A captivating tale inspired by the real Alice in Wonderland. Oxford, 1862. Plain governess Mary Prickett enters a strange world as she cares for the Liddell daughters. But Mary doesn't like children, especially precocious Alice. When she meets mathematics tutor Charles Dodgson, she wonders if he can transform her life. Flattered by Dodgson's attention, Mary believes she could be more than a dowdy governess. One day, Dodgson tells the story of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. But Mary is determined to be his muse, turning lives topsy-turvy in pursuit of her obsession. For readers of historical fiction, this novel explores: Victorian social expectations Repressed desires The life of Alice Liddell