“If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense.”
The story of Alice and her extraordinary adventures in Wonderland has captivated generations since it was first published in 1865. 150 years later, Wonderland is no longer simply a children’s story but has spawned an industry with a new Disney film in the works and even more theatre productions, exhibitions and product lines planned in her anniversary year. Are you mad about Alice?
Publishing
| © 2015 Harvill Secker (UK edition) | © 2015 Harvard University Press (US edition) Image credit: Frances Broomfield /Bridgeman Studio |
The Story of Alice: Lewis Carroll & The Secret History of Wonderland
Published: March 2015
Where did Alice stop and ‘Alice’ begin? Robert Douglas-Fairhurst explores the curious creation of a true classic in this definitive biography of Lewis Carroll and Alice Liddell.
Tracing the development of the Alice books from their inception in 1862 to Liddell’s death in 1934, the author also provides a keyhole through which to observe a larger, shifting cultural landscape: the birth of photography, changing definitions of childhood, murky questions about sex and sexuality, and the relationship between Carroll’s books and other works of Victorian literature. For the US edition an image by Bridgeman Studio Artist Francis Broomfield was licensed for the cover.
| © Bibliothèque de l’Image | © Bibliothèque de l’Image |
The Alice Box by Bibliothèque de l’Image
Published: October 2014
To mark the anniversary publishers across the world have re-released sumptuous new editions including Bibliothèque de l’Image’s ‘Box of Alice’ which includes two books and a deck of cards, with original John Tenniel (1820-1914) illustrations licensed from Bridgeman Images.
Theatre
Investec Opera Holland Park: Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland (July-August)
One of the UK’s foremost opera companies, Investec Opera Holland Park commissioned their very own ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ with music by Will Todd and words by Maggie Gottlieb, which premiered to critical acclaim in 2013. Alice has been delighting audiences for two years on the lawns of Holland Park and in the story’s 150th year, sees the productions transported in its entirety to Wilderness Festival for four exclusive performances. Follow Alice and her friends in this fully immersive promenade production accompanied by a live eleven piece band.
Manchester International Festival: wonder.land (29 June – 12 July)
Titled Wonder.land, the show is part of the National Theatre’s first season under new artistic director Rufus Norris and will premiere at July’s Manchester International Festival. The story follows 12-year-old Aly, who creates an online alter-ego as Alice and loses herself in a virtual world. Albarn has written the music, and the script and lyrics are by Moira Buffini.
Commemorative products
Invite all sorts of curious characters to your tea table. Whittard of Chelsea capitalise on the anniversary by featuring the original illustration of the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party on their tea set.
“…what is the use of a book,” thought Alice, “without pictures or conversations?”
It is the illustrations by John Tenniel (1820-1914), later coloured by Harry G. Theaker, that established the iconic image of Alice with blue dress and blonde hair that we recognise today.
Alice has also been illustrated by Arthur Rackham (1907), Francis Broomfield and Jonathan Barry.
Find out more
Get in touch with the Bridgeman team on uksales@bridgemanimages.com with enquiries about licensing images and clearing copyright. Search all Alice in Wonderland images. * N.B. Not all the products in this feature use Bridgeman licensed imagery