(Un)Birthday Celebration at UNC-Charlotte

Thanks to the Children's Literature Graduate Students and Mark West at University of North Carolina-Charlotte's English Department for inviting me to be part of their (Un)Birthday Celebration of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

I am looking forward to meeting with students and talking about "Alice and Multiple Wonderlands." How has Alice endured for so long? How did Lewis Carroll, particularly as the controller of the Wonderland empire, help to cement the book's legacy? What is it about the books that still appeals to readers? These are some of the questions that I have been pondering as I prepared the talk.

Lost Sherlock Holmes film found and to be shown in Normal

The Normal Theatre will be showing the recently rediscovered 1916 silent film class Sherlock Holmes. The showings are at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 17, and Wednesday, Nov. 18. William Gillette as Sherlock Holmes in 1916The film has been called the lost holy grail of silent films. The film was found in the film collection at the Cinémathèque Française and was restored. It has only been shown within the last year. 

Gillette, who stars as Sherlock Holmes, had played the famous British detective on stage for numerous performances. In fact, he rewrote Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's script into a popular theatrical performance. It was Gillette who came up with the hat and the cape. He also changed Holmes' pipe to a rounded pipe so he could talk and smoke while on stage.

WGLT interviews me about Alice in Wonderland's 150th anniversary

Thanks to Judy Valente for putting together a smart, charming piece about the 150th anniversary of the publication of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Judy has done so many interesting and intriguing radio pieces for WGLT. Whenever she has interviewed me, it has been a good experience and she always makes me sound much better.

Here's a link to the interview. https://news.illinoisstate.edu/2015/10/alice-wonderland-turns-150/WGLT's Charlie Schlenker took this photo of me and aa selection of Alice books. 

Alice in Wonderland exhibit opening at ISU's Milner Library

Twelve different illustrators' interpretations of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland will be exhibited in the special collections section of Illinois State University's Milner Library. Included in the exhibit will be Alice related items such as posters and fashion.

Thanks to the Maureen Brunsdale, special collections librarian, and Reiley Bonislawski, Milner library intern and an English major at ISU, who made this exhibit possible.

We have received quite a bit of media attention.

• WMBD-TV reported on putting up the show on Thursday, Nov. 5. http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/local-news/celebrating-150-years-of-alice

• The Vidette's reporter Brent Bader did several interviews to write his article on the show "Milner Library Celebrates Alice in Wonderland's 150th anniversary." (Nov. 3, 2015) http://www.videtteonline.com/index.php/2015/11/03/milner-library-celebrates-alice-in-wonderlands-150th-anniversary/

• WJBC interviewed me and Reiley Bonislawski last month for a preview about the exhibit.

• The Pantagraph had a mention of the show in its roundup article about arts events this weekend. http://www.pantagraph.com/entertainment/go/art-round-the-corner-and-beyond/article_a9fa31a0-c936-5cad-99a2-a3a0e0394012.html

Management pointers by Lewis Carroll

"Long and painful experience has taught me one great principle in managing business for people, viz, if youQuad at Christ Church, Oxford University want to inspire confidence, give plenty of statistics. It does not matter that they should be accurate, or even intelligble, so long as there are enough of them." Lewis Carroll wrote in Three Years in a Curatorship by One Who Has Tried It (1886).

Among other things that Charles Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) accomplished at Christ Church Oxford was to supervise the Common Room where faculty would gather for afernoon tea, or a glass or claret. He was responsible for ordering the supplies including a stock of wine with more than 20,000 bottles. Being detailed and fastidious, he also looked to improve the ventilation, lighting and furniture in the Commons Room. He describes this as improving "Airs, Glares, and Chairs." He wanted the room to be cheerful and efficient.A Commons Room today for senior students at Christ Church

The pamphlet, Three Years in a Curatorship by One Who Has Tried It, records his attempts to keep the Oxford dons well supplied and contented. With Carroll in command, the Commons room was cheerful and efficient. In no way did it resemble The Mad Tea Party in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.