"I have been credited by some, as a result, with rediscovering Dodgson, but I do not think there’s much credit in this. I think it is harder to find ‘Carroll’ than it is Dodgson. ‘Carroll’ has only ever existed in that special place where faith lives, and you need to be a certain kind of believer to see him; Dodgson is right there as soon as you open his diary or read his letters; right there, being searingly self-critical or horribly pompous, brilliant or obtuse, insightful or self-deceptive, overwhelmingly generous or pettily critical, lovingly flirtatious or hatefully cruel."

—

-Karoline Leach from the introduction of In the Shadow of the Dreamchild page 14 of the second edition paperback

This quote has nothing to do with my research for the FAQ, but it resonated with me. This is exactly how it felt when I first started reading his diaries. The veil of Lewis Carroll fell away and Dodgson was there. It felt like I was back in 1855, making conversation with a new acquaintance. This was long before he became famous, Dean Liddell hadn’t even appointed to Christ Church yet, and he was a simple tutor, no expectations or roles to fill. He wasn’t an unreachable saint anymore, he was a real human being. I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to read and share the entries.

(via still-she-haunts-me-phantomwise)

"Lewis Carroll is among the immortals of literature, C.L. Dodgson was soon forgotten, except by the very few."

—

Claude M. Blagden, Student of Christ Church, Oxford, from 1896

(Opening of In the Shadow of the Dreamchild)

"Jan 1, 1855 (Monday): The year begins at Ripon – tried a little Mathematics unsuccessfully – sketched – a design for illumination in the title-page of M.C’s book of Sacred Poetry. Handbells in the evening, a tedious performance."

—

-Journal 2 (LCS V.1) January 1, 1855

Ripon was were his father was Canon and he would spend the beginning of the year with his family. M.C. is short for his sister Mary Charlotte.

(via still-she-haunts-me-phantomwise)