The Illustrated Alice: Celebrating 150 Years of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
October 6 through October 31, 2015
“And what is the use of a book,” thought Alice “without pictures or conversation?”
~ Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
Join us for a sesquicentennial celebration of one of the most beloved books ever written. This year marks the 150th anniversary of the publication of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, and UBC Library’s Rare Books and Special Collections (RBSC) is proud to present The Illustrated Alice, a visual journey through 150 years of illustrations from Lewis Carroll’s classic work.
Curated by Kristy Woodcock, a children’s librarian and student in the Master of Arts in Children’s Literature program at UBC, the exhibition explores the enduring appeal of Alice through the ages.
Few literary works in history have been more widely adapted and referenced than Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Since its first publication in 1865, Alice has inspired many of the world’s greatest artists. While Sir John Tenniel is well known as the original illustrator, the book has been reinterpreted by hundreds of artists, including Blanche McManus, Arthur Rackham, A.E. Jackson, Ralph Steadman, Barry Moser, Tove Jansson, and Lisbeth Zwerger.
Featuring items from RBSC’s Alice 100 Collection, the exhibition showcases the many illustrated editions of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There. One of the most famous artists on display is Salvador Dalí. Published in 1969, the Dalí Alice contains original woodcut remarques in a linen and leather case. Other highlights include the 1866 first edition of Alice illustrated by John Tenniel, a nineteenth century facsimile of Lewis Carroll’s original manuscript, and a calf-bound set that bears Alice Hargreaves’ signature.
The Illustrated Alice is on display at UBC Library’s Rare Books and Special Collections on the first and second floors of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre from October 6 through October 31, 2015, and can be viewed Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Beginning October 17, RBSC will also be open Saturdays from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. The exhibition is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Rare Books and Special Collections at (604) 822-2521 or rare.books@ubc.ca.