Lewis Carroll - Alice in Wonderland with John Shelton

Nadya Williams and guest John Shelton explore Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland on its 160th anniversary. They discuss what makes a book a “classic,” the balance between whimsy and seriousness, Carroll’s satirical brilliance, and the enduring cultural impact of Alice. The conversation highlights themes of logic, absurdity, moral imagination, and the shaping of children’s literature.

Chapters 00:03 – Introduction to Lewis Carroll and Alice’s enduring appeal 03:00 – What makes a literary work a “classic”? 06:16 – Why Alice’s humor still works 07:43 – Iconic phrases and cultural influence 09:19 – Whimsy as serious work 11:42 – The sacredness of delight 13:38 – Influence on later works and pop culture 14:58 – The importance of the written form and illustrations 24:30 – The challenge of adapting Alice to other media 25:08 – Children’s classics and parental reading traditions 27:27 – Violence, absurdity, and what’s “too scary” for kids 31:16 – The rise of children’s literature in Carroll’s time 36:49 – Logic, madness, and education 37:18 – Carroll’s faith and the spiritual dimension of whimsy 39:14 – The purpose of children’s literature 41:20 – Selecting books for children and moral lessons from stories 45:13 – Learning the right use of force and justice 46:34 – Recognizing and mocking true absurdity 50:27 – Subtle moral norms in Alice 52:17 – Books the guest wishes he had written 54:56 – The relational nature of children’s books 57:27 – Stories as moral frameworks for life

Links

John Shelton, "Stories After Virtue: Reading As A Moral Enterprise" Tara Thieke, "Cats and Sixty Foot Whales: Reflections on Children's Literature" Lewis Carroll, An Easter Greeting to every child who loves Alice - Alice-in-Wonderland.net