Peter Newell – Whimsical Alice

Peter Newell - Alice in Wonderland cover 1901

Peter Newell is one of my all time favorite illustrators. One of the few that I liked so much, I looked for other books he published. Im sure he was a funny man, with a big heart. There’s humor and kindness pouring out of every illustration he made.
I’m toying with the idea, that in a parallel universe, Newell’s Alice, might have been Carroll’s first choice. If Tenniel’s Alice seems a bit stiff at times, Newell’s Alice flows, and remains very fresh, 120 years after its publication. Doesn’t he look like a great guy?

Peter Newell (1862-1925)
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Ah, the golden age of books. Every page of this publication weights a ton. The pages are thick, and with the gilding on the cover, the whole thing looks and feels luxurious

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The first page – a photo of Lewis Carroll. If im not mistaken, this should be the first time Carroll’s image was present in an Alice book, something that in later publications became popular.

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Title page – Published by:
Harper & Brothers

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My avid readers will notice that sometimes I write about the image at the top, and sometimes at the bottom. If you’re looking for some Alice book collection blog that’s super organized, well, I’ll make a list soon. For now, look at the illustrations around the text. Art Nouveau meets Art Deco. At least its how it comes across to me. The bursting nature is very Nouveau, while the mirroring, and centering of the objects, are Deco.
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Every page has a framed illustrations around the text. There are 4 types that appear in repeat. Above is an image made of samples of them. All are naturalistic, and depict animals. I haven’t seen a real connection between those and Wonderland, but they are fantastic on their own right.

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And so it begins. The book has dozens of illustrations. Here’s Alice chasing the white rabbit.

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Alice shedding her tears

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Alice, in her telescope moment

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The W. Rabbit getting startled

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Alice swimming by the mouse

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Alice and the Dodo

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A Mouse’s Tale

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Alice making all the animals from the caucus race uncomfortable

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“Why, Mary Ann, what are you doing here?”

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Alice in the White rabbit’s house

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Bill the lizard

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Bill getting treated by the concerned folk

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Alice and the puppy

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Peter Newell’s Caterpillar is softer, and a child-like version of it, in my opinion, vs the stuffed up old one, Tenniel made him to be, and more in-line with Carroll’s text

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Father William 1

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Father William 2

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Father William 3

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” ‘Serpent!’ screamed the Pigeon”

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The Doorman

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Pig and Pepper – the Duchess and the cook. Newell made this scene a lot less disturbing than it really is

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Alice and pig baby

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The Cheshire cat, Newell seems to have embraced Tenniel’s one, hasn’t he?

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A Mad Tea Party

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The three sisters living at the bottom of the treacle well

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Painting the roses

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” ‘Off with her head!’ “

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Playing croquet

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Playing Croquet 2

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Newell gave the croquet scene 4 full illustrations, here are the hedge-hogs up close

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Croquet playground 4th illustration, ‘tut tut child’!

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Alice, the Mock Turtle, and the Gryphon

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” ‘ Will you walk a little faster,’ said a Whiting to a Snail! “

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Alice conversing with the turtle and gryphon

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” ‘Come on!” cried the Gryphon”

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The Trial – What marvelous depiction of the card royalty

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The poor hatter, at the trial

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Guinea pig inserted in a sack!

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The jury getting upset

Peter_Newell_Alice_in_Wonderland_34-cards-in-the-air.
“At this the whole pack rose up into the air”

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