The story that we know as "Alice in Wonderland", was written by Charles Lutwidge Dodgson under the pseudonym Lewis Carroll. Originally published as "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" in 1865-66, it tells the story of a young girl who falls down a rabbithole into a fantasy land populated by peculiar characters and talking animals. The story is full of Dodgson's allusions to his real life friends and acquaintances, including the title character, who is named for a child friend of the Reverend Dodgson, named Alice Liddell. Dodgson caricaturizes himself in the story as the Dodo, probably as a reference to his own nervous stutter, causing him to pronounce his name "Do-do-dodgson". Other references included are Bill the Lizard, handyman to the White Rabbit, whose name is a nod to the Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli. The mock turtle tells a story about the Drawing Master, who came once a week to teach "Drawling, Stretching and Fainting in Coils." This refers pointedly to the art critic, John Ruskin, who came once a week to the Liddell household to instruct the girls in "drawing, sketching and painting in oils."

The story has become a defining example of "literary nonsense", and has been very influential in style and structure, particularly in the fantasy genre.

"Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" sold out it's first printing in December 1865, and became phenomenally successful. It has never been out of print since that time. It's sequel, "Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There" had similar success. Both books have been translated into various other media, including the musical stage, film, graphic novels and video games. The newest addition to this list is the Tim Burton film due to be released March, 2010.
 

View the trailer for Disney's 1951 animated film "Alice in Wonderland"