Alice At The Morgan

There are some childhood stories that stay with us, no matter how old we get. There are also some stories that we may not totally get until we are way beyond childhood.

Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland (more commonly known at Alice In Wonderland) was initially published in 1865. 150 years later, Alice In Wonderland is still a beloved children book.

Celebrating the book’s 150th anniversary, The Morgan Library in New York City has recently premiered it’s newest exhibit. The subject is Alice In Wonderland and the book’s author, Lewis Carroll. The exhibit takes the visitor through the writer’s life and how his experiences with the real Alice contributed to the fictional Alice and her experiences in Wonderland.

I found this exhibit to be very interesting. Among beloved childhood stories, Alice In Wonderland stands out. It stands out because there are references that a young child may not completely understand. The exhibit stands out because of not only the imagery, but also the artifacts that seems touchable behind the glass.

I recommend it.

Alice: 150 Years Of Wonderland is presently open at the Morgan Library in New York City and will be open until October 11th. 

 

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Washington Square Book Review

A father is the first man in a woman’s life. No matter how old she gets or how many other men she may meet, he is the blueprint for how she will react to other men.

In Henry James’s classic novel, Washington Square, Dr. Austin Sloper has been hit early on in his life with two major losses: his son and his wife. His only consolation is his sole surviving child, Catherine. According to her father, Catherine’s charms lie solely in the money she is to inherit upon her father’s death. Catherine is neither intelligent, witty or easy on the eyes, according to her father. When Morris Townsend, a young man who is long on charm but short on cash starts to pay attention to Catherine, Dr. Sloper’s starts to suspect the real reason that young Mr. Townsend is coming to visit. Will Catherine follow her heart or will she continue to live as her father wishes?

This book is flawless. It is not just about a young woman choosing between loyalty to her father and the man she loves. There is a real psychological element to this novel. At stake is not just Catherine’s heart and mind, but also her future. What also struck me, as both a student of history and a student of this era, is that I grateful that I no longer live in that era. I am grateful that my only option in life is marriage and that I am not bound to marry a man that would be approved of solely because of his family or his income.

I recommend it.