What an utterly fantastic novel! It follows the story of the real Alice from Alice in Wonderland. I wasn't aware of the story's history, which is fascinating and filled with questions. Sadly, many of these questions will never be answered as many of the original documents surrounding this story were destroyed.
Benjamin has excellent command of the English language and brilliantly sets the tone for the Victorian era in which the book is set. It is separated into three parts; Alice as a girl (when the story was written), Alice as a young woman, and Alice as an old widow who is reflecting on her life and the impact the story had on it. I like that two thirds of the book deals with what happened when Alice grew up. We never stop to consider what happens to the children in our stories, the muses. Naturally they grow up, but to us they are always children and we are sad when the reality doesn't match the fiction.
Alice was a feisty, headstrong girl that stayed that way into adulthood. She would have done well in current times. This was a beloved book which blended history with fiction in a way that made them indistinguishable from one another. A story about the loss of our childhood, growing up too soon and of love and loss.
An excellent and fascinating read, I can't wait to see what Benjamin has in store for us!
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