Talk:Through the Looking-Glass

Plot sections

The Manual of Procedure (MOS:NOVELPLOT) specifies a plot summary of 400–700 words. The one for this article submitted at the FAC runs to 1,100 words. The MoS states that editors wishing to have a plot summary longer than the recommended 700 words should "be prepared to explain why on the talk page". This is my reasoning. Each of the chapters of the book, except for the brief chapters 11 and 12, is a self-contained episode, similar to a short story. One could provide a short synopsis of the whole book, describing the broad sweep of the plot – a dreamt chess game where the heroine meets nursery-rhyme characters – without detailing the characters and events in each story but I do not think that would be useful to the reader of the article. It would not, in my view, give the reader a clear idea of the contents of the book. Tim riley talk 14:19, 1 June 2025 (UTC)

I think that's a solid approach. The MOS is flexible on the length point, given there are always going to be works that can't (or shouldn't) be constrained by the hard word count. This is one, I think, where a little leeway should be allowed. Without it, it would be a very simplistic description that does not aid readers in their understanding.- SchroCat (talk) 16:14, 1 June 2025 (UTC)

It works, it's well written, it doesn't feel excessively long. I agree that cutting the plot down to <700 words would disproportionately deprive a reader of helpful information. Gog the Mild (talk) 17:01, 1 June 2025 (UTC)

Thanks for taking the trouble to post your rationale. I agree with SchroCat and Gog the Mild that this falls within MOS:NOVELPLOT exception that "Very occasionally, there may be exceptional reasons that warrant a longer summary." MichaelMaggs (talk) 10:46, 7 June 2025 (UTC)

Colleagues, I'm grateful to all three of you for your encouragement. Tim riley talk 13:15, 9 June 2025 (UTC)

Sources

What an interesting article – thank you. Could the short book by Gardner – "The chapter was first published in 1977 in a 37-page book by the Carroll scholar Martin Gardner, issued in New York by the Lewis Carroll Society of North America and in London by Macmillan & Co." – be added to the sources? Its title isn't mentioned so the interested reader doesn't know how to find it. Thanks. Stronach (talk) 08:46, 17 September 2025 (UTC)

Stronach, glad you liked the article. We can't add the little Gardner booklet to the list of sources as we haven't used it as a source, but I can add it to "further reading" and will do so over the next few days when time permits. Tim riley talk 12:32, 18 September 2025 (UTC)