The Origin of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass

The podcast explores the origins of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. It discusses how Charles Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) met the Little sisters, Alice in particular, and formed a friendship with them. Dodgson tells the story of Alice on a boating trip, which later prompts Alice to ask him to write it down. Dodgson writes the manuscript and illustrates it himself, with John Tenniel later providing illustrations for publication. The podcast highlights the significance of the Alice books in transforming children's literature and fostering imagination. It also touches on the potential controversy surrounding Dodgson's relationship with young girls, including Alice. However, the focus of the summary remains on the creation and impact of the books rather than the controversy.