Scandal in Wonderland: Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin

Everybody's heard rumors about Lewis Carroll and his book "Alice in Wonderland." But what about the little girl who inspired the tale? Who was the real Alice, and what really happened to her? Read Melanie Benjamin's "Alice I Have Been" and find out.

A heartfelt debut novel, "Alice I have Been" isn't the story of a child. Rather, it's a story about a girl-turned-woman and her understanding of life. Growing up, this story states, is never quick and rarely easy. Growing older, however, is something we all have to come to terms with. Inspired by the Carroll Myth, Melanie Benjamin dances gracefully around some very twisted subject matter. Young love, forbidden love, and the intentions of an older friend.

Understated but still thrillingly scandalous, "Alice I Have Been" is a really great read.

The Specifics:

"Alice I Have Been" by Melanie Benjamin
January 2010
315 Pages

My Review: This book delicately deals with some really dark rumors. It's an interesting look at the trials of growing up.


Who'd Love It: Costume Drama Enthusiasts, or anyone who likes a good bit of gossip.

What's It About: The real Alice in Wonderland.

When's It Set: Victorian England

What I Thought: 
My sister says that I am a gossip. And, for the most part, she's entirely right. Maybe that's why I've always loved a good conspiracy theory. But if that's all you're looking for in a novel, then Melanie Benjamin's "Alice I Have Been" probably isn't for you. Like all good coming of age tales, this story has depth.

We've all heard the rumors surrounding Lewis Carroll, that his famous children's story was really just an in depth account of a very serious LSD trip. But what about Charles Dodgson, the man behind the rabbit hole. Did you know that he took photos of various young Victorian children? Did you know that the real Alice posed for one of these shots?

Was Charles Dodgson in fact a pedophile?

And stop.

Now you've probably read and reread that last sentence. A book about a pedophile, you're thinking. No, not for me. But that's the beauty of Benjamin's story. She is not writing about a pedophile (although those rumors do play into the story). Instead, she focuses on Alice Liddell, the real Alice in Wonderland, and the effect Charles Dodgson and his story had on her life.

Surprisingly, the actual story of "Alice in Wonderland" doesn't play a huge part in this tale. What Benjamin did focus on are the relationships surrounding Alice: The role of her mother, her sisters, her lover, and Mr. Dodgson. Love, the book clearly states, is curtail in the development of a child. But does it matter from whom this love is given? That's the real question Benjamin asks.

Again, this is not a tabloid novel, even though it covers incredibly scandalous subjects. Benjamin treats all of her characters with dignity, weaving a delicate mystery on each page. What I loved most about this novel was that Benjamin didn't reveal the real nature of Alice and Mr. Dodgson's relationship until the very end of the novel. Was the author of "Alice in Wonderland" in fact a pedophile? Sadly, no, I'm not going to spoil it for you.

"Alice I Have Been." I definitely recommend it.