|
More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
|
Through the Looking-Glass
|
|
and What Alice Found There 1872 Children's book by Lewis *Carroll, with illustrations by *Tenniel. Alice, after playing with a set of red and white chess pieces, explores through the looking-glass into the Looking-Glass House, where the Red and White Queen and the vague theme of chess provide the link for a series of fantasy scenes. Alice first finds a poem written the wrong way round; when she holds it up to the mirror she reads the superbly sinister nonsense poem Jabberwocky, beginning ''Twas brillig, and the slithy toves/ Did gyre and gimble in the wabe'.
|
|
|
|
Later encounters include *Tweedledum and Tweedledee, two plump middle-aged schoolboys who dress up in pots and pans for a battle and who recite the poem about how the Walrus and the Carpenter deceived and ate the young oysters; Humpty Dumpty, enjoying riddles in the last moments before he falls off the wall; the Lion and the Unicorn busy with their fight; and the White Knight, who has not yet mastered the art of staying on a horse. Alice eventually becomes a Queen herself before waking up.
|
|
|
|