Dodgson, Charles Lutwidge ("Lewis Carroll") (1832-1898), mathematician and writer

Three notes, in Dodgson's habitual purple ink, to his niece Edith Dodgson, a first-year student at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford.

1890

1 file (3 items)

Accession details not certain, but probably purchased from Sotheby's and maybe at the sale in London on 31st July 1924 (acc.92084 and acc.92300).

Charles Lutwidge Dodgson was born in Daresbury, Cheshire, on 27 January 1832, where his father was curate; the family moved in 1843 to Croft-on-Tees, where Dodgson's father became rector. He was educated at home to the age of twelve, then went to Richmond School before spending four unhappy years at Rugby. In 1851 he matriculated at Christchurch College Oxford, taking his BA in 1854 and gaining a first in mathematics and a second in classics. In 1855 he became a fellow of Christchurch and remained here for the rest of his career, taking deacon's orders and remaining unmarried as was the requirement of the time. He wrote and taught extensively in the field of mathematics and was an enthusiastic photographer. However, his lasting fame is as an author of surreal literature for children, published under the name Lewis Carroll (a version of his two forenames): he published Alice's Adventures in Wonderland in 1862, followed in 1871 by Through the Looking-Glass and in 1876 the long nonsense poem The Hunting of the Snark. The first two were inspired by his friendship with Alice Liddell, daughter of the Dean of Christchurch and one of the many children with whom he formed close relationships; much speculation has surrounded the nature of these relationships and Dodgson's sexuality in general. He died of pneumonia in Guildford on 14 January 1898 and was buried there.

Edith Dodgson studied at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, in 1890. This was her only year at the college, as she failed the First Examination for Women in December 1890 and did not return.