July 4th may be best known as the day of American independence but, at least among literary enthusiasts, it is also celebrated as Alice in Wonderland day or Alice Day in the United Kingdom.
This date specifically marks July 4th, 1862 when Charles Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) told, for the first time, the story of Alice in Wonderland to his young inspiration Alice Liddell. Today, people across the UK come together to mark the occasion through picnics, arts and craft events, barbecues and even theatre workshops! Alice Day represents an important date in the history of English literature and it also highlights the many other highly acclaimed authors who originated in the UK.
Alice and the White Rabbit Statue, Guildford, 2018.
Hotbed of literature
From William Shakespeare to Jane Austen, countless modern novels and stories to this day find their foundation in the rich writing culture and history of the UK. Shakespeare’s work set the precedent for modern theatre and Austen’s literature examined the life and rights of women in England. Carroll’s work however, examined the life of children in a Victorian landscape and with multiple statues commemorating the overflowing creativity of the story, Alice in Wonderland has stood the test of time with multiple adaptations across various genres and mediums.
A window into the Victorian era
The wildly popular story was credited in the 19th century as the most popular children’s story in England with multiple avid readers from a young Oscar Wilde to Queen Victoria herself. To this day it has been one of the most influential pieces of literature in popular culture and has never been out of print. The reason for this may be due to its fantastical nature but many contribute to its success from the fact that it was a story containing parodies of Victorian culture, and even aspects of Dodgson’s personal life.
Did you know?
- “Rabbit Hole” symbolized the actual stairs in the back of the Christ Church’s main hall, the constituent University that Dodgson attended.
- Red roses symbolized the House of Lancaster whereas white roses symbolised their rival House of York, therefore explaining the “War of Roses”.
- The treatment of children in Alice in Wonderland is considered a reflection of the identity of children in Victorian culture where they were seen more or less as miniature adults.
The story is even suggested to criticise the Christian Church, of the time, in the climate of the late 19th century enlightenment movement. Nowadays it would be difficult not to find a modern interpretation of Dodgson’s tale, the story is so well regarded to this day for its interpretative nature that many scholars often point to it as being highly adaptable to just about any modern setting.
Fans of the story however, should remember that this is a story steeped in English popular culture and through its fantastical writing, offers a view into the unique perspective of a child. If you would like to study English, Creative Writing or Classical Literature in the UK be sure to book a free consultation today to find out more.