From Somewhere in Time

A wonderful public art project is launching in London - Bookbench. Artists will illustrate favourite books to celebrate our literary heritage. Ralph Steadman is doing a "Through the Looking Glass" bench based on the illustrations he did for the book in 1972. Not my favourite illustrations in fact, but they'll make a great bench by the look of it.

More about Bookbenches here.

If you, like me, have wondered about the "old tunes" that Carroll wanted preserved for his songs, then listen to this Youtube clip of the Corries singing "Bonny Dundee." You might recognise the song in Looking Glass which Carroll intended to be sung to it.



'To the Looking-Glass world it was Alice that said
"I've a sceptre in hand, I've a crown on my head.
Let the Looking-Glass creatures, whatever they be
Come and dine with the Red Queen, the White Queen, and me!"'

'Then fill up the glasses as quick as you can,
And sprinkle the table with buttons and bran:
Put cats in the coffee, and mice in the tea—
And welcome Queen Alice with thirty-times-three!'

'"O Looking-Glass creatures," quoth Alice, "draw near!
'Tis an honour to see me, a favour to hear:
'Tis a privilege high to have dinner and tea
Along with the Red Queen, the White Queen, and me!"'

'Then fill up the glasses with treacle and ink,
Or anything else that is pleasant to drink:
Mix sand with the cider, and wool with the wine—
And welcome Queen Alice with ninety-times-nine!'

I have been away lately so rather a lot of things have piled up that I have meant to post. So here they are, at last.



I got more charming cards from Yoshi, in Japan. The one above reminds me of illustrations in one of my books when I was a child - I am now trying to remember which one it was. The artist Samidare Kauru signed one of the cards for me, too



and the package arrived about a week ago when I was just about to go away. Yoshi also sent a Tokyo underground map, in English - and so well designed that it makes the system look almost simple. Simple = good. :)



And then, there are some events. If you're anywhere near OXFORD, go along for its annual Alice Day - click the link here for more information. Major organisations and businesses in the city have come together in events which celebrate the theme of "Underground."

From my point of view, the most interesting events are probably the talks about aspects of Alice at The Old Fire Station Sarah Stanfield and Franziska Kohlt of the LCS will both be speaking, the former about the origins of the story, the latter about some other magical underground tales.



And here in London, at Morden Hall Park,the National Trust property near Wimbledon, Sixteen Feet Productions is putting on a performance of Alice in Wonderland between 1-4 August, 3 PM and 6 PM each day.