A book rec twenty years in the making

[constance]

When I was a teenager, I was in some anonymous mall bookstore and came across an edition of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, one of my all-time favorite books, illustrated by Ralph Steadman. I love the original Tenniel illustrations of Alice, I really do. But these illustrations were freaky and uncomfortable and seemingly out-of-control while at the same time pretty carefully planned. And they suited the text of the book, which is also all of these things, so well that I fell instantly in love, and asked for the book for my sixteenth birthday AND NEVER SAW IT AGAIN. My mother couldn't find it at the bookstore, I couldn't either when I went back, and I occasionally thought to look for it in a bookstore or online, and never saw it again.

Until today. (You knew I was going to say that, didn't you?) I was innocently putting away the remains of our children's department after the Carrion Kids had destroyed it, and there it was! In hardcover! In the bargain section for, like, six dollars! Oh, I was so happy. I am still happy. It is sitting in front of me now, and every time I look over at it, I feel a little rush of satisfaction.

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

I recommend taking a look, but caveat lector: it's not a children's book--it never was, really--and despite the fact that my bookstore has elected to shelve it in the children's bargain section, the illustrations are not necessarily for children. They might disturb sensitive children, a little.

Comments

[woodyinvincible.livejournal.com]

Those pictures look really cool.

[tofty.livejournal.com]

He's a great illustrator! He's most famous for illustrating Hunter S. Thompson, but he's got tons of terrific other stuff as well. I always thought he'd be a good illustrator for Chuck Palaniuk, too, as a matter of fact--I should've known you'd like him.

[alkaloid.livejournal.com]

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh

[tofty.livejournal.com]

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D!

[laurelwood.livejournal.com]

Oh, I really like his style! You're right about it suiting the tone of the book.

You made me curious about what illustrations were in my old (1918- what were my grandparents thinking when they gave this to a child, for pete's sake?) copy of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, so I dug it out and found that it wasn't Steadman or Tenniel. It's illustrated with stills from a 1915 silent movie (http://www.alice-in-wonderland.fsnet.co.uk/film_tv_savoy3.htm). Quirkily cool!

[tofty.livejournal.com]

I've never seen that edition! I mean, I say that like I've seen every illustrated edition ever except that one. Which of course I haven't. But it looks like it'd be fab to flip through!

[laurelwood.livejournal.com]

Talk about disturbing sensitive children, though- would you want to meet these Tweedles (handily and microscopically pictured in the icon) in a dark alley?

[tofty.livejournal.com]

*screams!*

They look very much like the Tenniel versions, but somehow much creepier in film costume than in a book illustration.