On March 5th, Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland released in theaters and made it on top at the box office for weeks. But even more incredible is Alice in Wonderland and Philosophy: Curiouser and Curiouser (The Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series) Edited by Richard Brian Davis & William Irwin which I have had the pleasure of reading since before Burton’s film released. This collection of essays is unlike anything you have ever read, which analyzes this classic tale.
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland has fascinated children and adults alike for generations. Why does Lewis Carroll introduce us to such oddities as a blue caterpillar who smokes a hookah, a cat whose grin remains after its head has faded away, and a White Queen who lives backward and remembers forward? Is it all just nonsense? Was Carroll under the influence? This book probes the deeper underlying meaning in the Alice books and reveals a world rich with philosophical life lessons. Tapping into some of the greatest philosophical minds that ever lived — Aristotle, Hume, Hobbes, and Nietzsche — Alice in Wonderland and Philosophy explores life’s ultimate questions through the eyes of perhaps the most endearing heroine in all of literature.
Alice in Wonderland and Philosophy is a fascinating collection of essays that gives a much deeper meaning to this classic tale and enables readers to see the tale in an entirely new light. I would highly recommend this book, as it is like solving pieces to a puzzle that you did not even realize you were putting together. While we were all entertained with this tale as children, this book enlightens us on the reality behind Alice’s adventure. Divided into 4 parts, each professor has done such thorough research on the compelling topics at hand…everything from feminism to understanding the nature of time. All of the essays are very well explained and as a whole, all of the details you will read are incredibly thought provoking. Though at times repetitive and though you may not agree with every perception, the lengths gone to analyze this tale will amaze you. Alice in Wonderland fans, this is a must have addition to your book collection as it is the perfect companion to Lewis Carroll’s classic tale.
Alice in Wonderland and Philosophy: Curiouser and Curiouser (The Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series) Edited by Richard Brian Davis & William Irwin is available in bookstores now.