Lewis Carroll was the pen-name of the Reverend Charles Lutwidge Dodgson. Born in 1832, he was educated at Rugby School and Christ Church, Oxford, where he was appointed lecturer in mathematics in 1855, and where he spent the rest of his life. In 1861 he took deacon's orders, but shyness and a constitutional stammer prevented him from seeking the priesthood. He never married, but was very fond of children and spent much time with them. His most famous works, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865) and Through the Looking-Glass (1872), were originally written for Alice Liddell, the daughter of the dean of his college. Charles Dodgson died of bronchitis in 1898.
"The Hunting of the Snark" is the longest of Carroll's nonsense poems, and readers of his other works will recognize his adeptness in creating story and meaning through his wordplay, rhyme, and portmanteaus. This adaptation by illustrator Singh (a member of the Lewis Carroll Society of North America and an editor for their journal, The Knight Letter) leaves Carroll's original text intact, although broken up for paneling and illustration. What really adds to the experience is the additional information provided at the beginning and end, which gives clues and insights into an otherwise puzzling story and the controversies surrounding its meaning. Singh's black-and-white surrealistic treatment of Carroll's classic poem is perfect; his illustrations are reminiscent of Henry Holiday's original spot artwork for the text, but it takes the ideology of Carroll's nonsense to new visual levels. Far beyond a simplistic, literal depiction of the poem, each panel is thoughtfully created, filled with puzzles, jokes, and allusions. The Annotated Hunting of the Snark would be an ideal companion to this text for further revelation. Verdict This graphic novel is perfect for readers who enjoy wordplay, jokes, nonsense, and mathematics. The content is suitable for all ages, though the language might be difficult for beginning readers.-Joanna Schmidt, George Fox Univ., Newberg, OR (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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