Before there was a published 'Wonderland,' there was a handwritten manuscript called Alice's Adventures Under Ground. This is that book. It's the very first version of the story that Lewis Carroll crafted as a Christmas gift for the real Alice.

The Story

Young Alice follows a hurried White Rabbit down a hole and finds herself in a hall of locked doors. After a confusing series of size changes (thanks to some curious food and drink), she finally gets tiny enough to enter a beautiful garden. There, her adventures truly begin. She attends a never-ending tea party with the Mad Hatter, plays a chaotic game of croquet with a bad-tempered Queen, and listens to the baffling testimony of a nervous cook at a trial. It's all about trying to make sense of a world that proudly makes no sense at all.

Why You Should Read It

This isn't just a shorter draft; it's a direct line to Carroll's imagination. His own charming illustrations are here, and the prose has a spontaneous, storytelling feel. You can almost hear him making it up as he went along for his young friend. It highlights the core magic of the tale: the sheer, joyful absurdity of logic turned inside out. The characters feel a bit rougher, a bit sharper, and that makes them even more memorable.

Final Verdict

This is a must-read for any true fan of Alice in Wonderland. It's perfect for curious readers who want to see how a classic is born, for lovers of literary history, and for anyone who enjoys a clever, quick trip into nonsense. Think of it as the fascinating, handwritten first chapter of a story that captivated the world.