http://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/gallery/2015/jul/04/alice-in-wonderland-150-years-alice-day-cs-lewis-john-tenniel-hilary-mckay?CMP=share_btn_tw
150 years of Alice in Wonderland - in pictures
Since Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was first published in 1865, Alice has become one of the world’s most loved children’s characters. On Alice Day, author Hilary McKay tell us why she loves Alice with quotes and beautiful illustrations by Sir John Tenniel
Hilary McKay
Saturday 4 July 2015 09.00 BST
- “… this time she found a little bottle on it (‘which certainly was not here before,’ said Alice), and tied round the neck of the bottle was a paper label with the words ‘DRINK ME’ beautifully printed on it in large letters.” What thrilling words to read. I suppose I first heard about Alice from my father, and he must have shown me pictures as he shared the stories with me, because my Alice always looked as Tenniel drew her: clear eyes, intelligent, never cuteIllustration: Sir John Tenniel/Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland: Illustrations © Macmillan 1995
- Here’s Alice opening the tiny door into the garden. Wonderland! I could see it very clearly: the paintbox of brightness of the colours of that world, the cascading fountains, and the small gold key that opened the door into the garden. I wanted to go there very much and I knew the way exactly. Alice got to Wonderland by way of a rabbit hole, down which she feel and fell and fell.Illustration: Sir John Tenniel/Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland: Illustrations © Macmillan 1995
- “They all crowded round her once more, while the Dodo solemnly presented the thimble, saying ‘We beg your acceptance of this elegant thimble’.” It was the realness of Alice that made her stand out from the other story book people I knew. Goldilocks was not real… Cinderella was not real either. But Alice was as real as any person that I had ever met. Impatient sometimes, given to tears now and then, but resourceful and brave and curious and kind. What a friend she would be!Illustration: Sir John Tenniel/Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland: Illustrations © Macmillan 1911
- “ ‘Very true,” said the Duchess: ‘flamingoes and mustard both bite. And the moral of that is – ‘birds of a feather flock together.’ ‘Only mustard isn’t a bird,’ Alice remarked.” I like to imagine Alice at school! Who would be first into the playground, think up the best games, volunteer for everything, looking after the new girl and yet still find time to drift through the library lifting down books…? Alice of courseIllustration: Sir John Tenniel/Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland: Illustrations © Macmillan 1911
- “‘Who is this?’ She said it to the Knave of Hearts, who only bowed and smiled in reply. ‘Idiot!’ said the Queen, tossing her head impatiently; and turning to Alice she went on: ‘What is your name, child?’ ‘My name is Alice, so please your Majesty,’ said Alice very politely”Illustration: Sir John Tenniel/Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland: Illustrations © Macmillan 1911
- “After a time she heard a little pattering of feet in the distance, and she hastily dried her eyes to see what was coming. It was the white rabbit returning, splendidly dressed, with a pair of white kid-gloves in one hand and a large fan in the other: as he came trotting along in a great hurry”Illustration: Sir John Tenniel/Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland: Illustrations © Macmillan 1911
- “The King and QUeen of Hearts were seated on their throne when they arrived, with a great crowd assembled about them – all sorts of little birds and beasts, as well as the whole pack of cards: the Knave was standing before them, in chains, with a soldier on each side to guard him; and the near the King was the White Rabbit, with a trumpet in one hand, and a scroll of parchment in the other”Illustration: Sir John Tenniel/Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland: Illustrations © Macmillan 1911
- “The Queen of Hearts, she made some tarts,
All on a summer day:
The Knave of Hearts, he stole those tars
And took them right away”Illustration: Sir John Tenniel/Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland: Illustrations © Macmillan 1995 - “Cheshire-Puss,” she began quite timidly, as she did not at all know whether it would like the name: however, it only grinned a little wider”Illustration: Sir John Tenniel/Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland: Illustrations © Macmillan 1911
- “When we were little,” the Mock Turtle went on at last, more calmly, though still sobbing a little now and then, “we went to school in the sea. The master was an old Turtle – we used to call him tortoise –” Why dild you call him tortoise, if he wasn’t one?” Alice asked. “We called him Tortoise because he taught us,” said the Mock Turtle angrily”Illustration: Sir John Tenniel/Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland: Illustrations © Macmillan 1911
- In our garden when I was growing up there was a deep, black, sky-reflecting well. It had an iron lid, in which a thin half circle of a handle was set. The grown-ups struggled to lift it, never mind me. The weight of that iron lid is with me yet. I never managed to move it by the smallest fraction and since there were no useful rabbit holes in our garden, and no white rabbit helping me, I could not get to Wonderland. Luckily I had Alice, in the strange and brilliant world of Wonderland. And unforgettable.Illustration: Sir John Tenniel/Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland: Illustrations © Macmillan 1995
- All the images in this gallery come from The Complete Alice which is published today, on Alice Day, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Check out theMacMillan Classics Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carol which has an intro by Hilary McKay. See www.aliceinwonderland150.com to find out more about the history of Alice and Macmillan.Photograph: Macmillan
