- Paperback: 592 pages
- Publisher: Papermac; New edition edition (25 Oct 1996)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0333660331
- ISBN-13: 978-0333660331
- Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 13.2 x 3.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
579,653 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #17 in Books > Biography > Science, Mathematics & Technology > Mathematics
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
This monumental biography was prompted by Morton N. Cohen's belief that the Carroll revealed by the letters, diaries and works was not the same as the Carroll created by his biographers, and it was time to set the record straight. He traces the dual careers of Charles Dodgson, Fellow of Christ Church, Oxford, who made important contributions to mathematics and logic and to the life of the University, as well as being one of the pioneers of photography in Victorian England, and forging strong friendships with children, and of Lewis Carroll, creator of Alice in Wonderland and The Hunting of the Snark, acknowledged masterpieces we still read today and precursors of surrealist writing. No biographer has addressed so judiciously the inner divisions which proved such a creative spur to Carroll's imagination and his genius. The text is enhanced by over 100 of Carroll's photographs and drawings.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Cohen may have a somewhat outdated picture of Carroll but this is the standard biography, full of facts and information, so I am giving it 5 stars. Cohen had access to family papers and has seen so much unpublished material, nobody can come close to his achievement and it is the biography to turn to if you want to know what happened in carroll's life. It's just a pity he's so convinced that Carroll was a closer paedophile as he is inclined to put fanciful interpretations on some bits of Carroll's life - and these fancies are NOT backed up by any of the facts he gives. I'm thinking specially of his interpretations of Carrolls unhappy early 1860s diary entries and meetings with little Alice. Cohen tries to tie these together but they just don't tie up at all as far as I can tell!
2 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
the publication of Leach's book 'In the Shadow of the Dreamchild' has rendered Cohen's assessment of Dodgson's sexuality and his relationship with Alice Liddell outdated and a little embarrassing.
Nonetheless I think his book is still worth reading for being the first serious attempt to fathom the enigma of Charles Dodgson.
Nonetheless I think his book is still worth reading for being the first serious attempt to fathom the enigma of Charles Dodgson.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
16 reviews
17 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Cohen's Bio has No Peer
1 Jun 2008
Format:Paperback
I am not going to review Morton's biography as it has been acclaimed for many years since it's publication.
What caused me to comment here is the statements by some readers that Cohen's book should be updated due to "new evidence" by Karoline Leach that Carroll was not in love with Alice, but her governess. She further states that the Carroll was not as attracted to children as one is led to believe and the whole "little girl" thing is a myth!
I will not comment in great length about this since I am not reviewing HER book, but I feel I must make a few points.
Nothing in the diary page that Ms. Leach quotes from proves anything, and is greatly taken out of context. She totally ignores more obvious evidence to the contrary.
While many people in Oxford thought Carroll's attentions to be for the governess, this was understandable because to think of a grown Oxford don in love with the Dean's daughter was more far fetched.
However, Mrs. Liddell and Carroll himself didn't think so....
Not only did Carroll in his later diaries admit to a long talk with Alice's' mother after her marriage, where he admits to his "foolish" ways (toward Alice) in the past, his estrangement from the Deanery. During that talk, Mrs. Liddell forgives him. (note: that with Alice's marriage, she didn't view Carroll as the "threat" he once was)
Ina, Alice's sister in letters to Alice before her death , mentions that she always thought Dodgson was in love with her sister, and when Alice denies this, Ina points out the many times she had been sitting inappropriately on Dodgson's lap and alludes to other incidents.
Then, there is the letter to Carroll's uncle, where he is upset at the news that his brother wants to marry 14 year old Alice Jane Donkin.
Carroll alludes to the similar problems he himself had gone through with "AL"..now..who could THAT be??
And why DID Alice's mother burn all of Carroll's letter to her daughter?
Because of his love for the governess?
I think not.
While it is certain that Dodgson was not the shy recluse, and had many adult friends including women, and did remain loyal to his girl friends even after they grew up.... a man who spent his time, money, and most of his life devoted to his child-friends is clearly not using it as a smoke screen to meet adult women.
If anyone still has doubts about Carroll's love and devotion to Alice, one just has to re-read the framing poems of the two Alice books again.
In Through the Looking Glass, published a few years after his falling out with the Liddell family, he wrote:
"Still she haunts me phantom wise, Alice moving under skys..never seen by waking eyes...
Yeah, he was in love with the governess all right!!!!
Read Morton Cohen's book if you seek the truth, as much as we can know, about Lewis Carroll.
What caused me to comment here is the statements by some readers that Cohen's book should be updated due to "new evidence" by Karoline Leach that Carroll was not in love with Alice, but her governess. She further states that the Carroll was not as attracted to children as one is led to believe and the whole "little girl" thing is a myth!
I will not comment in great length about this since I am not reviewing HER book, but I feel I must make a few points.
Nothing in the diary page that Ms. Leach quotes from proves anything, and is greatly taken out of context. She totally ignores more obvious evidence to the contrary.
While many people in Oxford thought Carroll's attentions to be for the governess, this was understandable because to think of a grown Oxford don in love with the Dean's daughter was more far fetched.
However, Mrs. Liddell and Carroll himself didn't think so....
Not only did Carroll in his later diaries admit to a long talk with Alice's' mother after her marriage, where he admits to his "foolish" ways (toward Alice) in the past, his estrangement from the Deanery. During that talk, Mrs. Liddell forgives him. (note: that with Alice's marriage, she didn't view Carroll as the "threat" he once was)
Ina, Alice's sister in letters to Alice before her death , mentions that she always thought Dodgson was in love with her sister, and when Alice denies this, Ina points out the many times she had been sitting inappropriately on Dodgson's lap and alludes to other incidents.
Then, there is the letter to Carroll's uncle, where he is upset at the news that his brother wants to marry 14 year old Alice Jane Donkin.
Carroll alludes to the similar problems he himself had gone through with "AL"..now..who could THAT be??
And why DID Alice's mother burn all of Carroll's letter to her daughter?
Because of his love for the governess?
I think not.
While it is certain that Dodgson was not the shy recluse, and had many adult friends including women, and did remain loyal to his girl friends even after they grew up.... a man who spent his time, money, and most of his life devoted to his child-friends is clearly not using it as a smoke screen to meet adult women.
If anyone still has doubts about Carroll's love and devotion to Alice, one just has to re-read the framing poems of the two Alice books again.
In Through the Looking Glass, published a few years after his falling out with the Liddell family, he wrote:
"Still she haunts me phantom wise, Alice moving under skys..never seen by waking eyes...
Yeah, he was in love with the governess all right!!!!
Read Morton Cohen's book if you seek the truth, as much as we can know, about Lewis Carroll.
15 of 17 people found the following review helpful
The Definitive Biography
28 May 2003
Format:Paperback
Cohen is clearly the world's foremost authority on Lewis Carroll, and his biography of this fascinating author is a rich amalgam of factual detail and careful analysis, supplemented with many interesting photographs.
Unlike the narrow thesis-driven Leach book, this biography provides a well-rounded and comprehensive portrait of Carroll the man and author.
Cohen has done more to establish the factual details of Carroll's life and work than anyone else, thanks to this biography and to his scrupulous editions of Carroll's letters.
14 of 16 people found the following review helpful
A 5-star portrait with 4-star information
6 Sep 2004
Format:Paperback
The only real negative about this beautiful and compassionate portrait is the fact that there is some newer information that conflicts with some of what is present in this book. Another edition of the book to address these issues would be welcome, but that doesn't mean this book is obsolete! It is still a very interesting and well-written account of the life of C. L. Dodgson, the man who would become better known as Lewis Carroll, and this book shouldn't go overlooked. If you are only mildly interested (or perhaps not very much at all) in the subject, you will likely find that this book is capable of holding your attention until the end. An excellent starting point for budding Carrollians, but less an excellent *ending*.
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