Alice Is Everywhere

O frabjous day! The Alice Is Everywhere podcast is finally here!

What will we cover on our ALL Alice in Wonderland podcast? Why, I’m glad you asked! Here’s the official description:

“Tune in to our Alice in Wonderland podcast for lighthearted commentary and analysis of the books Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass. Learn all about the author Charles Lutwidge Dodgson AKA Lewis Carroll, and the REAL Alice, Alice Liddell. We’ll also discuss Alice in Wonderland movies, tv shows and theater, and Alice’s influence on literature, fashion and popular culture. Pour a cup of tea, help yourself to the bread-and-butter and leave your logic at the door. We’re all mad here.”

The title of Episode 1 may sound a little familiar. That’s because the first twelve episodes of our Alice in Wonderland podcast will be yours truly reading a chapter from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and then giving you all kinds of commentary and fun facts so that you enjoy the book even more! For every episode, the accompanying web post will include an Episode Summary, Vocabulary Words For Young Listeners (words either from the book or spoken off the cuff by me), the original John Tenniel Alice illustrations, and the full text of the chapter as written by Lewis Carroll, so that you can follow along! You know, if you are not listening while driving or at a Zumba class or something.

Episode Summary

A little girl named Alice follows a White Rabbit down a rabbit hole and begins amazing adventures in the first chapter of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Down The Rabbit-Hole. Full text of the chapter by Lewis Carroll is included, along with commentary and Alice in Wonderland fun facts. Suitable for all ages.

Vocabulary Words For Young Listeners

sartorial – adj – related to clothing or fashion Rerun from What’s Happening has always been my sartorial role model.

proliferation – noun – a large number of something, or a rapid increase in something The proliferation of Kardashians in recent decades has scientists alarmed.

Chapter 1 Quotable Quotes

“...what is the use of a book...without pictures or conversations?” – Alice

“DRINK ME” – bottle

“EAT ME” – very small cake

Chapter 1 Illustrations By John Tenniel

Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be too late!

On the second time round, she came upon a low curtain she had not noticed before...

Self-explanatory.

Chapter 1 Down the Rabbit-Hole By Lewis Carroll

Alice was beginning to get very tired of sitting by her sister on the bank, and of having nothing to do: once or twice she had peeped into the book her sister was reading, but it had no pictures or conversations in it, ‘and what is the use of a book,’ thought Alice ‘without pictures or conversations?’

So she was considering in her own mind (as well as she could, for the hot day made her feel very sleepy and stupid), whether the pleasure of making a daisy-chain would be worth the trouble of getting up and picking the daisies, when suddenly a White Rabbit with pink eyes ran close by her.

There was nothing so very remarkable in that; nor did Alice think it so very much out of the way to hear the Rabbit say to itself, ‘Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be late!’ (when she thought it over afterwards, it occurred to her that she ought to have wondered at this, but at the time it all seemed quite natural); but when the Rabbit actually took a watch out of its waistcoat-pocket, and looked at it, and then hurried on, Alice started to her feet, for it flashed across her mind that she had never before seen a rabbit with either a waistcoat-pocket, or a watch to take out of it, and burning with curiosity, she ran across the field after it, and fortunately was just in time to see it pop down a large rabbit-hole under the hedge.

In another moment down went Alice after it, never once considering how in the world she was to get out again.

The rabbit-hole went straight on like a tunnel for some way, and then dipped suddenly down, so suddenly that Alice had not a moment to think about stopping herself before she found herself falling down a very deep well.

Either the well was very deep, or she fell very slowly, for she had plenty of time as she went down to look about her and to wonder what was going to happen next. First, she tried to look down and make out what she was coming to, but it was too dark to see anything; then she looked at the sides of the well, and noticed that they were filled with cupboards and book-shelves; here and there she saw maps and pictures hung upon pegs. She took down a jar from one of the shelves as she passed; it was labelled ‘ORANGE MARMALADE’, but to her great disappointment it was empty: she did not like to drop the jar for fear of killing somebody, so...

What’s in a name? If the name is Mischmasch, quite a lot! We discuss the self-published magazine by Lewis Carroll entitled Mischmasch, along with The Rectory Magazine and Rectory Umbrella. We give a rundown of LC’s only trip abroad- once you hear the number of boats, trains and carriages involved, we think you’ll understand why it was his only trip. Learn the reason for Heather’s long hiatus, and hear her stumble over the words “fellow Christ Church Fellow.” We end with the lament, “Good-night, old Turnip-top, good-night!” Because we really should have ended with that last time.

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For the benefit of Mr. Carroll, it’s Part 2 of our Beatles and Alice in Wonderland extravaganza! We discuss the connections between Paul, George, Ringo and Alice, having explored Lewis Carroll’s influence on John Lennon in Part 1. What early, carefree Beatles ditty does Paul McCartney credit to Lewis Carroll’s influence? What do George Harrison and Cheshire Cat have in common? What mid-80s Carrollian musical included both George and honorary nephew Julian Lennon? We’ll answer all these questions, hear some great music and last but certainly not least, examine Ringo Starr’s dramatic turn as the Mock Turtle in a 1985 TV special. No horses dance the waltz, but a splendid time is guaranteed for all!

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What the heck is a phantasmagoria? That depends on which phantasmagoria you are talking about. The haunting theater experience? The ’90s video game? The Marilyn Manson movie that never was? Or the Lewis Carroll penned poem? We of course elaborate on the Lewis Carroll Phantasmagoria, but any and all phantasmagorias will be discussed. We’ll also explore Lewis Carroll’s relationship with Phantasmagoria illustrator A.B. Frost, and review Lewis Carroll’s possible fondness for the number 42 (in honor of our 42nd episode). And where did the name Lewis Carroll come from anyway? Tune in for the answer to that burning question and much more on the latest Alice Is Everywhere.

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It’s time for part 2 of our Beatrice Hatch extravaganza! Learn exactly what it was like to be a child friend of a certain Lewis Carroll. We get our firsthand account via Beatrice’s obituary of the author, inventor, photographer and Oxford don published in The Strand magazine in 1898. We’ll also learn about the special tribute Mr. Carroll’s friends put together after his death. Lastly, we’ll discuss the quality of University dinners. Were they really that good? Enquiring palates want to know. Heather apologizes in advance for getting the giggles. It’s an obituary episode, after all.

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