Charles Lutwidge Dodgson

Lewis Carroll was a multi-talented Englishman who excelled in writing, mathematics, and photography. His unique ability to blend imagination and art with logic and science made him one of the most influential figures of his time. He is most famous for his works Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865) and Through the Looking Glass (1871) and was known for his use of wordplay, logic, and fantasy.

He was born in a family of high-church Anglicans and spent most of his life as a scholar. Alice Liddell, daughter of Henry Liddell, the Dean of Christ Church, was widely believed to be the inspiration for Alice in Wonderland, though Carroll denied this.

As an avid puzzler, Carroll created the word ladder puzzle (which he called "Doublets") and published it in his weekly column for Vanity Fair magazine between 1879 and 1881. A memorial stone was unveiled in 1982 at Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey to honor Carroll.

Early Life

Dodgson's family was predominantly northern English and conservative, and most of his male ancestors were army officers or Anglican clergy members. His great-grandfather, Charles Dodgson, served as the Bishop of Elphin in rural Ireland, while his paternal grandfather, also named Charles, was an army captain who died in action when his two sons were just babies.

The father of Charles Dodgson, also named Charles Dodgson, had attended Westminster School and later pursued a degree at Christ Church, Oxford, where he achieved a double first degree. In the year 1830, he entered into a marriage with his first cousin, Frances Jane Lutwidge. Instead of pursuing an academic career, he chose to become a country parson. This decision was a significant deviation from the typical course followed by his peers during that era. Despite the societal norms, he chose to follow his heart and married someone he loved, albeit a close relative. The decision to become a country parson may have been influenced by his personal beliefs, values, and interests. Nevertheless, this career path allowed him to serve his community and make a positive impact on people's lives.

Birth

Charles Dodgson was born on January 27, 1832, at All Saints' Vicarage in Daresbury, Cheshire. He was the oldest son and the third oldest of eleven children. Charles Dodgson, known to many by his pen name, Lewis Carroll, was born in 1832. At the age of 11, his father was appointed as the Archdeacon of Richmond, and the family moved to Croft-on-Tees, Yorkshire, where they lived in a spacious rectory for the next 25 years. His father was a highly conservative cleric who held high-church views and was an admirer of the Tractarian movement, including John Henry Newman. He was also deeply involved in the religious disputes that were dividing the Church of England at the time. Charles's father tried to instill these values in his children, but Charles developed an ambivalent relationship with both his father's views and the Church of England itself.

Education

During his early years, Charles was educated at home by his father, and his reading lists, which are preserved in family archives, reveal that he had an exceptional intellect. By the age of seven, he was reading books like The Pilgrim's Progress, and he was also known to have a stutter that often inhibited his social life throughout his youth. When he was 12 he entered Richmond Grammar School. It was in North Yorkshire.

Although he was unhappy at Rugby School, he excelled academically, receiving first-class honors in Mathematics Moderation in 1852 and soon afterward being nominated for a Studentship by Canon Edward Pusey, an old friend of his father's.

In 1854, Charles graduated from the University of Oxford with first-class honors in the Final Honours School of Mathematics, standing first on the list. He remained at Christ Church, the college where he had enrolled as a student in 1850 and where he had been educated by his father, continuing his studies and teaching. During this time, he was offered a professorship at the University of London but declined, stating that he preferred the more relaxed environment at Christ Church.

Despite his early academic success, Charles did experience some setbacks. In 1855, he failed an important scholarship exam due to his inability to apply himself to study. However, he was still recognized for his talent as a mathematician and was awarded the Christ Church Mathematical Lectureship that same year, a position he held for the next 26 years. Throughout this time, he remained at Christ Church in various roles, including that of Sub-Librarian of the Christ Church library, which was close to the Deanery where Alice Liddell, the inspiration for his famous book Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, lived.

Both high promise and irresistible distraction characterized Charles Dodgson's academic career. He was exceptionally gifted and achieved success easily, but he only sometimes applied himself to his studies. Nonetheless, he remained a respected scholar and member of the academic community at Oxford until he died in 1898.

Health Problems

The photograph of Charles Dodgson, taken by Oscar G. Rejlander in 1863, gives us a glimpse into the physical appearance of the young adult. He was tall, standing at about 6 feet (1.83 m), and had a slender frame. His hair was curly and brown, and his eyes were either blue or grey, depending on the account. As he grew older, he was described as somewhat asymmetrical, and he carried himself stiffly and awkwardly, which may have been due to a knee injury he sustained in middle age.

Several health issues marked Dodgson's early life. Extreme fever at young age lead to deafness in a ear. When he was 17, he contracted whooping cough, which caused him to have a chronically weak chest in later life. He also acquired a stammer in early childhood, which he referred to as his "hesitation."

Despite his physical and health challenges, Dodgson went on to achieve great things in his life. He is best known for his works of literature, particularly the children's classic "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland." His legacy continues to inspire and captivate readers of all ages, even to this day.

Stammering

Dodgson, famously known as Lewis Carroll, was known to have a stammer. According to an apocryphal story, he only stammered around adults, but this claim has no evidence to support it. Many children who knew him remembered his stammer, while many adults failed to notice it.

Dodgson was aware of his stammer and portrayed himself as the Dodo. This was supposedly a reference to his difficulty in pronouncing his last name, but this claim still needs to be verified as there is no first-hand evidence to support it. Despite this, it is a fact that he referred to himself as a dodo, but it is unclear whether this reference was related to his stammer or not. Nonetheless, his stammer was a significant part of his image, and he was known to have taken great care to avoid speaking in public or giving speeches.

Despite his stammer, Dodgson was a friendly person who had a lot to offer. He lived in a time when people were expected to create their entertainment, and Dodgson excelled in this area. He had a talent for singing, storytelling, mimicry, and charades, and he never shied away from performing in front of others. His engaging personality and diverse skill set made him a valuable member of society.

Social Connections

Lewis Carroll was an accomplished writer who was involved in the pre-Raphaelite social circle. He had the pleasure of meeting notable figures such as John Ruskin, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, and other notable artists. Dodgson was known for his passion for photography and often took pictures of his dear friend Rossetti and his family in their garden in Chelsea, London. Additionally, he maintained a warm friendship with fairytale author George MacDonald and was delighted by the positive reception of Alice by MacDonald's children. This further inspired him to publish the book.

Politics, Religion, And Philosophy

Lewis Carroll, also known as Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, lived his life with a strong sense of dignity, respect, and conservatism. He was deeply devoted to his faith, and his diary is filled with humble reflections and sincere prayers for forgiveness and guidance. Despite his reserved nature, he was an accomplished mathematician and creative writer, inspiring generations of readers with his timeless works. May we all strive to live with such purpose and devotion, following our paths with courage and resilience.

He added:

"When we take our final breath, I am confident that holding onto the great truths that Christ taught us - our worthlessness without Him and His infinite worth, His reconciliation of us to our Father, and the fact that He has made us all brothers and sisters - will guide us through the shadows. I wholeheartedly embrace the doctrines you mentioned - that Christ died to save us, that there is no other path to salvation except through His death, and that we are reconciled to God solely by faith in Him, not by our merit.

Lewis Carroll was a writer who also had interests in other fields. He was an early member of the Society for Psychical Research, which aimed to investigate paranormal phenomena and psychic experiences. Dodgson believed in what was then called "thought reading," which is the supposed ability to discern people's thoughts without any communication.

Apart from writing, Dodgson wrote several studies on various philosophical arguments. One of his most notable contributions was the philosophical regress argument on deductive reasoning, which he developed in his article titled "What the Tortoise Said to Achilles." In this article, he presents a paradoxical situation where a tortoise challenges Achilles to a race, and he argues that Achilles will never be able to overtake the tortoise. Dodgson's argument was an attempt to show that deductive reasoning can lead to an infinite regress of reasons that cannot be resolved.

The article was published in one of the early volumes of Mind, a leading philosophy journal of the time. It garnered widespread attention and was reprinted a hundred years later in 1995, in the same journal. The reprinted version included a subsequent article by Simon Blackburn titled "Practical Tortoise Raising," which discussed the implications of Dodgson's argument for contemporary philosophy.

Lewis Carroll, whose real name was Charles Lutwidge, was a prolific writer from a young age. He had a passion for writing poetry and short stories, which he contributed heavily to his family magazine Mischmasch.

Although most of his output was humorous and sometimes satirical, he had high standards and ambitions. In addition to writing poetry and short stories, Carroll also wrote puppet plays for his siblings' entertainment. One of them, La Guida di Bragia, has survived to this day.

In March of 1856, the renowned author Lewis Carroll published his first work under the pen name "Lewis Carroll." The work was a romantic poem titled "Solitude," which was featured in The Train magazine. The name "Lewis Carroll" was inspired by the author's real name and was cleverly chosen to capture the essence of his literary style. Editor Edmund Yates chose the name Lewis Carroll from a list of four submitted by Dodgson, which included Edgar Cuthwellis, Edgar U. C. Westhill, and Louis Carroll.

Alice books, illustrated by John Tenniel in 1865, are a series of classic children's fiction featuring the character Alice. The first illustration depicts Alice holding a flamingo, standing with one foot on a curled-up hedgehog with another hedgehog walking away.

Another illustration in the Alice books portrays a child with a sword facing a fearsome winged dragon in a forest. This illustration depicts the Jabberwock, which is a creature mentioned in the poem "Jabberwocky" that is included in Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking-Glass.

Dean Henry Liddell's arrival at Christ Church in 1856 marked the beginning of his family's close relationship with Dodgson. Liddell's wife, Lorina, and their children, especially the three sisters Lorina, Edith, and Alice Liddell, greatly influenced Dodgson's writing career. Dodgson's fondness for the Liddell family is evident in his writings, as many of his characters are named after them.

Alice Liddell

It is interesting to note that Alice Liddell, a real-life acquaintance of his, inspired Lewis Carroll's famous "Alice" stories. The author paid tribute to her in the form of an acrostic poem at the end of Through the Looking-Glass and scattered references to her throughout both books. However, despite this, Carroll himself denied any direct correlation between his "little heroine" and Alice Liddell. It is worth mentioning that Carroll often dedicated his works to other girls he knew, featuring their names in acrostic poems at the beginning of the text, without any implication that the characters in the story were based on them.

Dodgson's diaries contain limited information about the years 1858-1862, as they are missing. However, his friendship with the Liddell family was a significant part of his life in the late 1850s. During this time, he developed the habit of taking the children on rowing trips, starting with the boy, Harry, and later taking the three girls along as well. An adult friend would accompany them on these trips to Nuneham Courtenay or Godstow.

He narrated the story to Alice Liddell, who was so impressed that she asked him to write it down. After much delay, Dodgson finally presented Alice with a handwritten and illustrated manuscript titled Alice's Adventures Under Ground in November 1864.

Lewis Carroll, the pen name of Charles Dodgson, wrote an incomplete manuscript, which he shared with the family of his friend and mentor, George MacDonald. The MacDonald children enjoyed the story and urged Dodgson to get it published. In 1863, he approached the publisher Macmillan with the manuscript, and they immediately recognized its potential. However, before publishing the story, the publisher asked for alternative titles and rejected "Alice Among the Fairies" and "Alice's Golden Hour." Finally, in 1865, the story was published under the title "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland."

Dodgson chose to publish under the name Lewis Carroll, which he had been using as a pen name for nine years. Sir John Tenniel, a professional artist, illustrated the book. Dodgson believed that a published book needed the skills of a professional artist.

Annotated versions of the book provide insights into many of the ideas and hidden meanings in the story, which is often viewed as a satire on contemporary mathematical advancements.

Overall, the publication of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" was a significant milestone in the literary world. The book has been translated into numerous languages and is still popular among readers of all ages.

The publication of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland brought about significant changes in Charles Dodgson's life. The book's commercial success made him a famous author around the world, with fans sending him letters and clamoring for his attention. However, only some of the attention was welcome, and Dodgson found himself sometimes overwhelmed by it.

Legend has it that Queen Victoria herself was a fan of the book and requested that Dodgson dedicate his next work to her. According to the story, he obliged by presenting her with a scholarly mathematical volume called An Elementary Treatise on Determinants. However, Dodgson vehemently denied this story, and it seems unlikely due to the stark contrast between the tone and style of Alice and his mathematical works.

Despite his newfound fame and financial success, Dodgson continued to work as a mathematician and lecturer at Christ Church, Oxford. He did not enjoy this work. In 1871, he published the sequel to Alice, titled Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There. This book had a somewhat darker tone than the first and may reflect the changes in Dodgson's life after his father died in 1868. His father's passing plunged him into a deep depression that lasted for several years, and this may have influenced both the mood of the book and Dodgson's personal life.

The Hunting of the Snark

Lewis Carroll's The Hunting of the Snark is a nonsensical and fantastical poem that was published in 1876. The poem is about a peculiar crew consisting of nine tradespeople and one beaver who embark on a journey to find the elusive Snark. The poem is filled with bizarre and imaginative characters and is accompanied by illustrations created by Henry Holiday. Despite its unique and creative storyline, the poem received mixed reviews from Carroll's contemporaries. However, it became extremely popular with the public and was reprinted seventeen times between 1876 and 1908. The Snark hunting story has inspired many adaptations in music, plays, and operas due to its popularity. Interestingly, the painter Dante Gabriel Rossetti reportedly believed that the poem was about him, which adds to the poem's intriguing history.

Sylvie and Bruno

In 1895, Lewis Carroll attempted a comeback with his new two-volume story, Sylvie and Bruno. The tale follows the adventures of two fairy siblings, Sylvie and Bruno, and intertwines two distinct plots set in two different worlds. One world is set in rural England, where the siblings interact with a group of children and their governess, while the other is set in the imaginative kingdoms of Elfland, Outland, and others.

The fairytale world is a satirical reflection of English society and, specifically, the academic world. Carroll uses the fantastical elements of this world to poke fun at the absurdities of academia. The story includes a range of characters, from professors to mathematicians, who engage in outlandish debates and discussions.

Sylvie and Bruno was released in two volumes and is considered a lesser-known work by Carroll. Despite this, it has been in print for over a century and has garnered a small but dedicated following. The story's appeal lies in its use of imaginative settings and its witty social commentary, making it a fascinating read for readers of all ages.

Photography

In 1856, Dodgson began to practice photography. He was inspired by his uncle Skeffington Lutwidge and his friend Reginald Southey. Photography quickly became a passion for him, and he became a distinguished photographer. In his early years, he even considered pursuing photography as a career.

"The Rossetti Family" is a photograph taken by Lewis Carroll in 1863. It features four members of the Rossetti family Although there is some dispute over whether or not a parent was present during the taking of Dodgson's child photos, it is known that many of the child photos were taken in the Liddell garden, as natural sunlight was necessary for good exposure.

Dodgson used photography as a means of gaining access to higher social circles, and during the most productive part of his career, he took portraits of many notable sitters. These included John Everett Millais, a pre-Raphaelite painter; Ellen Terry, a celebrated actress; Dante Gabriel Rossetti, a painter and poet; Julia Margaret Cameron, a photographer; Michael Faraday, a scientist; Lord Salisbury, a politician; and Alfred Tennyson, a poet laureate. Dodgson's portraits were highly regarded and helped to establish his reputation as a talented photographer.

Lewis Carroll, also known as Dodgson, was an enthusiastic amateur photographer who had a studio set up on the roof of Tom Quad. He was a proficient user of the wet collodion process and captured approximately 3,000 images. However, due to the demands of maintaining his studio and the shifting preferences of the wider populace, he decided to discontinue his photography pursuits in 1880 after 24 years. Unfortunately, less than 1,000 of his photographs have survived due to the ravages of time and intentional destruction. Meanwhile, commercial photographers had already moved on to the dry-plate process in the 1870s, which allowed for quicker picture-taking. With the advent of Modernism, Dodgson's style of photography may have been impacted by changing tastes.

Inventions

Dodgson's invention of "The Wonderland Postage-Stamp Case" in 1889 was a remarkable effort to promote letter writing. The case was designed to organize stamps wherever one stored their writing implements, thus encouraging the practice of putting thoughts on paper. With its intricate design, the case served as a reminder of the importance of letter-writing and the joy it brings. Carroll's wise words in Eight or Nine Wise Words about Letter-Writing further emphasized the significance of this art. His efforts to promote letter-writing continue to inspire people to this day.

Nyctograph Invention

Lewis Carroll invented the nyctograph, a writing tablet for taking notes in the dark without a light source. It had a grid of 16 squares and an alphabet of symbols that he designed. The symbols were similar to the Graffiti writing system on a Palm device. A reconstructed nyctograph was demonstrated using a 5 euro cent coin as a scale.

Lewis Carroll, known for his timeless classic Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, was not only a literary genius but also an inventor of games and puzzles. He created the "doublet," a brain teaser that remains popular to this day, inspiring countless individuals to engage in fun and challenging mental exercises. Carroll's innovative spirit and creative mind are a reminder that even the most basic ideas can have a lasting impact on the world.

Alan Turing's work was incredibly diverse and impactful. From devising methods to determine the day of the week for any date to creating fairer elimination rules for tennis tournaments, Turing's work was innovative and groundbreaking. His inventions, such as the steering system for Velociman and a new type of postal money order, have improved the lives of many. Even his smaller inventions, such as the double-sided adhesive strip and cardboard scale for the Senior Common Room, have made everyday tasks easier. Turing's work is an inspiration to us all, reminding us of the power of innovation and creativity.

His proposals for alternative parliamentary representation systems were innovative and forward-thinking. He suggested the Dodgson method, which utilized the Condorcet method, and later introduced a proportional representation system based on multi-member districts. This system required each voter to cast a single vote, and quotas would be the minimum requirement for taking seats. The votes would be transferable by candidates through what is now known as Liquid Democracy.

Mathematical Logic

During the late 20th century, there was a renewed interest in the field of mathematical logic, particularly in the work of Lewis Carroll, also known as Charles Dodgson. This was sparked by Martin Gardner's book on logic machines and diagrams. As a result, there has been a reevaluation of Dodgson's contributions and he introduced the Method of Trees in his Symbolic Logic Part II. This was the earliest modern use of a truth tree.

Algebra

The discovery of the proof of the alternating sign matrix conjecture through Robbins and Rumsey's investigation of Dodgson condensation is a testament to the power of perseverance in scientific inquiry.

Recreational Mathematics

In the 1990s, the discovery of ciphers created by Dodgson revealed his mastery of advanced mathematical concepts beyond his "Memoria Technica."

Correspondence

Lewis Carroll was a celebrated letter-writer who wrote and received an impressive 98,721 letters during his lifetime. He had a great passion for letter-writing and even went to great lengths to maintain a special register to keep track of his extensive correspondence. In 1890, he published a message titled "Eight or Nine Wise Words about Letter-Writing," which contained valuable insights on how to write more satisfying letters.

Later Years

Dodgson led a stable life during the final two decades of his existence despite his growing wealth and fame. Dodgson kept teaching at Christ Church till 1881 and resided there until his passing. Among his public appearances was his attendance at the West End musical Alice in Wonderland, which was the first significant live adaptation of his Alice books, at the Prince of Wales Theatre on December 30, 1886. He also wrote his last novel, Sylvie and Bruno, which was published in two volumes in 1889 and 1893. However, contemporary readers need to comprehend the complexity of the novel fully. As a result, it received disappointing reviews and only sold 13,000 copies, despite Dodgson's previous success with the Alice books.

Discovering new places and cultures enriches and broadens our minds. Lewis Carroll, known for his popular literary works, also had the opportunity to explore the world. On a preaching trip in 1867, he visited Russia with Reverend Henry Liddon and penned down his travel experiences in his "Russian Journal," which was commercially published in 1935. The journey also took him through Belgium, Germany, partitioned Poland, and France.

However, as we age, our bodies may only sometimes cooperate with our aspirations. Unfortunately, Dodgson suffered from synovitis in his early sixties, making it challenging for him to walk and even confining him to bed for months. Despite this, his passion for writing and exploration never waned.

Ordination

Charles Dodgson had a clear path laid out for him to become an ordained minister in the Church of England. However, he decided to follow his path and requested permission to skip the process of becoming a priest. Initially, this request was met with resistance, and he faced the possibility of being expelled. But something changed, and he was allowed to stay and pursue his path. This decision led him to a unique position, as he did not become a priest like many of his peers.

Dodgson's rejection of the priesthood is still uncertain. Some suggest that his stammer made him hesitant to preach. However, Dodgson did preach later in his life, so this seems unlikely. The Bishop of Oxford who ordained Dodgson had strict views against the theatre, which Dodgson loved. Dodgson was interested in minority forms of Christianity and alternative religions. He felt guilty and sinful in the early 1860s, which may have influenced his decision to abandon the priesthood.

Missing Diaries

In total 4 full volumes and 7 pages of text need to be added to Dodgson's 13 diaries. The volume's disappearance is unexplained, while an unknown person removed the pages. Scholars believe family members removed the diary material to protect the family name. Most of the diary entries from 1853 to 1863 are also missing, a time when Dodgson experienced mental and spiritual anguish and wrote extensive love poetry. Some speculate that the poems were autobiographical.

Understandably, many different explanations have been proposed regarding the missing material. It can be difficult when we are left without information . The suggestion that a page may have been removed to conceal a marriage proposal to an 11-year-old girl is a sensitive topic, and it is important to acknowledge that there has been no evidence to support this theory. A paper authored by Karoline Leach in 1996 suggests evidence to the contrary, which may provide some comfort to those who are concerned about this issue.

Migraine And Epilepsy

In 1880, Dodgson experienced his first migraine with aura, which he accurately described as "moving fortifications." He may have also experienced Alice in Wonderland syndrome, a brain condition that affects object perception, but there is no evidence that he used it as inspiration in his work.

Dodgson was diagnosed with an "epileptiform" seizure. His doctors concluded that he had the condition for his entire life, but his diaries only mention the two attacks.

Yvonne Hart, a neurologist at John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, examined Dodgson's symptoms. Hart concluded that Dodgson probably had migraine and possibly epilepsy. However, she would need more information before diagnosing epilepsy.

Death

Dodgson died of pneumonia caused by influenza on January 14, 1898, at his sister's home in Guildford, Surrey. He was almost 66 years old.

The stained glass windows at All Saints' Church, Daresbury, erected in 1935, portray characters from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland in honor of a distinguished individual.