a real character

A few days ago I came across some photographs released by Disney of some of the characters in the upcoming Tim Burton adaptation of Alice in Wonderland. From what I saw, I was pretty excited. Fabulous costumes, great actors and most importantly, it was clear that this adaptation will do justice to the larger-than-life characters who fill Carroll's fantastical story.



That's also the reason I adore my hardback copy of the book illustrated by Helen Oxenbury.

Her colours are so vivid


Some of the pictures so large they span the entire double spread

Others fit around the writing like a perfectly-fitted glove.

Attention to detail down to the ending of each chapter.

And always, always, the wonderful characters are brought to life.

Because that's the charm of a fantasy like Alice in Wonderland, isn't it? Imagination... being transported to another world with the senses: things like the touch of a page, the smell of the book, the sound of dialogue, the visual appeal of illustrations or film. Thus films like Tim Burton's imaginative re-imagining are the perfect setting for this first fantasty of Alice, who said it best:

"and what is the use of a book," thought Alice, "without pictures or conversations?"