Critic's Reviews

Opinions of Alice

The story of Alice has been interpreted in many different ways, from the epitome of a child's imagination, to the climate of Victorian era England, to an opinion on drug use.  The newer editions of the tale have are still subject to criticism and are still reviewed in the present day.  The two versions focused on here are:

Helen Oxenbury's illustrated edition (2003)
<http://www.amazon.com/Alices-Adventures-Wonderland-Lewis-Carroll/dp/0763620491>


AND
 

 Lisbeth Zwerger's illustrated version (1999)

<http://childscapes.com/jpegs/allnew/546.lizbeth%20zwerger.jpg>

According to Rebecca Pepper Sinkler of the New York Times Book Review, the depiction of Alice in Oxenbury's illustrations is nowhere near similar to the original Alice.  She describes the Alice of Oxenbury's version as "a pretty little thing in sneakers and a blue jumper right off the rack at the Gap. She's spunky and cheerful and cute. Also fearless and wholesome."  She goes on to disclose that the original Alice "wouldn't cross the street for a play date with her."  The Alice in Carroll's original version and Tenniel's illustrations depict her as a spoiled, ungrateful, selfish little girl with no regards for other individuals feelings; nothing like the Alice Oxenbury depicts.

However, Sinkler believes that the Alice of the Zwerger version would more than likely be a fine companion for the original Alice.  Both thrive upon their own imaginations and the situations they get into because of it.

Sinkler also makes a good point about the original version of the tale and its interpretations by present day children.  However, beautiful we adults may view the original wood engravings by Tenniel to be, children of today will more than likely be bored by their lack of color and pizazz.  These new versions of Alice give the young reader an alternate, more lively depiction of the characters.  Sinkler explains, "if only for the joy of full-color spreads, there's reason to update Alice."

 The illustrations in the new books give Alice an updated look, but may at times stray away from the original tone of Carroll's version.  Sinkler finds this especially true in Oxenbury's illustrations.  "But the illustrations at hand, though they follow his plot, have little to do with Carroll's tone. Unchangingly upbeat, they miss the subtext of a story that is, for all its whimsy, about the terrifying instability of identity."

These opinions demonstrate a common theme in the minds of readers today.  Alice and her fellow characters are definitely in need of a modern makeover, but that should not overshadow the story and its themes.  The tone needs to remain as it originally was in order for the story to create the same effect upon the reader as it did in Lewis Carroll's time.

The full text of Sinkler's review can be found at:
http://www.nytimes.com/1999/11/21/books/children-s-books-curiouser-and-curiouser.html