Chiswick Book Festival's Alice In Wonderland 'Extravaganza'

And the story of how long-lost missing illustrations for the book were recovered

The story of how the original engravings which illustrated the first edition of Alice in Wonderland, were rediscovered, having been missing for years, has been told as part of the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the book's publication.

The Chiswick Calendar interviewed the former head of Children's Books at Macmillan, local resident Michael Wace, who told of how the original wooden block engravings by Sir John Tenniel, were found in a bank vault. Nick Raikes also asked him what was behind the enduring popularity of Lewis Carroll's two books.

A special Alice in Wonderland Extravaganza for children, will be held as part of the Chiswick book Festival, on Saturday morning, September 12th from 11.30 until 12.55 prizegiving.

The event at St Michael & All Angels church includes craft activities, a fancy dress competition and a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, with special interactive storytelling by poet Oscar Kolkowski as the Mad Hatter. Adults and over 5's tickets £5.

The event on Saturday will be followed by the prize ceremony for the Festival’s annual Young Person’s Poetry Competition. Later, at Chiswick Library, Fran Clark will talk about her new book for very young children, Brett Bear and the Cheeky Chipmunk.

September 10, 2015