ENGL 380-01, Texts Images and Illustrated Books, Fall 2004

Abstract

Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865) ‘What is the use of a book’, thought Alice, ‘without pictures or conversations?’ William Wordsworth, “Illustrated Books and Laurence Sterne, The Life and Opinions of Newspapers” (1849) Tristram Shandy (1759-1757) Discourse was deemed Man's noblest attribute, And written words the glory of his hand; Then followed Printing with enlarged command For thought - dominion vast and absolute For spreading truth, and making love expand. Now prose and verse sunk into disrepute Must lacquey a dumb Art that best can suit The taste of this once-intellectual Land. A backward movement surely have we here, From manhood - back to childhood; for the age - Back towards caverned life's first rude career. Avaunt this vile abuse of pictured page! Must eyes be all in all, the tongue and ear Nothing? Heaven keep us from a lower stage!