What is Alice in Wonderland?

Alice in Wonderland is the alternative title commonly used for the children's work of literature, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, which was written by an English mathematician, Reverend Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, under the pen name of Lewis Carroll, and published in 1865. The book tells the story of a young girl's adventures in a fantasy world and her encounters with a variety of strange characters. Alice in Wonderland was very popular, and Carroll wrote several sequels to the work. The book has also inspired several films, plays, and even a computer game.

The story of Alice in Wonderland came about because of Dodgson's friendship with three young girls, sisters Lorina, Alice, and Edith Liddell. During a rowing trip up the Thames with the three girls and a fellow Reverend, Dodgson entertained the girls with a story about a girl named Alice and her exciting adventures. Alice Liddell loved the story so much that she asked Dodgson to transcribe it, which he did and presented to her as a gift. Upon a friend's suggestion, Dodgson decided to publish Alice in Wonderland as a novel. The book was an immediate bestseller, and attracted fans like the famous writer Oscar Wilde, who was only a child at the time of the book's release.

In Alice in Wonderland, an English girl is having an ordinary day until she comes across a talking white rabbit. She follows the rabbit down his hole, which leads her into an entirely new dimension. In the fantasy world known as "Wonderland", Alice encounters a talking Cheshire Cat, a Mad Hatter, a baby that transforms into a pig, twins Tweedledee and Tweedledum, and a variety of other eccentric characters. At the end of her fantastic journey, it is revealed that Alice has only been dreaming, and she returns to the real world. Alice in Wonderland is well-known for its clever wordplay and riddles, and is often said to serve as a coming-of-age parable.

The story of Alice in Wonderland is often cited as one of the greatest children's stories of all time in Western literature. Alice in Wonderland has inspired a large following all around the world. In addition to the many films, plays, television shows, and other cultural movements based on the story, there is a large market for Alice in Wonderland collectibles, such as first edition Alice in Wonderland books and many toys based on characters from the novel and its sequel. There are several Alice in Wonderland-themed stores in the United States and England, and over 2500 Alice in Wonderland items are often available through online auctions.