Books Should Be Free
Loyal Books
Free Public Domain Audiobooks & eBook Downloads
Search by: Title, Author or Keyword

Westminster Alice

Book cover
By: (1870-1916)

Westminster Alice by Saki is a whimsical and witty take on the classic Alice in Wonderland story. The author brings a unique and satirical twist to the beloved tale, set in the political world of Westminster. The characters are cleverly reimagined as politicians and public figures, and the dialogue is sharp and sardonic.

Saki's writing is smart and entertaining, and his satire hits the mark as he skewers the absurdities of politics and society. The illustrations by Francis Carruthers Gould add to the charm of the book, bringing the characters to life in a playful and quirky way.

Overall, Westminster Alice is a clever and humorous read that will delight fans of both classic literature and political satire. Saki's wit and insight make this a must-read for anyone looking for a fresh take on a familiar story.

Book Description:
Published five years before John Kendrick Bangs had the same idea with Alice in Blunderland, Saki, in his 1902 series of satirical articles, takes an Alice in Wonderland view of British politics, which Alice finds even stranger than events in Wonderland.In all honesty, owing to its extremely topical nature this political satire hasn't worn well, which explains why it has virtually sunk without trace. To appreciate it at all, it's really rather necessary to understand the topical references. I am no historian, least of all a political historian, but I have researched it as well as I can, and made some notes in an attempt to put the events and characters into their political context for the listener. My notes may be found on the Internet Archive in audio form or in text form.I hope that this may still appeal to the political sceptic of today. With some basic understanding of the situation, I found the satire bitingly keen at points, and was left with the feeling that some aspects of British politics have changed little in more than a century, although current political satire sadly lacks Saki's wit. As the Red Queen says: "I don't know what business you have here, if you don't belong to the Cabinet; of course... there are so many of them, and they're mostly so unimportant that one can't be expected to remember all their faces." (Introduction by Ruth Golding)


Stream audiobook and download chapters




Review this book



Popular Genres
More Genres
Languages
Paid Books