Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is an 1865 novel by English author Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, writing under the pseudonym Lewis Carroll. The book falls into the genres of children's literature, fantasy, and literary nonsense. It tells the story of a young girl named Alice who falls down a rabbit hole into a fantastical world populated by peculiar, anthropomorphic creatures. The tale plays with logic and explores themes of identity, reality, and imagination, giving the story lasting popularity with adults as well as children.
In the story, Alice, bored while sitting with her sister, follows a White Rabbit down a rabbit hole and enters Wonderland. She experiences bizarre and nonsensical adventures, including a tea party with the Mad Hatter, encounters with the Cheshire Cat, and a croquet game with the Queen of Hearts. Alice frequently changes size and meets a variety of strange characters. The story culminates in a nonsensical trial where the Knave of Hearts is accused of stealing tarts. The book contains poems and songs, including parodies of well-known works. The first edition was illustrated by John Tenniel.
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland has never been out of print and has been translated into 174 languages. The number of pages varies depending on the edition. Its narrative, structure, characters, and imagery have profoundly impacted popular culture and literature, especially in the fantasy genre. It is credited with helping end an era of didacticism in children's literature, inaugurating an era in which writing for children aimed to "delight or entertain". Adaptations of Alice in Wonderland span film, television, radio, visual art, ballet, opera, musical theatre, theme parks, board games, and video games. Notable film adaptations include Disney's animated version (1951), Tim Burton's live-action film (2010), and several TV movies and miniseries.
