Sylvie and Bruno — Lewis Carroll

Sylvie and Bruno (1889) is a novel by Lewis Carroll. Originally conceived as a pair of short stories published in Aunt Judy's Magazine in 1867, Sylvie and Bruno eventually became a full length, two-volume novel. Although less popular than his Alice books, the novel remains a powerful example of Carroll's imaginative range and ability to capture the surreal nature of everyday life. “The Warden, a tall dignified man with a grave but very pleasant face, was seated before a writing-table, which was covered with papers, and holding on his knee one of the sweetest and loveliest little maidens it has ever been my lot to see. She looked four or five years older than Bruno, but she had the same rosy cheeks and sparkling eyes, and the same wealth of curly brown hair.” While traveling by train to a long-overdue doctor's appointment, a middle-aged historian slips in and out of sleep. Each time, he enters a dream world where fairies and elves go about their lives without noticing his presence. Gradually, he becomes aware of a plot to overthrow the Warden orchestrated by Sub-Warden Sibimet and his wife Tabikat. Tricked into giving the Sub-Warden dictatorial powers, the Warden embarks to serve as Monarch of Fairyland. Soon, a Mad Gardener arrives and directs Sylvie and Bruno to follow him to a bizarre underground lair. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Lewis Carroll's Sylvie and Bruno is a classic work of English literature reimagined for modern readers.