Women over 45 Featured Writer: C.M. Rubin writes The REAL Alice in Wonderland– Alice Liddell

Relate to an important date–Mother’s Day

New Book Shares the Gift of the Real Alice in Wonderland

With interest rampant in Alice in Wonderland, a new book reveals the true life inspiration behind the children’s classic. C.M (Cathy) Rubin and her daughter Gabriella have just collaborated to write The Real Alice in Wonderland. With never before published illustrations and photographs as well as fascinating storytelling, the book takes readers through the entire life of Alice Liddell, the Victorian era youngster immortalized in the Lewis Carroll children’s classic. Liddell was an inspiring hands-on mother and through her life, an icon: a true modern day woman of the Victorian era.

With its familial theme, The Real Alice in Wonderland is a perfect fit for Mother’s Day. Children have grown up on the story for more than 150 years, and now they and their Moms (and Dads) can share in the story of how it all came to be, through the looking glass to the tea party and beyond.  Most people don’t even realize there was a real Alice, but co-author C.M. (Cathy) Rubin has known about her for a lifetime. Alice Liddell was her distant great aunt.  In 2007, Rubin’s daughter Gabriella convinced her mom to write “the story behind the story,” and the two set off to England and other destinations to collaborate on this first of a kind biography.

• Alice Liddell was a mother figure to children around the world.   She made sure the book was set up as a “not for profit” and devoted her life to raising money for children’s organizations.
• Alice Liddell would get fan mail from children around the world who would write to The Real Alice in Wonderland ENGLAND.  That is all that would be on the envelope.
• In Victorian times, a young girl’s governess was like her second mother. In the classic tale, the “off with their heads” Queen of Hearts caricature was inspired by Alice’s governess, Miss. Prickett.
• Alice Liddell suffered great heartbreak as a mother. Two of her three sons were killed in World War I.
• The Real Alice in Wonderland shows that on a day to celebrate the women who inspire, few have had the lasting impact of Alice Liddell.
• Gabriella Rubin inspired her mother to write this book, and dedicated to her as well.
• The book is subtitled A Role Model For the Ages. Along with Alice, the reference can also be to moms everywhere.

As a young woman, Liddell was a much sought-after love interest. Among her suitors: the son of Queen Victoria, Prince Leopold. The Rubins suggest the Queen pressured her son to end the romance. But years later, when they were married to other people, Leopold named his first child Alice, and acted as godfather to Alice’s son Leopold.

Filled with more than 500 illustrations and photographs, The Real Alice in Wonderland is a timeless gift for moms and their children.  C.M. Rubin’s and Gabriella Rubin’s grand vision for their book involved reaching out to celebrated artists,museums, libraries and schools around the world.  Artists spanning two centuries are featured in The Real Alice In Wonderland.