Many years ago, when I was scarcely more than a child myself, I read a fascinating book called ‘Inventing Wonderland’. Divided into five parts, each chapter explored the life of a classic children’s author: Lewis Carroll; J. M. Barrie; Edward Lear; Kenneth Grahame and A. A. Milne. Together their work ushered in a Golden Age of Children’s books, that late Vicorian / Edwardian flowering (1865 – 1930) that gave the world Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, The Wind in the Willows, The Owl and the Pussy-Cat and Winnie the Pooh.

  • Alice in Wonderland
  • Peter Pan
  • The Wind in the Willows

‘Inventing Wonderland’ is now out of print. Yet, the five writers it featured will live on forever, their books enchanting future generations of children.

  • The Owl and the Pussy-cat
  • Winnie the Pooh

A personal favourite of mine is ‘The Owl and the Pussy-cat’ – which was once voted England’s favourite childhood poem. It is a strange love story between two seemingly mismatched lovers – an owl and a cat, written by Edward Lear in 1871. Homosexual, at a time of narrow-minded repression, Lear creates here an alternative: in his fantasy world the unlikely couple can sail away, sing, dance and eat honey. In short, find the kind of joyful togetherness that he could never find in life.

Still universally loved, it continues to delight!