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Alice Liddell from Wonderland

Alice Liddell from Wonderland age 7, photo by Lewis Carroll, 1859

Age 7, photo by Lewis Carroll, 1859. Alice Liddell from Wonderland

Alice Liddell from Wonderland.
Alice Pleasance Liddell was born on May 4, 1852 in Westminster, London. The beautiful girl was the prototype of the character of Alice from “Alice in Wonderland”. “Alice in Wonderland” – one of the most famous works in the world. The relationship between Liddell and Lewis Carroll (Charles Lutwidge Dodgson) has been the source of much controversy. Many biographers have supposed that Dodgson was romantically or sexually attached to the child, though there has never been any direct proof for this and more benign accounts assume merely a platonic fondness.

Alice Liddell was the fourth child of Henry Liddell, the classical scholar, the dean of one of the colleges of Oxford and co-author of the famous Greek dictionary "Liddell-Scott," and his wife Laura's Hanna Liddell (nee Reeve).

She was the fourth child of Henry Liddell, the classical scholar, the dean of one of the colleges of Oxford and co-author of the famous Greek dictionary “Liddell-Scott,” and his wife Laura’s Hanna Liddell (nee Reeve).

On July 4, 1862 on a boat trip Alice Liddell asked her friend Charles Dodgson to make up a story for her and her sisters Edith and Laura’s. Dodgson, who previously had to tell stories to children, readily agreed. This time, he told the sisters about the adventures of a little girl in a subterranean land, where she came, falling into a hole of the White Rabbit. The main character is very reminiscent of Alice. The story of Alice Liddell was so pleased that she asked the narrator to record it.

It has often been stated that Alice was clearly his favorite subject in these years, but there is very little evidence to suggest that this is so. Dodgson's diaries from 18 April 1858 to 8 May 1862 are missing.

She was clearly his favorite subject in these years. However, there is very little evidence to suggest that this is so. Dodgson’s diaries from 18 April 1858 to 8 May 1862 are missing.

Discovery of cryptic letter raises questions about author’s relationship with ‘real-life Alice’. Speculation about just how close Carroll, a lifelong bachelor, was to the children he loved has simmered for decades. Alice’s father was the Dean of Christ Church and Dodgson was a close friend of the family until there was a mysterious cooling of relations in 1863, when she was 11.

He had many ‘child friends’ and was an avid photographer, taking pictures of young girls, often nude. Dodgson hated anyone knowing about his private life and never gave interviews.

Following his death in 1898, aged 65, pages from his diaries were censored or destroyed, and not one of his ten brothers and sisters ever spoke about him to outsiders. The letter, which has been in private hands, is to be sold next week by auctioneers Hampton and Littlewood, of Exeter.

Alice Liddell from Wonderland

Alice Liddell from Wonderland

stained glass window in the church of all saints

Alice Liddell

Little Alice, photo by Lewis Carroll, England, 1862

Alice Liddell from Wonderland

In fact, Alice Liddell lived a long and happy life. At age 28, she married Reginald Hargreaves, a professional cricketer, gave birth to three sons. Unfortunately, both senior sons died in the First World War. Pictured: Alice Liddell, Lewis Carroll photo, June 25, 1870.

Alice Liddell from Wonderland

Aged Alice Liddell. She died at her home in Vesterhame at age 82 in 1934. Pictured: Alice Hargreaves in the elderly, 1932

Alice Liddell from Wonderland

Initially the story was called “Alice’s Adventures under the Earth.” Its handwritten copy was donated to Alice by Lewis Carroll, was sold in 1926 for 15,400 pounds. Today the manuscript is kept in the British Library. In the photo: the adult Alice Liddell.

Alice Liddell from Wonderland

The last page of the original manuscript by Lewis Carroll “Alice’s Adventures under the Earth”

Alice Liddell from Wonderland

Photo by unknown author, Alice Liddell.

Alice Liddell from Wonderland

Lewis Carroll, 1859. Alice Liddell (right) with her sisters

Alice Liddell from Wonderland

1860 photo by Carrol. Alice Liddell (right) with her sisters

Alice Liddell from Wonderland

Rright – Alice Liddell with her sisters and brother, photo by Lewis Carroll, 1860

Alice Liddell from Wonderland

Julia Margaret Cameron’s photo, Alice Liddell

Alice Liddell from Wonderland

The last page of the original manuscript by Lewis Carroll “Alice’s Adventures under the Earth”

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