"Davy and the Goblin" appeared first in serialized form in the
children's periodical "St Nicholas" beginning in 1884; it was published
in book form first in 1885 and remained in print for over 40 years. In
1891 Carryl published another children's book, "The Admiral's Caravan".
The story begins on Christmas Eve when eight-year-old Davy drowses by
the fireplace reading Lewis Carroll's classic novel Alice's Adventures
in Wonderland. Soon he meets a Goblin who transforms the family longcase
clock into a boat, beginning Davy on a "believing voyage" where he meets
the Butterscotchmen, Mother Hubbard, the Giant Badorful, Robin Hood (and
his daughter Little Red Riding), Robinson Crusoe, and other charming
characters. "Davy and the Goblin"'s use of nonsense and punning places
it firmly amongst those works influenced by Lewis Carroll's Wonderland;
its fast-paced, kaleidoscopic narrative gives it an American flavour
which foreshadows much fantastic literature of the twentieth century.