Alice — Tea?
“I was inside the lounge of the St. Tudno Hotel. At the table were Alice, the March Hare, the Hatter, the Dormouse and the Queen of Hearts.” — C. M. Rubin
With apologies to Lewis Carroll…
It was Friday, May 4, 2012.
I fell down a rabbit hole in search of a tea party for 1,000 children and a world record jam tart eating attempt.
Down down down I went… until suddenly — thump!
I was inside the lounge of the St. Tudno Hotel.
There was a table set out under a large bay window. At the table were Alice, the March Hare, the Hatter, the Dormouse and the Queen of Hearts.
“No room! No room!” cried the Dormouse and the March Hare.
“There’s plenty of room!” said Miss Alice Llandudno indignantly, and she graciously offered me a large armchair at one end of the table.
“Have some wine,” said the March Hare.
“I don’t see any wine,” I said, “but I would like some tea.”
“Tea? But there isn’t any tea,” said the March Hare.
“It isn’t very civil of you to lie,” said Miss Alice Llandudno, “especially when we’re all drinking tea.”
“It isn’t very civil of you to invite her to sit down and drink our tea,” said the March Hare.
“Your hair wants cutting,” said the Hatter.
“What’s that got to do with tea?” I asked.
“Where are you from?” asked the Queen, tossing her head impatiently.
“America,” I replied. “Manhattan, to be precise.”
“I didn’t ask to be precise,” said the Queen. “Do they drink tea in Manhattan?”
“I think they prefer coffee, so please your majesty,” I replied.
“How awful!” said the Queen. “Do they play croquet?”
“I don’t think croquet is popular, so please your majesty,” I replied.
“No tea, no croquet, they sound like savages,” said the queen.
“You should learn not to make personal remarks,” said Miss Alice Llandudno.
“Off with her headband!” cried the Queen.
“It isn’t very civil of you to lie, especially when we’re all drinking tea,” said Miss Alice Llandudno.
“Twinkle twinkle little bat,
Tell us where Manhattan’s at,” sang the Hatter.
“It’s on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean,” I replied. “In New York.”
“Find Manhattan o’er the sea,
But be sure you bring some tea,” sang the Hatter.
“Where is the tea party for 1,000 children and when will the record jam tart eating attempt begin?” I asked.
“I’m so glad you’ve begun asking riddles. I believe I can guess that,” said Miss Alice Llandudno.
“Do you mean that you think you can find out the answer?” asked the March Hare.
“Exactly so,” said Miss Alice Llandudno.
“The Dormouse has the answer but he is asleep again,” said the Hatter as he poured a little hot tea upon his nose.
The Dormouse shook his head and said, without opening his eyes, “Of course, of course; in honor of Alice Liddell’s 160th birthday there is a birthday party for Miss Alice Llandudno on the promenade at noon. At least 1,000 children are expected to bring her gifts. They shall attempt to break the world jam tart eating record.”
“Off with his nose!” cried the Queen. “What party for Miss Alice? What jam tart record? No parties allowed! No sniff of a single jam tart until I give the order!”
“Well then you shall give the order,” said Miss Alice Llandudno.
“Why should I?” asked the Queen.
“Because,” said Miss Alice Llandudno, “You are the Queen.”
“Come on then!” roared the Queen.
“And what we did was attend the world’s greatest tea party.” — C. M. Rubin
And so Alice and I followed the Queen and joined a grand procession led by the town Mayor and other celebrities, wondering what would happen next.
And what we did was attend the world’s greatest tea party.
And what we saw were hundreds of children dressed up in Alice in Wonderland costumes.
And what we ate was the most delicious birthday cake I have ever tasted.
And what we experienced was more fun than you can possibly imagine.
And what we achieved was breaking the world record for eating the most jam tarts (1,716) at a single Alice in Wonderland party.
And what we want is more Alice… and more Wonderland plays and more cake and more jam tarts and more tea in Llandudno.
The organizers, Alice In Wonderland Ltd. of Llandudno, Wales, are presently taking a tip from the Dormouse, and then will start planning the next great Wonderland tea party.
A message from the Queen:
“Only Americans who drink tea and play croquet should attend!”
“And what we want is more Alice and more Wonderland plays and more cake and more jam tarts and more tea in Llandudno.” — C. M. Rubin
Photos courtesy of George Good of Inkstinctive Images. For more information please go to Inkstinctive Images
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
Alice Pleasance Liddell, Summer 1858. Courtesy of © National Portrait Gallery, London
In the year 2143, will we be able to say Harry Potter lives, Harry Potter is global, or even thatHarry Potter’s enduring legacy continues to inspire all age groups?
None of us really know for sure what will happen to Harry Potter between now and then. What you should know is that there is one book, which, 146 years after it was first published in 1865, has accomplished all these things and is also one of the most loved books in today’s world. The book to which I am referring is of course Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, which I like to call “Alice.”
A great many people saw Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland movie, which, despite its short theatrical window, grossed $1.02 billion worldwide. That was just an appetizer in comparison to the massive global run up to “Alice’s” 150th birthday in the fall of 2015.
Much like the closing ceremony of one Olympics and the heralding of the next one, the road to “Alice’s” sesquicentennial ceremony has already inspired a magnificent exhibition to be seen in some of the world’s greatest museums, with more exhibitions and events in the works along the way to the lighting of “Alice’s” torch in four years time.
As a passionate “Alice” fan and a relative of Alice Pleasance Liddell, the original inspiration for the book, I never tire of immersing myself in the rich culture that was born from Lewis Carroll’s fantastical dream world. In every age since the 19th century, “Alice” has inspired artists and scientists from the worlds of mathematics, fine arts, literature, puzzles, games, toys, film, dance, music, poetry, video games, photography, cartooning, and well, let’s just say you’ve got your work cut out, Harry Potter!
So now…… are you ready for a little more tea?
Come Away From Her (After Lewis Carroll) 2003 — Kiki Smith Acrylic on Paper. Courtesy of © ULAE, Inc.
I had the great pleasure of chatting with Eleanor Clayton, Assistant Curator of the Tate Liverpool’s fantastical new Alice In Wonderland exhibition currently showing in England before heading out to other parts of Europe.
“Alice” lives on — Why is “Alice” so inspiring to all ages and to generation after generation?
One of the things we notice about “Alice” is that it is one of the few books that have never been out of print since it was first published. It has literally stayed in fashion the entire way since 1865. “Alice” just continues to appeal. I think that it’s the nature of the story. You have a child heroine. Alice is beset by trials and tribulations that she has to go through and yet she always remains calm. Whether it’s the Mad Hatter or the Queen (trying to chop off her head), she meets the challenge and prevails. There is something about Alice’s journey that everyone can relate to.
The other thing that we have actually focused a lot on in the exhibition is that when the original manuscript was created, Charles Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) included pictures. The pictures were an integral part of the story. There aren’t actually a lot of descriptions of the book’s characters including Alice. Instead, on the first page of the original manuscript, there is a picture of Alice. It doesn’t tell us that Alice wears this kind of a dress or has this kind of hair. It leaves it very open for generation after generation to reinvent Alice. In our exhibition there are Alices from the 1930’s, Alices from the 1960’s, and even more contemporary Alices. Each generation has been able to reinvent Alice in the style of that generation. This says something about the richness of the book too. Each generation finds it appealing and wants to contribute something new.
How many Alices do you have in total in the exhibition?
In just one room we have over 40 illustrated editions of the book from 1907 onwards. I would say we have over a hundred Alices (character depictions) in the exhibition.
“Alice” is global — How represented is “Alice” on a global basis throughout the exhibition?
We have illustrated editions from the western world but we also have Eastern European and Russian illustrated editions. We have work by an artist called Nalini Malani, who’s done a series called Living in Alice Time. She finds in Alice a figure that relates to the political situation in India and her work is representative of that. Unfortunately, we don’t have “Alices” from Australia and New Zealand but we do have most of the Northern Hemisphere covered.
Alice’s Adventures Underground, the original manuscript, was handwritten and hand illustrated by Lewis Carroll and presented to Alice Liddell as an early Christmas gift. How significant is this manuscript?
I think it is very significant. We’ve found it incredibly interesting as an early form of book art, which became hugely popular in the 1860’s and beyond. The images are such an integral part of the original manuscript that it is a visual work of art in itself. Even Carroll’s text has visual elements. In the 19th century, art was about paintings, and books were books, but when you look at the original manuscript it is definitely an art object in itself, which is why it is really significant. Later on after the “Alice” books were published, Carroll published a facsimile of the original manuscript.
Alice in Wonderland Magic Lantern Slides 1900 - 1925. Courtesy of © University of Exeter
The manuscript’s sale by Alice Pleasance Liddell in 1928 for £15,400 ($77,000) set a new auction record for a book at that time in history, not to mention the fact that the buyer was an American, Dr. A. S. W. Rosenbach.
The book has now become so iconic that the original manuscript itself is almost like a relic. We are very lucky to be exhibiting it. It has only left the British Library once (for a trip to New York City) since it was presented as a gift to the British Library by a group of American businessmen. The security we have had to go through to protect it is incredible. It has to be kept in a metal (versus wooden) vitrine with glass that is thicker than 11 millimeters. It also has to have two special Abloy locks. Then there is CCTV on it and security guards. It’s this little book the size of a hand. People come into the exhibit and are drawn to it. Then they very quickly fall down the rabbit hole into all of these artifacts that have built up because of this one little book.
What will people like most about the exhibition?
Children will see the original manuscript, Tenniel’s drawings, toys and games that were around in the 19th century after the publication of the book. There are also beautiful paintings, colorful artworks from people like Max Ernst and Dali as well as other “Alice” art from the 1960’s. There is a reading area in the exhibition. There’s also a participative artwork by Allen Ruppersberg where visitors can make their own books.
Highlights or personal favorites of the exhibition?
One of the highlights is an opportunity to learn more about Dodgson’s photography. We have his photographic equipment and a number of his own beautiful photographs. Charles Dodgson was a writer but he was also an artist who thought in pictures, and it makes you realize why the imagery in “Alice” is so vivid.
A personal favorite is a beautiful oil painting called Alice by Max Ernst from 1941. In Ernst’s painting, Alice, we see the figure of Alice being reinvented for the first time as a young woman, no longer a young girl. Ernst started the artwork when he was a prisoner of war in France and then completed it in New York after he escaped; and so it brings out this important image of Alice as a symbol of hope.
My final favorite is the enormous painting of Wonderland by Luc Tuymans. When you stand in front of if you feel as if you could just walk into Wonderland. It was made in 2007, and it just shows again that even today, artists are still finding the idea of Wonderland such an inspiration.
For more information: Tate Liverpool
On January 29, 2012, Alice in Wonderland leaves the Tate Liverpool and travels to the MART (The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art) in Trento and Rovereto, Italy before moving to the Kunsthalle in Hamburg, Germany.
Eleanor Clayton and C. M. Rubin
C.M. Rubin is the author of the widely read on-line series, The Global Search for Education, and is also the author of three bestselling books, including The Real Alice in Wonderland.
Follow C. M. Rubin on Twitter: www.twitter.com/@cmrubinworld
How Will We Read? - The Book Given
The book given by Lewis Carroll to Alice Liddell for Christmas
On November 26, 1864, Lewis Carroll gave my relative, Alice Pleasance Liddell, a book he had written for her. He called the book Alice’s Adventures Underground after considering titles such asAlice’s Golden House, Alice Among the Elves, Alice Among the Goblins, and Alice’s Doings In Wonderland. Carroll had spent over two years writing and illustrating the book for Alice. It consisted of ninety-two pages covered with his print like writing as well as thirty-seven of his own pen and ink drawings. The book given to Alice Liddell would change her life forever.
It all began (as Carroll reminded his followers on a number of occasions) because of a 10 year-old girl who had encouraged Carroll’s storytelling for years, and in particular a story he told about Alice in Wonderland during a summer day’s picnic on July 4, 1862. Alice was continuously insistent that Carroll write the story down for her, which he eventually did and ultimately presented to her as an early Christmas gift. The book would also change Carroll’s life forever, but it might never have happened if a young girl had not inspired the previously unpublished children’s book author to write the greatest children’s book of all time.
There are over 20,000 books, films, operas, plays and video games based on Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There. It is estimated that over 8 billion people have read or seen presentations of the “Alice” books. Lewis Carroll is behind only the Bible and Shakespeare in the number of quotations from the “Alice” books that appear in published discourse. In addition to the new adaptations of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Carroll’s and Liddell’s lives continue to inspire numerous new books, works of art, and film projects. And all because of “a book given.”
If the book given to Alice in 1864 was given today, just imagine the variety of different ways a creative chap like Lewis Carroll might have presented it to his Alice. Quantum leaps in technology have completely changed the way we write, illustrate, publish, market, promote and consume books. I find myself (like Alice) constantly curious and excited about discovering all the new products in the digital books wonderland, while at the same time overwhelmed by all the new found freedoms the technology revolution promises to offer me. Is the device simple stupid enough for me to connect with quickly in my already complicated life? Is it time to buy this tablet or this e-reader? Will I look out of date to my bridge pals when the new updated version is released in 6 months time? I also wonder whether any of us will recognize the content of yesterday’s “book” once the revolution settles down. Will writing for Google become such an integral part of the book marketing culture that creative processes are dramatically changed?
Amazon’s Kindle Fire
Between you and me, I yearn for some form of consolidation in all the craziness that would enable me to feel I can comment intelligently on what appears to be the longer term trends in the publishing model. One thing I know for sure: An entertainment business career which kept me moving through the theatrical, television, video, DVD, pay on demand and pay television formats taught me that we don’t stop watching great movies. As a passionate movie lover, I would argue that the changing technology enabled me to watch more great and even not so great movies than ever before, since I was able to do it more often thanks to a variety of formats that accommodated my ever-changing hectic lifestyle. In addition, those great movies that made that unforgettable connection and changed my life forever, I not only watched again and again, but I insisted on owning them in every possible format I could fit onto the living room shelf.
And so I don’t believe that passionate readers, like passionate movie lovers, will ever disappear. The way readers read will of course continue to evolve and change, but certain things about the cultural experience will not. For example, everything will still begin with the written word, and if that written word is to survive the test of time and change lives forever (like the book given to my relative in 1864), it will happen because of rare talent and creativity and innovative thinking in an age that is redefining how we shall read.
C. M. Rubin
(Photos courtesy of Amazon.com, Inc. and Henmead Enterprises, Inc.)
C.M. Rubin has more than two decades of professional experience in development, marketing, and art direction for a diverse range of media businesses. She is the author of the widely read on-line series, The Global Search for Education, and is also the author of three bestselling books, including The Real Alice in Wonderland.
Follow C. M. Rubin on Twitter: www.twitter.com/@cmrubinworld
KATE MIDDLETON - TO DRESS A PRINCESS
KATE’S DRESS by C. M. Rubin and Theresa Blake
I admired Princess Diana enormously. For awhile, she went to a secondary school not far from mine. Our schools played netball matches (English version basketball) against each other. I grew up in her time, in her neighborhoods, and in her culture. I watched her fairytale wedding, and like everyone else, I expected her love story to continue happily ever after.
While her marriage did not last, Princess Diana can be proud of the two wonderful children it produced, whom she loved and cherished her whole adult life. When Prince William announced that he had given his fiancée, Kate (Catherine) Middleton, his mother’s ring, because he wanted his mother to be part of his engagement announcement, it was not Diana’s ring that brought tears to my eyes. It was Prince William’s proud smile as he spoke. In his smile, I saw his mother, Diana, and I then believed that her dreams for her son Prince William were well on their way to being realized.
Prince William’s bride-to-be is someone I know would make his mother proud. She is a modern woman. She is tall and slim. She is magnetic. She looks natural and beautiful, and has a classic sense of style that is both elegant as well as very contemporary.
Over the past two months, Theresa Blake and I have explored wedding dresses inspired by Princesses and Queens through the centuries. Today we reveal the wedding dress we visualize for Kate (Catherine) Middleton on her wedding day.
We have selected a gown (see the Athenae style below) created by Theresa which bridges the centuries. It is elaborate and sculptural. It has hints of the 1880’s bustle gowns and is combined with a fully boned corset bodice. The draped asymmetrical skirt has multiple layers of taffeta, lace and satin, and is trimmed with satin bows to one side. The eau de nil silk taffeta gown is further embellished with antique lace, lilac cut-velvet flower decorations, diamante, pearls and Swarovski crystals.
Indeed, a magnificent dress for a beautiful Princess-to-be Kate (Catherine) Middleton, for her wedding on April 29, 2011 at Westminster Abbey in London.
C. M. (Catherine) Rubin and Theresa Blake met when they collaborated on a reproduction of the design of the original wedding dress worn by Alice Pleasance Liddell (the Alice behind Wonderland) at her wedding in 1880 in the world reknowned Westminster Abbey in London. An illustration of Alice Liddell’s dress by Theresa Blake was featured in C.M. Rubin’s bestselling book, The Real Alice In Wonderland.
KATE MIDDLETON - TO DRESS A PRINCESS
PRINCESS DIANA’S STYLE by C. M. Rubin
“When I grow up I want to work with children and make their lives better,” wrote the young Diana Spencer in a careers lesson when she was a pupil at West Heath School in England.
After attending finishing school at the Institut Alpin Videmanette in Switzerland, Diana became a kindergarten teacher. She was no stranger to the British Royal family. She had played with Prince Andrew and Prince Edward as a child growing up. When she was 16 years old, she became reacquainted with their older brother, Prince Charles. Charles was 13 years her senior.
When Charles and Diana married on July 29, 1981, the ceremony was considered the wedding of the century. Millions of people from all around the world tuned in, excited to catch their first glimpse of Diana in her wedding dress.
Elizabeth and David Emanuel’s beautiful dress, inspired by a romantic princess look, did not disappoint. It had huge puffed sleeves with a full skirt of ivory silk, pure taffeta, old lace, and hand embroidery. Ten thousand pearls and sequins adorned the fabric. The dress had a twenty five foot train. In a television interview, David Emanuel complained that the carriage in which Diana was brought to the cathedral was far too small for her and their creation, which became very creased on route. However, nothing would stop Diana’s wedding dress from setting a fairy tale fashion trend for weddings of the 1980’s.
Unfortunately, the fairy tale wedding did not lead to a happily ever after marriage. The couple’s separation was announced in December, 1992, and a divorce was finalized in 1996. Diana, however, became the most influential fashion icon of the 20th century in clothes, accessories, make-up, and hair. Along the way, she supported many British designers, including Arabella Pollen, Bruce Oldfield, Amanda Wakeley, and Catherine Walker. Later on, her designers of choice included Versace, Christian Lacroix, Ungaro, and Chanel.
Princess Diana devoted herself to her sons, to numerous charities, and to work to help the homeless, people living with HIV and AIDS, and children in need.
Diana died in a car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997. Her funeral took place in Westminster Abbey on Sept 6.
On April 29, 2011, Westminster Abbey will be the setting for the most anticipated wedding of the year — the Royal Wedding of Diana’s eldest son, His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales, and Kate (Catherine) Middleton. To honor the event, author C. M.(Catherine) Rubin and designer Theresa Blake have joined forces to bring you a series of stories which focus on wedding dresses worn by famous Royal Princesses and Queens over the centuries that continue to inspire wedding dress designers and brides to this day. Who knows? Perhaps one of these historic royal gowns has already inspired the best kept secret for April 29, 2011 — what will Princess-to-be Kate Middleton be wearing?
C. M. Rubin and Theresa Blake met when they collaborated on a reproduction of the design of the original wedding dress worn by Alice Pleasance Liddell (the Alice behind Wonderland) at her wedding in 1880 in the world reknowned Westminster Abbey in London. An illustration of Alice Liddell’s dress was featured in C.M. Rubin’s bestselling book, The Real Alice In Wonderland.
Princess Diana and her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry
KATE MIDDLETON - TO DRESS A PRINCESS
Queen Elizabeth - Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
THE KING’S SPEECH - ELEVEN THINGS THE MOVIE WON’T TELL YOU ABOUT HIS QUEEN by C. M. Rubin
The King’s Speech is the private story of a famous public man, King George VI (Prince Albert, Duke of York, also known as “Bertie”, played by Colin Firth), his Queen, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (played by Helena Bonham Carter), who loved him, and the Australian speech therapist, Lionel Logue (played by Geoffrey Rush), who helped him overcome his stammer and in the process find his voice at a time when Great Britain needed strong leadership. Colin Firth collected a Screen Actor’s Guild award, a Golden Globe, a BAFTA award, and an Academy Award for his performance as King George VI. Here are ELEVEN things The King’s Speech won’t tell you about King George VI’s real life love, his Queen Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon.
1. Elizabeth was born the Honorable Elizabeth in London, England on August 4, 1900, and died on March 30, 2002 at age 101 as Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.
2. She was the ninth and second to last child in a warm and close family, and she became Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon when her father was named the Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne.
3. Elizabeth loved talking and was known throughout her life to be able to talk to anyone, her philosophy for life being: “Life is for living and working at. If you find anything or anybody a bore, the fault is in yourself.”
4. She was educated at home at first by her mother and then by French governesses, and by the time she was ten, she spoke French fluently.
5. A dance in London in May, 1920 is reputed to be the place she made a big impression on Prince Albert, although the courtship that followed had many ups and downs, since young Elizabeth kept turning down the Duke’s marriage proposals.
6. She finally accepted the Duke of York’s proposal and their marriage took place at Westminster Abbey on April 26, 1923.
7. Her wedding gown, which followed the fashions of the day, was designed by Madame Handley Seymour, a former London Court dressmaker. After the Duke and Duchess became King and Queen in 1937, fashion designer Norman Hartnell was summoned into Royal service to create Elizabeth’s regal transformation.
8. King George VI and Queen Elizabeth went to Canada and the United States after their coronation, where they became close friends with President and Mrs. Roosevelt.
9. After bombs were dropped on Buckingham Palace in World War II, Elizabeth is remembered for saying: “I’m glad we’ve been bombed. It makes me feel I can look the East End (of London which suffered much devastation from the bombings) in the face.”
10. When advisors recommended her two daughters be evacuated to Canada, the Queen replied: “They cannot go without me, I will never leave the king, and he will never leave the country.”
11. On the subject of the importance of Royal duties, Elizabeth once told her daughters: “The work you do is the rent you pay for the room you occupy on earth.”
On April 29, 2011, Westminster Abbey will be the setting for the most anticipated wedding of the year — the Royal Wedding of His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales and Kate (Catherine) Middleton. To honor the event, author C. M.(Catherine) Rubin and designer Theresa Blake have joined forces to bring you a series of stories which focus on wedding dresses worn by famous Royal Princesses and Queens over the centuries that continue to inspire wedding dress designers and brides to this day. Who knows? Perhaps one of these historic royal gowns has already inspired the best kept secret for April 29, 2011 — what will Princess-to-be Kate Middleton be wearing?
C. M. Rubin and Theresa Blake met when they collaborated on a reproduction of the design of the original wedding dress worn by Alice Pleasance Liddell (the Alice behind Wonderland) at her wedding in 1880 in the world reknowned Westminster Abbey in London. An illustration of Alice Liddell’s dress was featured in C.M. Rubin’s bestselling book, The Real Alice In Wonderland.
Queen Mum
THE REAL ALICE IN WONDERLAND INSPIRES
THE MOST INFLUENTIAL MUSE OF ALL TIME by C. M. Rubin
Throughout history, the muse has provided an essential element required to inspire and motivate artists to create their very best work. From Manet’s Victorine Meurent, to Dali’s Gala Diakonova, to Lennon’s Yoko Ono - the complex psychology of the special connection between artist and muse has been discussed and debated in terms of its importance in the overall creative process. Then there are the muses that continue to influence and promote the legacy of that art throughout the course of their lifetimes and long afterwards.
In the lives of the great muses, there has never been a muse more recognized for the role she played as inspiration than that of Alice Liddell in the creation of Charles Dodgson’s (Lewis Carroll’s) Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. On many occasions, Lewis Carroll reminded his followers that his inspiration had come from a 10 year old girl, the magical Alice Liddell, who had encouraged his story telling for years, and in particular the story he told about Alice in Wonderland during a summer day’s picnic on July 4, 1862. The real Alice was the daughter of Henry Liddell, the author of the celebrated Greek English Lexicon and the powerful Dean of Christ Church College, Oxford, where Dodgson taught mathematics. After hearing the story, Alice was continously persistent that Dodgson write it down for her, which he eventually did. He ultimately presented it to her (hand written and hand illustrated) as a Christmas gift 18 months later. In 1883, Carroll stated clearly in a letter to Alice’s mother that without Alice, he “might possibly never have written at all.”
Years before that golden afternoon, Dodgson was hired as Liddell family photographer to take portraits of Alice and her siblings. No picture taken by Dodgson (who became one of the most respected child photographers of his day) is more famous than his photograph of Alice — the portrait of Alice Liddell as the Beggar Maid. Alfred Lord Tennyson declared it the most beautiful photograph that he had ever seen. Indeed, it was then and still is today, one of the most famous photographs of all time. The gifted model, after all, was exceptionally beautiful, with an intensity and maturity that seems surreal for a child aged only seven at the time. She was a girl capable of inspiring a previously unpublished children’s book author to write the greatest children’s story of all time.
As the books became more famous, so did the author, and so did Alice Liddell. During her teenage years, her beauty and fame inspired Julia Margaret Cameron’s acclaimed series of photographs entitled Alethea (1872). As a wife and mother, eminent writers and artists would visit her home in Surrey, England to meet the Alice of Wonderland fame. In 1883, Alice gave Carroll permission to publish the original manuscript given to her as a Christmas gift, providing that the proceeds were given to children’s hospitals. This led to Alice becoming even more engaged as a spokesperson both for these new causes and the Alice books. In 1932, the President of Columbia University in New York City honored Alice in front of the world as “the moving cause of this truly noteworthy contribution to English literature.”
There are over 20,000 books, films, operas, plays and video games based on Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. It is estimated that over 8 billion people have read or seen presentations of the Alice books. Lewis Carroll is behind only the Bible and Shakespeare in the number of quotations from the Alice books that appear in everyday published discourse. In addition to the new adaptations of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Carroll’s and Liddell’s lives continue to inspire numerous new books, works of art, and film projects. In my mind, it is this ongoing fascination with not just the books, but the story behind the story, that make Liddell the most influential muse of all time.
Look Inside The Real Alice in Wonderland book
KATE MIDDLETON - TO DRESS A PRINCESS
Queen Consort Marie Antoinette
On April 29, 2011, Westminster Abbey will be the setting for the most anticipated wedding of the year — the Royal Wedding of His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales and Kate (Catherine) Middleton. To honor the event, author C.M. (Catherine) Rubin and designer Theresa Blake have joined forces to bring you a series of stories which focus on wedding dresses worn by famous Royal Princesses and Queens over the centuries that continue to inspire wedding dress designers and brides to this day. Who knows? Perhaps one of these historic royal gowns has already inspired the best kept secret for April 29, 2011 — what will Princess-to-be Kate Middleton be wearing?
QUEEN CONSORT MARIE ANTOINETTE - 18th Century Queens by C. M. Rubin and Theresa Blake
Marie Antoinette (1755-1793) was born in Austria to Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor, and his Austrian Empress, Maria Theresa. She has been called France’s unhappiest queen. She was married off by her mother at age 14 to Louis XVI with the hope that this union might further Austria’s interest in France. Young Marie was poorly educated and unprepared for the dynastic political intrigues that followed. Prudish by nature, she became thoroughly embarrassed by her husband’s widely known failure to have sexual intercourse for several years. Despite this setback, Marie Antoinette still managed to give birth to a daughter, in 1778, and sons in 1781 and 1785. She was a devoted mother. She was also perceived as frivolous and extravagant, with a habit of spending lavishly on fashionable clothes and palaces.
After the Bastille was stormed on July 14, 1789, the queen urged her husband to resist the rebels’ reforms, making her very unpopular and leading to the attribution to her of the remark, “Qu’ils mangent de la brioche!” — “Let them eat cake!” The royal couple were forced to move to Paris. After the First French Republic was established in 1792, they were imprisoned by the revolutionaries. Marie Antoinette continued to plot for foreign intervention to end the revolution and free her family. Many attempts to escape failed. Ultimately, Louis XVI was executed in January, 1793. Marie Antoinette is remembered for her dignity and great courage while the Revolution subjected her to horrific brutalities before she was finally executed by the guillotine on October 16 of 1793.
Theresa Blake’s stunning eighteenth century style wedding dress below is inspired by Marie Antoinette. It is in cloud pink regal dupion and consistes of a corseted jacket/bodice with a separate skirt worn over pannier supports. The shell pink corseted bodice is ornamented with an eye-catching embroidered and beaded stomacher panel, and finishes in a shaped and pleated peplum, embroidered and edged in antique lace. The bodice is laced at the back to achieve a corset-like finish. It has fitted elbow-length sleeves ending in large, romantic cuffs with lace sleeve flounces. The skirt has an open front to show off the beautiful scrolling floral embroidery and draped panniers, again edged in lace.
C. M. Rubin and Theresa Blake met when they collaborated on a reproduction of the design of the original wedding dress worn by Alice Pleasance Liddell (the Alice behind Wonderland) at her wedding in 1880 in the world reknowned Westminster Abbey in London. An illustration of Alice Liddell’s dress was featured in C.M. Rubin’s bestselling book, The Real Alice In Wonderland.
To Dress A Princess
KATE MIDDLETON - TO DRESS A PRINCESS
Mary Henrietta Stuart, Princess Royal
On April 29, 2011, Westminster Abbey will be the setting for the most anticipated wedding of the year — the Royal Wedding of His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales and Kate (Catherine) Middleton. To honor the event, author C.M. (Catherine) Rubin and designer Theresa Blake have joined forces to bring you a series of stories which focus on wedding dresses worn by famous Royal Princesses and Queens over the centuries that continue to inspire wedding dress designers and brides to this day. Who knows? Perhaps one of these historic royal gowns has already inspired the best kept secret for April 29, 2011 — what will Princess-to-be Kate Middleton be wearing?
MARY HENRIETTA STUART - PRINCESS ROYAL - 17TH CENTURY By C. M. Rubin and Theresa Blake
Mary Henrietta Stuart, Princess Royal, Princess of Orange, and Countess of Nassau was born at St. James’s Palace, London in 1631. She was the eldest daughter of King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland, and Queen Henrietta Maria of France. Mary’s father designated her Princess Royal (making her the first daughter of a British Sovereign to hold that title).
King Charles wished her to marry the son of Philip IV, King of Spain. However, Mary’s German first cousin, Karl Ludwig, the Elector Palatine, was also a suitor for her hand. Both proposals fell through and Mary was finally betrothed to Willem (William II), the Dutch son and heir of Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange. The marriage took place on May 2, 1641 at the Chapel Royal, Whitehall Palace, London. The marriage was not consummated for several years, understandably, since the bride was only nine years old when she was married. The couple’s only child, Willem, later became King William III of England, Ireland and Scotland. Mary died in 1660 and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
Theresa Blake’s restoration period wedding dress, inspired by Princess Royal Mary Henrietta Stuart, is made in a beautiful blue and gold silk brocade with matching plain blue silk overskirt and adornments of silk taffeta ribbon. This was very popular in the seventeenth century. An element of artistic license was used with the representative of shift sleeves (the undersleeve part). Theresa has used silk rather than lawn or linen. This seems very appropriate for a wedding or royal court gown. The slashed sleeves have piped edgings and blue-gold looped ribbon decoration.
C. M. Rubin and Theresa Blake met when they collaborated on a reproduction of the design of the original wedding dress worn by Alice Pleasance Liddell (the Alice behind Wonderland) at her wedding in 1880 in the world reknowned Westminster Abbey in London. An illustration of Alice Liddell’s dress was featured in C.M. Rubin’s bestselling book, The Real Alice In Wonderland.
To Dress A Princess
KATE MIDDLETON - TO DRESS A PRINCESS
Queen Anne Boleyn of England
On April 29, 2011, Westminster Abbey will be the setting for the most anticipated wedding of the year — the Royal Wedding of His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales and Kate (Catherine) Middleton. To honor the event, author C.M. (Catherine) Rubin and designer Theresa Blake have joined forces to bring you a series of stories which focus on wedding dresses worn by famous Royal Princesses and Queens over the centuries that continue to inspire wedding dress designers and brides to this day. Who knows? Perhaps one of these historic royal gowns has already inspired the best kept secret for April 29, 2011 — what will Princess-to-be Kate Middleton be wearing?
QUEEN ANNE BOLEYN - 16TH CENTURY QUEENS by C. M. Rubin and Theresa Blake
Lady Anne Boleyn became one of the most famous queens in English history, though she ruled for just three years. The daughter of an ambitious knight and niece of the powerful duke of Norfolk, Lady Anne spent her teenage years at the elegant French court. When she returned to England, her wit and French style were her greatest charms. She had a circle of male admirers and soon became secretly engaged to Henry Percy, the son of the wealthy Earl of Northumberland.
Lady Anne then entered the service of Queen Katherine of Aragon, wife of King Henry VIII of England. It wasn’t long before Anne caught the eye of King Henry. Jealous of Anne’s many admirers, Henry ordered her fiance, Henry Percy, from court. He then tried to make Anne his mistress. Anne boldly turned the King down. She had witnessed her sister Mary become the king’s mistress and gain little from it but scandal. However, Anne knew that her hopes to marry Henry Percy were futile. Pursued by King Henry, she insisted the King marry her before she would bed him.
Obsessed with Anne, it took King Henry nearly seven years to obtain an annulment. In addition, his divorce involved an irrevocable breach with the Catholic Church in Rome. Finally, King Henry and Queen Anne wed on May 28, 1533. Queen Anne’s coronation took place at Westminster Abbey on June 1, 1533. Queen Anne gave Henry a healthy daughter, Elizabeth, who would later become the greatest queen (Elizabeth I) that England ever had. By January of 1534, Anne was once again pregnant. The child was either miscarried or stillborn. In 1535, she became pregnant again, but miscarried by the end of January. Henry became frustrated with Anne’s inability to give him a son and heir. His interest in one of Anne’s ladies-in-waiting, Jane Seymour, had also begun to grow. Anne’s enemies at court took advantage of the situation and plotted against her. The marriage ended tragically for Anne. She was executed on trumped up charges of witchcraft, incest, and adultery on May 19, 1536.
The 16th century styled wedding gown in the picture below is inspired by Queen Anne Boleyn. The dress is elaborately embroidered with a beaded brocade bodice, embellished with faux fur and pearls. The fitted sleeves were made in silk organza, topped with ruched silk, and held together by braid. The main skirt of the dress is a deep rich cream silk. It splits to show an underskirt of pearl-beaded brocade. The dress would have been worn over a shaped frame and petticoats.
C. M. Rubin and Theresa Blake met when they collaborated on a reproduction of the design of the original wedding dress worn by Alice Pleasance Liddell (the Alice behind Wonderland) at her wedding in 1880 in the world reknowned Westminster Abbey in London. An illustration of Alice Liddell’s dress was featured in C.M. Rubin’s bestselling book, The Real Alice In Wonderland.
To Dress A Princess
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