What Do I Read Next?
The nearly contemporary fairy tales by Danish novelist Hans Christian Andersen (available in numerous editions) sparked a Victorian fascination with fairy tales.
John Ruskin's The King of the Golden River (1851) is a classic Victorian fairy tale, initially written for a young girl, much like Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Interestingly, Ruskin once served as a tutor for Alice Liddell.
Edward Lear's Victorian wordplay can be found in his works such as A Book of Nonsense (1846), Nonsense Songs, Stories, Botany, and Alphabets (1871), More Nonsense, Pictures, Rhymes, Botany, Etc. (1872), Laughable Lyrics: A Fourth Book of Nonsense Poems, Songs, Botany, Music, Etc. (1877), and Nonsense Songs and Stories (1895).
George Macdonald's allegorical fairy tale The Golden Key (1867) explores themes of growing up and sexual maturation.
Victorian poet Christina Rossetti's renowned narrative poem "Goblin Market" (1862), much like the "Alice" books, is ostensibly for children but delves into numerous adult themes, particularly repressed sexuality.
American fairy tales by L. Frank Baum, including The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900) and its many sequels, are also noteworthy.
Gilbert Adair's Alice through the Needle's Eye (1984) represents a modern effort to expand the "Alice" stories.
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