A One-of-a-Kind Edition of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland That's a Masterpiece from Cover to Cover
This book is truly one-of-a-kind, and I'm thrilled to share my review because I've never seen anything like it in print before or since.
Hello, everyone, on my review page!
I bought this book a long time ago, back when it was a limited edition, but I was amazed to find it on Wildberries. True, it was a pretty penny back then, and now it's over 4,000 rubles, but not a single kopeck of it was wasted on such a masterpiece.
Let's start with the fact that Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is a timeless bestseller, and it's no wonder it has so many fans all over the world. I know some people even collect different editions of this book, and if that's the case, they absolutely need to get their hands on this one!
For some reason, this book is associated with New Year's celebrations, and I sometimes take it out to re-read and re-examine every little detail – there are plenty of them, but it usually happens around New Year's.
The edition is fantastic, and the book is quite large. If you're looking for a gift for a reading child or even an adult reader, this would be the perfect present to bring joy and a sense of wonder.
The book's size is impressive – it's much larger than standard books, which is no surprise, given its unique gift-giving potential.
Even the cover gives us a hint of what's to come – it's a textile cover with numerous embossings and gold lettering. But the real showstopper is the holographic image of Alice herself, whom Lewis Carroll dedicated his story to.
My cover has faded a bit over the years and frequent readings, but originally, it was very vibrant.
Incidentally, the author wasn't a writer at all, but a mathematician from Oxford. He wrote this book for his friends' daughter, and now many superficial and dirty articles are spreading rumors about his alleged pedophilic tendencies towards a girl named Alice. But Alice was only 9 years old, and her full name was Alice Pleasance Liddell.
So, I came across rumors that Carroll's parents had banned her from seeing the girl, following a huge scandal. But since we can't verify this evidence, we won't even think about it. Because what we have here is a truly magical story and a truly magical book.
As soon as I opened the book, I found a bulky envelope with cards for a special game. This card game for the family was super popular back in Alice's time.
The game is pretty interesting and, as they say, 'playable.' We tried playing it with a big group and it's really fun.
Inside the envelope, there was another artifact - a Cheshire Cat's head on a string. Since it was a veggie era for toys, there was no TikTok or internet, and kids had to entertain themselves as best they could. These visual toys were super popular.
All you have to do is twist these strings so the Cheshire Cat starts spinning around its axis. Visually, it looks like the cat is smiling. The design is clever - one side has the cat without a smile, and the other side has the smile without the cat. When you move it fast enough, it looks like the cat is smiling.
There's also a sticker with Queen Victoria's image. It's not a coincidence, since the book was written during the Victorian era and a lot will be dedicated to life back then. Did you know that Queen Victoria was the first person to be featured on a postage stamp?
Now, let me explain something. On each page, you'll find a piece of the original text - the story by Lewis Carroll - and on the sides, there are interesting facts, illustrations, secret windows, and explanations of the book's unique features.
If I were to describe the whole book, this review would go on forever. But I can say that these extras are the book's main selling point, and you can learn about British history while enjoying the book.
What really makes this book stand out are the illustrations by the author himself, Lewis Carroll, and the famous British artist Tenniel. Who better to illustrate their own work than the creators themselves?
The illustrations are unique and really quite quirky.
The historical facts about Victorian Britain are fascinating for both kids and adults, as they relate to everyday life at the time, and tie in perfectly with the story.
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Alice wasn't used to taking cold baths, just like all the other Victorian kids. Back then, most homes didn't have hot water, and parents didn't think it was necessary to warm up the water for their kids - they thought it would make them soft. So, cold baths became a part of the strict Victorian upbringing.
You'll find double-page spreads throughout the book, which can be unfolded to reveal more. For example, there's a Victorian-era doll's house, which is a given, but what's interesting is that toys like these were only accessible to well-off kids.
But it's not just about toys - you'll also find descriptions of traditional British children's games, like 'find the weasel' and 'blind postman.'
Each of these facts is beautifully illustrated, making the reading experience even more engaging.
It seems like every page has some hidden compartment, fold-out, or puzzle to keep things interesting.
And the cherry on top is the bookmark attached to the book, which is a beautifully crafted Alice cut-out made from thick cardboard. You can use it to mark any page or spot in the book.
I love that this book has super detailed explanations of the translation process. For example, I learned that in the Russian translation, Alice meets a swallow, but Lewis Carroll himself didn't even know about that bird. Maybe they didn't have swallows in England back then? In the original version, Alice meets a regular dove.
And if all the pages are just amazing, then there are some pages that can be called genius.
For instance, there's a page with spinning clocks featuring the characters from the famous tea party scene with the Hatter. You can move Alice, the Hatter, and the Rabbit around while the text spins around the clock face, explaining the concept of English time back then. It's pretty mind-blowing.
There's also a page with a 3D card deck, and when you open that page, the cards in the deck become vertical. It's breathtaking!
And of course, there's politics involved too. Apparently, Lewis Carroll was heavily criticizing the British government, but he didn't dare say it out loud, so he used animal characters to mock the Queen and her courtiers.
I'm particularly enjoying the tiny limerick poems that are literally a tiny book within the book. They're quintessential English nonsense.
There was an old man of the sea, who was troubled with gout
And they all ran away laughing at him
They sent him a jar of jam
And it made his old gout quite a bit better.
But what really caught my attention is the completely different theme of the book. We can learn about pneumatic mail, which I thought was complete nonsense, and why British postboxes are still red to this day. It dates back to Victorian times, and it's amazing how much the British stick to their traditions and are so conservative.
I love that they included these gloves with a London map. Yep, they were real in 1851. Talk about handy - you'd get lost in London, glance at your hand, and off you'd go. A built-in GPS on your palm!
They also delve into the culinary habits and recipes of the Victorian era. It's fascinating to see how Queen Victoria was ahead of her time.
This book really opened my eyes to how much innovation happened during Queen Victoria's reign. We owe her the first sewing machine, first postage stamp, first washing machine, canning, music boxes, railways, and greeting cards.
Of course, not everything was a good idea. You'll discover some pretty silly and useless inventions in this book.
I'm not even sure who this book is suitable for - it's for anyone from 12 to 100! It's a great read for you and your kid, or just enjoy it on your own.
The book is extremely immersive, and you'll feel like you're right there in the Victorian era. The illustrations are beautiful, and the attention to detail is incredible.
One of my favorite features is the interactive railway station map. It's like a game where you find all sorts of hidden details. At the bottom, there's a task list where you have to find, say, the Gentleman in the Odd Hat, the Scoundrel, and so on.
Every page is dense and textured, like a work of art. The paper is even matted.
Each page is meticulously designed to transport you to the world of Alice and the Victorian families.
With 112 pages, you'll be hooked for months.
I've been reading this book for a long time and I'm impressed that the pages haven't torn, fallen apart, or come loose despite being sewn together in some parts.
I love the idea of alternating between the colorful illustrations of Lewis Carroll and the more subtle, monochrome illustrations. It's a great touch.
The person who created this book is just as genius as Lewis Carroll himself.
My favorite part of the book is the Cheshire Cat illustration, where the cat disappears when you pull the tab on the side, leaving only the smile behind. It's a wonderful touch.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves history, literature, or just wants to experience something truly unique. It's a one-of-a-kind edition that's a masterpiece from cover to cover.