The Complete Alice & the Hunting of the Snark

by Lewis Carroll, Ralph Steadman (Illustrator)

Recounts Alice's adventures when she follows a rabbit down a rabbit hole and enters the strange world behind a mirror, and shares a nonsense poem about a mysterious sea quest

Genres: Fantasy, Classics, Childrens, Poetry

344 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1987

About the author

The Reverend Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, better known by the pen name Lewis Carroll, was an English author, mathematician, logician, Anglican clergyman and photographer.

His most famous writings are Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and its sequel Through the Looking-Glass as well as the poems "The Hunting of the Snark" and "Jabberwocky", all considered to be within the genre of literary nonsense.

Oxford scholar, Church of England Deacon, University Lecturer in Mathematics and Logic, academic author of learned theses, gifted pioneer of portrait photography, colourful writer of imaginative genius and yet a shy and pedantic man, Lewis Carroll stands pre-eminent in the pantheon of inventive literary geniuses.

He also has works published under his real name.

Reviews

[David Hornik · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book that got me started collecting additions of "Alice in Wonderland." Ralph Steadman's illustrations are simultaneously enthralling and repulsive. Steadman's reading of Alice is quite dark and often disturbing. He reveals a whole other side of Alice that lies just beneath the surface of Lewis Carroll's fairytale.

[Kaethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

The combination of Alice and Steadman really works for me. Somehow the idea that he is the illustrator of choice for Hunter S. Thompson makes him work well for Carroll. Or maybe that's just me, because I love pretty much every version of Alice.

Library copy

[didi · Rating 5 out of 5]

“In our country,” Alice remarked, “there’s only one day at a time.” The Red Queen said “That’s a poor thin way of doing things. Now here, we mostly have days and nights two or three at a time, and sometimes in the winter we take as many as five nights together — for
warmth, you know.”

[D.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I collect illustrated editions of the Alice books, and this is actually the second time this one's come into my personal library; the first time I had this same edition, I ended up selling it (for a decent amount of money) when I was hard up for cash. It wasn't an easy loss.
Being a collector of Alice's as well as a fan of Ralph Steadman pretty much makes this an assured win. His visions of Carroll's worlds are expectedly twisted and occasionally nightmarish. The images herein are noticeably different as they occur at different points in his career: ...Wonderland from 1967; ...Looking-Glass from 1972; ...Snark from 1975. His earlier work leans heavily on a meticulous linework that he left behind by the time Snark came around; the work in Snark has a much darker, crowded and almost sketchbook feel, but is quite clearly from the same man. This edition boasts some new illustrations (added in the 1985 collection to the original, already-lavishly illustrated individual editions) and some added colour (basically amounting to tints and hues rather than actual image colouring).
As a bonus, this collection includes the 'lost' Looking-Glass chapter, 'A Wasp in a Wig,' with an illustration by Steadman in homage to John Tenniel's originals for both Alice books, as well as another more plainly in Steadman's own style. Also included are later-edition Carroll additions such as: in Wonderland, an introduction, preface, 'Christmas-Greetings,' 'To all child-readers...' and 'An Easter Greeting...'; in Looking-Glass, the usual 'Dramatis Personae' chess page and a preface; for Snark, 'Inscribed to a Dear Child' and a preface. Snark also has a 1975 introduction from Steadman, offering his own thoughts on the poem rather than comment about his illustrations.
While Steadman's style is an acquired taste, not likely to appeal to all readers, this is a handsome collection showcasing his very unique take on these very unique books.

[Pam Lindholm-levy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for a class. What can you say about the Alice stories that hasn't already been said for over 100 years. One thing that bothered me was how episodes just stopped and went on to something equally fanciful, like real dreams. I like stories with threads.
Dodgson/Carroll is an interesting character.

[Betty O · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is it a children's book? Hard to say. I always loved the Alice stories and the illustrations in this edition are priceless.

[Thessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

its awesometastical!

[Marm]

awesome!!!!!!!!

[Tree Olive]

I found this book for under 30 bones at Central City book xchange SLC, look up Ralph Steadman's illustrations!!