Davy and the Goblin / What Followed Reading 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

25031

Title

Davy and the Goblin / What Followed Reading 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A whimsical sequel to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, this tale follows eight-year-old Davy, a skeptic of fairy tales, who is whisked away by a mischievous goblin on a 'Believing Voyage.' Through a series of absurd adventures involving talking animals, magical transformations, and surreal landscapes, Davy learns to embrace the magic of imagination. With E.B. Bensell's charming illustrations and Carryl's playful prose, this story offers a delightful journey into a world where logic bends and wonder reigns supreme.

Summary up to 500 words

On a snowy Christmas Eve, eight-year-old Davy retreats to his grandmother's house to read 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.' While watching the fire, a tiny, frog-eyed goblin appears, accusing Davy of being a skeptic who doubts fairies and goblins. To prove the existence of magic, the goblin takes Davy on a 'Believing Voyage.' Their journey begins inside a large Dutch clock that transforms into a boat, launching them through the window and out into the night sky. The voyage leads them through a surreal landscape where the house's inhabitants, including Davy's grandmother and the cook, float by in a tree hollow. They encounter a Hole-keeper who cannot laugh and a lead Colonel who serves as a silent guide. The adventure continues to Sindbad the Sailor's house, a whimsical place with feather-duster trees and carpet-footstools. Here, they hear nautical nonsense from Sindbad and meet Ribsy, an enormous, fat animal who devours insects with explosive results. Davy's journey takes a physical turn when he falls into an elastic spring, altering his size, before the goblin restores him to normal dimensions. The climax occurs in a mouse stable illuminated by fireflies, where they meet the Queen, the Prime Minister, and various fairies. Chaos ensues when a cat named Solomon enters, causing the fairies to flee and the stable to collapse. As the stable breaks apart, Davy finds himself back in his easy-chair, with the snow falling outside and Christmas Day arriving. The goblin, the Colonel, and the magical elements dissolve into the fireplace, revealing that the entire expedition was a dream or a magical illusion. Davy returns to his dinner, having experienced the magic he once doubted. The story blends nonsense humor with a gentle lesson on the value of belief, imagination, and the wonder of childhood.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/25031.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg25031.epub

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2026-07-05 08:13 UTC

Categories

• Classics
• Fantasy