Lewis Caroll Biography

A Lewis Carroll biography details a brilliant and multi-talented man who lived a somewhat typical Victorian life. Lewis Carroll, whose real name was Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, is best known for his stories and poems. His beloved books, "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," and its sequel, "Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There," are a cornerstone in English children's literature.

Early Years
Lewis Carroll was born on January 27, 1832 in Daresbury, Cheshire, England. Christened  Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, he was the third of 11 children born to Reverend Charles Dodgson and his wife Frances Jane Lutwidge. The family lived out in the remote countryside, forcing the children to create their own amusements. Carroll was especially talented at creating games and entertainment for his family to enjoy.

At 12 years old, Lewis Carroll began writing most of the family's Rectory Magazine, a personal periodical for the children's education and enjoyment. He attended four years of public school, but was shy and did not enjoy the experience. His father tutored him for the last year of his education before he went off to Christ Church as an undergraduate in 1851.

Adulthood
Carroll excelled in school and displayed a special gift for mathematics. He was awarded a scholarship in his second year at Christ Church and went on to obtain a bachelor of arts degree in mathematics. As the school he attended was a religious one, Carroll was expected to become part of the holy order. He was ordained a Deacon of the Church of England in 1861, but never became a priest.

Lewis Carroll remained at Christ Church after graduation to become a lecturer and teacher, a decision that also allowed him opportunity to work on his writing. He also pursued photography as a hobby, often choosing children as his subject. Carroll's natural creativity, solitary life and experience entertaining his siblings made him a popular figure with children. He often spent time entertaining a variety of friends' children with fun stories, poems and games.

The Alice Books
Lewis Carroll created the story "Alice's Adventures Underground" in 1862 when he was picnicking with three children and a friend by the Thames river. The story was based on a picnic the group had had a few weeks earlier and filled with poems and tales Carroll had previously written. Alice, one of the little girls present and on whom the story was based, was so delighted with the tale that she begged Carroll to write it down for her. Carroll wrote and illustrated a longer version of the story and gave it to Alice.

A novelist, Henry Kingsley, was visiting Alice's family when he happened to read the story. He loved it so much that he begged the family to contact the author and have the piece published. Carroll edited and added to the first story, publishing "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" in 1865. The book slowly gained popularity and inspired Carroll to publish a sequel, "Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There" in 1872.

Later Years
Lewis Carroll published several books, poems and essays in his long career. He gave up photography in 1880 and stopping lecturing in 1881 to focus on his writing. Unfortunately, this time period only produced two unpopular books and no notable poems. Carroll passed away on January 14, 1898 in Guildford, Surrey, England.

Despite his writing failures later in life, his two Alice books had slowly gained such popularity that by his death they were considered some of the most well-known children's books in England.