Back in 2007, we collaborated with noted Alyssian historian Agnes MacKenzie to publish Princess Alyss of Wonderland, a stunning collection of letters, journal writings, and art from Her Royal Imaginer, Princess Alyss Heart. These breathtaking documents chronicled the incredible childhood of Wonderland’s exiled heir apparent and future hero of The Looking Glass Wars.

Part One spanned Alyss’ flight from Wonderland and how she survived her first days on the rough streets of London. In Part Two, Alyss recounts the horrors of the notorious Charing Cross Orphanage and her disappointment at being adopted by the unimaginative Liddells.

When we last left Princess Alyss she was in trouble again, having been caught trying to break into Buckingham Palace to rescue her mother from Queen Victoria. As Alyss’ angry foster father took her back to Oxford, Alyss doubted if she would ever return to Wonderland. 

But hope was not dead. It returned in the form of a shy teacher who would change Alyss’ life forever… 

(*As always, I am indebted to the tireless and exhaustive research of the eminent Wonderland historian Agnes MacKenzie. Her dedication has helped keep the true story of Queen Alyss alive!)

Diary Entry – April 1, 1862

I mark the date April 1, 1862, with a white stone, for it is when I first met Mr. Charles Dodgson! (In Wonderland it is custom to always mark days of great imagination with a white stone.) His name was a blur of sound until I heard ‘Dodg-son’ and I thought of my best friend Dodge. I looked up and saw the kindest face I had seen since leaving Wonderland, Charles Dodgson. I liked him immediately, but it wasn’t until Lorina introduced me very grandly as Princess Alyss Heart (mocking me, of course) that I knew he was to be my best friend in this world, for the man bowed quite seriously, took my hand and whispered, “Delighted to make your acquaintance, Princess Alyss Heart.”

Diary Entry – April 10, 1872

Today, Mr. Dodgson invited Lorina, Edith, and I to his studio for our first photographic portrait.  What we all enjoyed most about the portrait setting was being able to try on the costumes that Mr. Dodgson had collected. I told him that I had not seen such imaginative costumes since I had left Wonderland. He became very interested and said he would like to hear more about this land called Wonderland. 

Agnes MacKenzie

Charles Dodgson’s aptitude in the nascent art of photography made him a popular portraitist of children for Oxford’s better families. Choosing their costumes for the various portraits was always left to the girls and might I suggest that the photograph of Alyss in the white dress appears to be her tribute to her time spent with Quigley and the others as a street urchin.

Diary Entry – July 2, 1862

I closed my eyes so I could see back to Wonderland and began to remember. I wanted to tell him about the Inventor’s Parade and the giant mushrooms that were as tall as ten of London’s greatest trees set end to end and the caterpillars who knew everything but only told you what they knew you needed to know but instead, the words that came out were the story of my last day in Wonderland and the Cat and Redd entering the palace and her ear-shattering cries of “Off with their heads!!!  At this point, I opened my eyes and saw poor Mr. Dodgson absolutely pale with fright. He asked, “What my dear is so wonderful about Wonderland???”  I smiled and told him there was much, much more to tell…

Agnes MacKenzie

I cannot help but be moved by the beauty of the friendship shared by Charles Lutwidge Dodgson and Alyss Heart. As devastating a betrayal as the eventual outcome may have been, for a period of time, two kindred spirits found each other in the same world and proceeded to have a riotous good time. Charles Dodgson was a young mathematics don at Christ Church when he first met the daughters of Dean Liddell, and, as history has voluminously recorded, he was particularly in awe of the daughter supposedly named ‘Alice.’

Diary Entry – July 30, 1862

I believe Mr. Dodgson is finally coming to understand what is so wonderful about Wonderland. We seem to talk about nothing else, though it is easy for both of us to get off the subject whenever the topic of sweets comes up.

Letter from Princess Alyss to Charles Dodgson – 1862

Dear Mr. Dodgson,

You must remember to write about the Inventor’s Parades that are held in Wonderland to honor the imaginations of Wonderland’s most inventive inventors. All of Wonderland gathers to watch the parade while the Queen decides what is ready to be sent on as inspiration to other worlds. The Queen’s Trampoline was invented as a gift for my mother so she could jump high enough to reach her favorite cloud. I have drawn some of my favorite inventions which all had to do with travel and I was hoping that maybe you could pass these on to whoever is in charge of London’s traveling conveyances. Perhaps if they were more imaginative with regard to this vital service I would be home by now. 

Your Friend, 
Princess Alyss Heart

Agnes MacKenzie

On the back of the valentine from Charles Dodgson, Alyss had written the cryptic message, “This is the day that I began REMEMBERING…” And thus began her own literary effort to assist Lewis Carroll in saving herself and Wonderland. It is sad to think that a venture begun with such high spirits and hope would in less than 2 years meet a wrenching conclusion!

In November of 1864, Charles Dodgson proudly and dare I venture, a bit shyly, presented ‘Miss Alice Liddell’ with his handwritten manuscript of ALICE’S ADVENTURES UNDERGROUND. This historic manuscript contained 37 illustrations drawn by the versatile and prolific Mr. Dodgson. As you shall soon discover, Alyss’s reaction was not quite what the poor man had anticipated!

Diary Entry – November 27, 1864

And at long last, the promised book was delivered. What can I say?

HE GOT IT ALL WRONG!!!! 

He even spelled my name wrong! What makes me want to scream, “Off with his head AND both arms!” is the fact that he actually seems to believe HE told ME this nonsensical children’s story when the truth is (and he knows it!) that I told him. 

Letter from Princess Alyss to Charles Dodgson after reading his manuscript – 1864

To the Very Cruel Mr. Dodgson,

How could you betray me with this pack of lies? If I were not so furious with you I would certainly be sobbing at the loss of what I believed to be my one true friend in this grey world. Be warned, for the sake of Wonderland and everyone I love, I cannot allow this book of lies to go unchallenged. And who is this ‘Lewis Carroll’ that you are now calling yourself? Are you ashamed to put your own name on this book? I should hope so! As if a royal princess would ever travel through a rabbit hole! Thanks to your efforts my reality has now become this world’s fantasy.

Your Un-Friend,
Princess Alyss Heart

P.S.
Now you shall never be invited to Heart Palace for tarty tarts! And no, strawberry jam tastes NOTHING like the oh-so-delicious squigberry jam. Your loss! 

Agnes MacKenzie

The first published edition of “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” appeared early in July 1865 and featured illustrator John Tenniel’s iconic artwork. Alyss now had to adjust to the fact that the betrayal was no longer an unpublished manuscript but an actual book that would soon find its’ way into the hands and hearts of the literate public.

Diary Entry – August 17, 1865

Oh that horrid ALICE!  Now she has stolen my life forever!!!!! I must do something to stop this disaster. Lewis Carroll is not the only one who can hold a pen.

Letter from Princess Alyss to Alexander MacMillan, Co-Founder of MacMillan Publishers, publisher of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – 1865

To the Attention of Mr. Alexander MacMillan,

HALT!!! In the name of Imagination and Truth, I am sending this decree to inform you of a dire betrayal by the author masquerading as Lewis Carroll. The book Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is nothing but a pack of lies! It is imperative that this book be labeled UTTER FICTION and the true story be told so that those searching for me can find me and return me to Wonderland to rule as Queen. 

Her Royal Imaginer, Princess Alyss Heart

Agnes MacKenzie

Despite Alyss’ attempt to halt the publication of “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” the book continued to spread from country to country and would soon be found in the hands of both children and adults around the world. The fantasy of this world was threatening to overcome the reality of Wonderland and Alyss was feeling the pressure.

Diary Entry – September 22, 1865

Since the publication of THAT BOOK, I have been pushed into an actual rabbit hole, chased by a pack of boys wearing fake rabbit ears shouting, “I’m late! I’m late!” and taunted by the local bully girl (a redhead, of course!) who stands outside our gate and screams, “Off with Alice’s head!” whenever I show my face. Complete strangers approach me and express disappointment that my “beautiful blonde hair” has turned such a “dull brunette”! Dull??? When everyone insists on saying up is down, it is very difficult to continue pointing out that they are wrong. It seems that “Alice” has won after all…

*Stay tuned for Part Four, in which Alyss starts the journey of recovering her imagination with the help of an old friend…