In a particularly famous book, called Alice in Wonderland, little Alice goes off on a childlike adventure to a place called Wonderland. There, she meets all sorts of weird creatures, such as a talking caterpillar, talking flowers, talking animals, and a Queen that wants to cut her head off. This book is a beloved children’s book throughout the ages, and has inspired a countless number of movies and re-tellings. This book was written by an equally famous author, a man by the name of Lewis Carroll.  

Lewis Carroll, or rather, Charles Dodgson, was born on January 27th, 1832 in Cheshire. His father was a country parson, and an influential figure in the Church of England. When Charles was young, he was homeschooled. When he was old enough, he enrolled in Rugby School, though he wasn’t happy there. Despite his love for the school’s academics, he didn’t get along with the other kids and was often bullied. Eventually, he went to Christ Church at the University of Oxford, where he demonstrated his gifts in academics. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and taught at Christ Church before he died.

Throughout his teaching career, Dodgson wrote write short stories and poems. Using the pen name, Lewis Carol, Dodgson contributing to works such as The Cosmic Times and the Whitby Gazette. He soon published a poem called Solitude, which gave him some measure of success.

When Henry Liddell, who served as Dean of Christ College, brought his family to the college, Charles grew close to the family. Charles became friends with the youngest daughter, Alice Liddell, who would later serve as the character for the Alice in Wonderland series. Although he denied using his contemporary Alice to make the fictional Alice, it’s clear that the young girl played an important role in constructing the character. It was also because of the Liddell family that Charles decided to publish the manuscript. The book brought a rather large commercial success, especially since children’s literature was blossoming in response to social issues. This led Charles to publish a sequel, Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There. He did publish The Hunting of the Snark and Sylvie and Bruno, though they didn’t reach the success that the Alice books had.

Even though he was a beloved children’s author, much of Charles’s writing came under scrutiny. Some scholars believed that Charles was actually in love with the young Alice and that the Alice books were a way to convey his feelings towards her. However, other biographers have rejected the notion, stating that Charles had expressed a non-romantic interest in Alice simply because she embodied childhood innocence.

Charles Dodgson, now known as Lewis Carroll, spearheaded children’s literature during the time. Even now, he continues to be a source of inspiration for many, whether that be through the works of other writers or even Alice in Wonderland’s retellings. It’s a fantastical world where innocence flourishes, where naiveté is met without repercussions. Most importantly, Dodgson’s writings, to this day, continue to set high standards for children’s literature and inspire writers to meet those standards.