This novel was first published in 1889, followed by a sequel volume in 1893, and both volumes were illustrated by Harry Furniss. Over twenty years before that, Carroll had written two short stories titled Fairy Sylvie and Bruno's Revenge which appeared in Aunt Judy's Magazine in 1867. Later, Carroll decided to use them as the core for a longer story. Much of the rest of the novel he compiled from notes of ideas and dialogue which he had collected over the years.
The novel has two main plots, with one set in the real world at the time the novel was published, whilst the other concerns a fantasy Fairyland. While the latter plot contains many nonsense elements and poems, similar to Carroll’s Alice books, the other plot is poignant for its portrayal of Victorian Britain, offering important social views of religion, philosophy and morality at the time of publication.
The novel is now chiefly remembered for the poem The Mad Gardener's Song, which has been widely reprinted elsewhere.