The escape of Alice: A Christmas fantasy

Chapter 2: TO OUR FRIENDS

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About This Book

A small illustrated girl slips out of her picture in an antiquarian shop and, after nibbling crumbs, rapidly grows to a schoolgirl’s size. A kindly old bookseller gives her a red-covered volume without payment on Christmas Eve, and she steps out into snowy city streets. She wanders through department stores crowded with many Santas and harried shoppers, noticing the sameness of the holiday rituals and the strain between generous sentiment and commercial excess. The tale mixes light fantasy and whimsy with gentle satire, contrasting the marvel of a storybook escape with the noisy, repetitive bustle of urban Christmas life.

TO OUR FRIENDS

It has been well said, that a friend in need is a friend indeed.

Such a friend, Vincent Starrett, of Chicago, has proven to be to us.

Last year, more to our regret than to the regret of our friends, we were compelled reluctantly to forego the pleasure and privilege of holding a session with them around our fireplace or beneath our reading lamp.

And a similar situation was imminent at this Christmas time—when our good fairy, Mr. Starrett, one morning dropped on our desk The Escape of Alice with the cheerful message, “It is yours, Brewer, for your Christmas booklet, if you want it.”

So here it is—a pleasant Christmas fantasy—sent to our friends of old and to some new ones, with all the best greetings of the season.

The Brewers

December 25 1919