Emma J ShipleyAbove: Alice in Wonderland exhibition at the British Library (c) Tony Antoniou
The magical story of Alice Liddell and her sisters, as told by Lewis Carroll, continues to inspire us 150 years after it was first published. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland at the British Library explores the history and enduring power of the original story. The exhibit begins with an entry from Carroll's diary detailing the 'golden afternoon' on 4th July 1862 when he first shared the tale.
The show looks at the many different ways in which illustrators, artists, musicians, filmmakers and designers have interpreted the story and characters over the years. Highlights include the original handwritten manuscript of Alice's Adventures Under Ground with 37 beautifully drawn illustrations by Carroll which had us grinning like a Cheshire cat. We were particularly inspired by the pen and ink drawings by Ralph Steadman and the moody, ethereal image of Alice swimming in the pool of tears by children's book illustrator, Arthur Rackham.
Helen Melody, the curator of the display, says "This exhibition, which is part of national and international celebrations of the 150th anniversary of the publication of Alice, highlights the enduring place of this iconic text in British culture and we hope that visitors to Alice in Wonderland will find new enjoyment and inspiration from the collections on show".
The exhibition also features an Alice in Wonderland Pop-up Shop, on until 31st January 2016, and a series of Alice-inspired events, including an evening of live comedy, music and experiments. We wonder if by 'experiments' they mean there'll be tiny potions saying "drink me" or suspiciously coloured cupcakes. Fingers crossed!
Friday 20th November 2015 - 17th April 2016
Entry is free
96 Euston Road
London
NW1 2DB
Images courtesy of the British Library
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