they may offer us their own personal vision.
John Everett Millais - Waking
Do you think Italians are aware of the story behind the story, i.e. that Alice Liddell was Carroll’s inspiration for the story and also that many of the characters in the book were inspired by her family and her environment? Is this something that you believe will be of interest?
The Italian public is thus informed that the exhibition layout, which is also chronological, will offer a series of points enabling many to put together pieces of a puzzle that they already possessed, thus offering a complete and conscious vision of the history and of the world subtending all, together with what occurs behind the scenes. I have no doubt that even these aspects will be of considerable appeal and interest.
What does this exhibit mean to you? What are some of your personal favorites in the exhibits?
I prefer the exhibition as a whole. I loved the project and experienced the crucial part of the creation of its identity within the Mart. Together with all my collaborators who have shared this adventure with me, I am certain that we have created a testimonial of our change, a device that not only translates but implements our vision of the museum as a place of utopias, of possibilities, of a stereoscopic and at the same time timely view; a place in which we feel ourselves to be in ‘Wonderland’, elsewhere and yet at home.
The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of Trento and Rovereto, the Mart, is one of the most important museums in Italy. For more information.
Cristiana Collu and C. M. Rubin
Photos courtesy of the Alice in Wonderland Exhibition at the Mart, the Modern and Contemporary Art Museum of Trento and Rovereto.
C. M. Rubin is the author of two widely read online series for which she received a 2011 Upton Sinclair award, “The Global Search for Education” and “How Will We Read?” She is also the author of three bestselling books, including The Real Alice in Wonderland.
Alice - In Wales?
The Sisters (1864) by Sir William Blake Richmond can be seen at the Alice In Wonderland exhibit at Tate Liverpool (Photo courtesy of Tate Images)
What does the Queen of Welsh resorts, the town of Llandudno in Wales (3 hours on a direct train from the city of London), have to do with Alice in Wonderland?
In the summer of 1864, Alice Liddell (Lewis Carroll’s inspiration for Alice in Wonderland) and her two sisters, Lorina (who inspired the Lory) and Edith (who inspired the Eaglet), posed for up to ten hours a day while the distinguished English artist, Sir William Blake Richmond, created one of his most famous paintings, called The Sisters. The painting of the three Liddell sisters set against the background of the Great Orme, Llandudno’s famous mountain, is one of the highlights of the Tate Liverpool’s Alice in Wonderland exhibition. Sir William Blake Richmond painted the portraits of the most prominent people of the day. The Sisters, well received by the art critics of the day, was regarded by Richmond as a milestone in his career. Sir William had this to say about Alice Liddell:
“Little Alice, to whose pretty face and lovely coloring no reproduction can do justice, is seen on the right in profile, peering at the big volume on her sister’s lap.”
The group scene with the Hatter, Alice, King of Hearts, Tweedles and Caterpillar(Photo courtesy of Alice In Wonderland Ltd.)
When my daughter and I were creating our book, The Real Alice in Wonderland, about our relative Alice Liddell, we spent time researching Llandudno’s long connection to Alice Liddell and her family. Alice’s father, Henry Liddell (who inspired the White Rabbit), his wife Lorina, and the governess Miss Pricks (who inspired the Queen of Hearts) came to Llandudno for family vacations. It was here that the Liddell family built their large, gothic styled vacation home, which they called Penmorfa. Many famous celebrities of the day, including Prime Minister William Gladstone, came to visit them. As the Alice in Wonderland books became more famous, Alice Liddell also became a celebrity. Tourists wanted to enjoy beautiful Llandudno, perfectly situated on the western shores of Wales, and learn more about the story behind one of the greatest children’s stories of all time. In time, the town offered related tourist attractions, including an Alice trail, a Wonderland store and a Rabbit Hole attraction conceived by residents Muriel and Murray Ratcliffe that recreated Alice book scenes with life-size robotic characters. Eventually, Penmorfa was converted into a grand hotel. Around the turn of the 21st century, some attractions began to disappear for a number of reasons, including insufficient traffic to support the upkeep of some of the historical sights that celebrated Llandudno’s important connection to the Alice in Wonderland story.
All that is about to change just in time for two important anniversaries related to the Alice books: July 4, 2012, the 150th anniversary of the first telling of the story to Alice Liddell, and November 26, 2015, the 150th anniversary of the first publication of the book.
The Directors of Alice In Wonderland Ltd., Barry Mortlock and Simon Burrows, have purchased the Rabbit Hole content from Llandudno resident Muriel Ratcliffe, the owner of 20 years. They have launched a new Wonderland website to offer the finest Alice in Wonderland collectibles from around the world, http://www.wonderland.co.uk, and to act as portal to communicate new Alice initiatives underway in Llandudno. The team is working closely with the local County Council to bring an updated Alice trail to Llandudno. It will be a walking trail with 10-12 key places of interest that will depict the connection of Alice to the town. The new age trail will feature high tech interactive activities and will be open to the public in fiscal 2013/2014. Llandudno’s existing railway station is also undergoing a major redevelopment. It will become the start of the trail. Mortlock and Burrows’ coffee shop, currently housed within the town’s large Waterstone’s book store, is also being revamped “Alice style”, which no one will be able to miss since it will be the final watering hole at the end of the Wonderland trail. Muriel Ratcliffe will stay involved in their plans to bring the strong Alice connection back to the town of LLandudno. Ratcliffe explains, “I get phone calls and emails to this day asking if the attraction is still open.”
The Queen of Hearts (Photo courtesy of Alice In Wonderland Ltd.)
I had the opportunity to chat with Barry and Simon about their “Alice of Llandudno” project:
Why do you believe what you are doing is so important to Llandudno, Wales, and to the rest of the “Alice” loving world?
Llandudno is a beautiful Victorian seaside resort that is full of character and has charmed visitors, young and old, for many years. It is a lovely part of the world with the stunning Snowdonia National Park and World Heritage sites nearly. It also plays an important role in telling the story of the young Alice Liddell who was the inspiration behind the books. Alice’s parents honeymooned in Llandudno and stayed in one of the beautiful hotels whilst their holiday home (Penmorfa) was being built. The family spent many summers in Llandudno and they must have shared some stunning sunsets since the house had magnificent views. Alice Liddell is important to Wales. She is a Llandudno celebrity, having graced our shores with her presence. Her story needs to be told to the world and remembered. The charm of the book, Alice’s personal story, and the charm of the resort go hand in hand.
The White Rabbit (Photo courtesy of Alice In Wonderland Ltd.)
Why do you think Alice in Wonderland continues to be so inspiring to generation after generation?
We think the fact that the story of Alice in Wonderland has a fascinating story behind it makes it all the more inspiring. We are intrigued by the story behind the book and have a genuine interest in the lives of the real people involved. In our daily crazy worlds, we occasionally need some escapism from reality. Alice in Wonderland is a story that takes us into a different dimension; it stimulates, feeds and drives the imagination. There are no boundaries, no religion, and no discrimination; we are free to let our imaginations run wild; anything impossible can become possible. As a child, we know no boundaries; with a vivid imagination, all things seem possible. It is the boundaries and walls we put in place that make things impossible! Break down the boundaries, tear down the walls, feed your imagination, and you get Alice in Wonderland……………..!
Simon Burrows, C. M. Rubin and Barry Mortlock
C. M. Rubin is the author of two widely read online series for which she received a 2011 Upton Sinclair award, “The Global Search for Education” and “How Will We Read?”. She is also the author of three bestselling books, including “The Real Alice in Wonderland.”
Follow C. M. Rubin on Twitter: www.twitter.com/@cmrubinworld
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