Which Alice?

Preface
This book, like Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through
the Looking-Glass, is truly for readers of all ages. By this I do not
mean that all of it is for every age, but for every age, some of it is for
that age. For example, the extremely elementary puzzles of Chapter
Four are particularly for the very young reader who has not yet
learned algebra (and, as the Gryphon wisely says, "You don't needs
no algebra!"). At the opposite extreme are the prize puzzles of
Chapters Five and Nine; these will intrigue the expert as much as
the beginner. Chapter Ten has a special and unusual status.
This year (1982) marks the one-hundred-fiftieth anniversary of
the birth of Lewis Carroll, to whom this book is dedicated. I believe
Carroll would have particularly enjoyed the Humpty chapter, which
deals with paradoxes (one of Carroll's favorite themes), but in the
inimitable manner of Humpty Dumpty. This chapter was great fun
to write (as were all the other chapters!). Indeed, the whole project
of re-creating the spirit of Carroll's writings has been a delight from
beginning to end.
My heartfelt thanks go to Greer Fitting, for all the lovely
illustrations; to Maria Guarnaschelli, for her excellent editorship;
and to Iver Kern, who carefully went through the entire manuscript
and provided a host of helpful suggestions.
Elka Park, New York
January 1, 1982
—RAYMOND SMULLYAN
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