Peas in a Pod: Into the rabbit hole

BBC Sounds, the online hub for BBC Radio, offers a rich assortment of podcasts, audiobooks, music mixes and more. Among its many offerings, In Our Time shines for its thorough explorations of historical, scientific and philosophical topics, hosted by Melvyn Bragg.

In the February 2024 episode, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Bragg and his guests - Franziska Kohlt, a Leverhulme Research Fellow in the History of Science at the University of Leeds; Kiera Vaclavik, Professor of Children's Literature and Childhood Culture at Queen Mary, University of London; and Robert Douglas-Fairhurst, Professor of English Literature at Magdalen College, Oxford - delve into the life and works of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, better known as Lewis Carroll. They explore how Carroll's early experiences influenced the characters in Alice in Wonderland, first published in 1865 with John Tenniel's illustrations.

Intriguingly, Dodgson had a habit of hiding everyday objects, like a child's tea set, under floorboards - items that later inspired elements of Alice's adventures. And that he considered teaching maths as a divine calling. The podcast is a journey into the curious world of Dodgson and his enchanting legacy. It's a rabbit hole worth exploring!