In the lush greenery of a tiny village in the south-east of the county, on January 27, 1932, Cheshire, Lewis Carroll was born - real name Charles Lutwidge Dodgson - British logician, mathematician, writer. In total there were 7 girls and 4 boys in the family. He started studying at home and showed himself to be smart and quick-witted. He was left-handed, according to unverified data, he was forbidden to write with his left hand, which traumatized the young psyche (presumably this led to stuttering).
More from early years the boy entertained his family with magic tricks, puppet shows and poetry. At the beginning of 1851 he moved to Oxford to enter one of the most aristocratic colleges at Oxford University. Lewis did not study very well, but thanks to outstanding mathematical abilities he won a competition to give mathematical lectures at Christ Church. For 26 years he gave these lectures, which Lewis considered boring, but they provided good income. According to the college charter, he was ordained a deacon (which gave him the right to preach sermons without working in the parish).
As an unmarried lecturer in the mathematics department at Oxford University, he enjoyed the company of young women. Carroll's hobbies gave rise to rumors about his pedophilia. IN modern biographies Lewis Carroll also mentions this fact. However, in last decades it became known that almost all of the author’s little girlfriends were over 14 years old, and many of them were 16 and 18 years old. In addition, Lewis was an avid bachelor and did not make friends with the opposite sex.
In the mid-1950s, Charles began writing works on humorous and mathematical topics. And already in 1856, by translating into Latin and rearranging the words of his name, he created the pseudonym “Lewis Carroll”. However, his mathematical works were published under the real name of the writer. In 1856, a new dean appeared at the college - Henry Liddell, with whom his wife and five children arrived, including 4-year-old Alice. Born in 1864 famous novel Lewis Carroll about the adventures of a little girl in Wonderland. The work is based on stories that the author told his friends in his youth.
The incredible commercial success of the first Alice book changed Dodgson's life, as Lewis Carroll became quite famous all over the world, his mailbox was flooded with letters from admirers, and he began to earn very significant sums of money. However, Dodgson never abandoned his modest life and church positions.
In 1867 Lewis Carroll first and last time leaves England and makes a very unusual trip to Russia for those times. Visits Calais, Brussels, Potsdam, Danzig, Koenigsberg along the way, spends a month in Russia, returns to England via Vilna, Warsaw, Ems, Paris. In Russia, Dodgson visits St. Petersburg and its environs, Moscow, Sergiev Posad, a fair in Nizhny Novgorod.
In the continuation of the book, which was written in 1871, the author describes the further adventures of the heroine. These two books are filled fantastic characters and colorful landscapes, as well as wit and lots of puzzles, have become some of the most famous and revered children's books in the world.
Lewis Carroll was also an honorary portrait photographer. He loved photographing children and famous people. Among his last sitters were Alfred Lord Tennyson, D. G. Rossetti and John Millais. In the plexus of their best qualities photographer and author of fantastic comics, the writer became the most unforgettable, talented and original person of his time.
An equally interesting fact from the biography of Lewis Carroll is that he was an inventor. His main and famous invention is the nyctograph. This is a device for quickly jotting down ideas or notes in the dark. The writer himself often woke up at night and wanted to write down an idea, but did not want to light a lamp (we all remember what time Carroll lived in). This is exactly how the idea came to make such a device, which served as the discovery new form shorthand - nyctography. Initially, the writer called the device a “tiflograph”, but renamed it “nyctograph” at the suggestion of one of his comrades. Carroll also invented the book dust jacket, which fits over the binding or main cover, and the travel chess set.
Lewis Carroll died on January 14, 1898 in Guildford, Surrey, at the home of his seven sisters, from pneumonia that broke out after influenza. He was buried there, along with his brother and sister at Mount Cemetery.
The biography of Lewis Carroll will not leave anyone indifferent, because we all love the wonderful series of books. Lewis Carroll's Alice has been filmed many times, which testifies to the popularity and universal love for this work.
Lewis Carroll (lewis carroll) brief biography is presented in this article.
Lewis Carroll short biography
Lewis Carroll(real name Charles Lutwidge Hodgson) is an English writer, mathematician, logician, philosopher, deacon and photographer.
Was born January 27, 1832 in Daresbury (Cheshire), in large family English priest. He was given a double name, one of them - Charles belonged to his father, the other - Lutwidge, inherited from his mother. Since childhood, Lewis has demonstrated extraordinary intelligence and intelligence. Primary education he received at home.
At the age of 12 he entered a small grammar private school near Richmond. He liked it there, but in 1845 he had to go to Rugby School
In 1851, he entered one of the best colleges in Oxford, Christ Church. Studying was easy for him, and thanks to his brilliant mathematical abilities, he was awarded lectures at the college. These lectures brought him a good income, and he worked there for the next 26 years. In accordance with the college's charter, he was required to take the rank of deacon. Write short stories and he began writing poetry while still a student. Gradually his works gained fame. He came up with a pseudonym by modifying his real name, Charles Lutwidge, and changing the words in places. Soon such serious English publications as Comic Times and Train began to publish it.
The prototype of Alice was 4-year-old Alice Liddell, one of the five children of the new dean of the college. Alice in Wonderland was written in 1864. This book became so popular that it was translated into many languages of the world and filmed more than once.
Limits home country the scientist left only once in his life, and in this he retained his originality, traveling not to popular countries such as Switzerland, Italy, France, but to distant Russia in 1867.
(1832- 1898)
The biography of Lewis Carroll strangely combines the rigor of a mathematics professor and the humor characteristic of this writer.
Carroll was born in one of the small villages of the English county of Cheshire on January 27, 1832, in the family of the priest Charles Dodgson. He was given a double name, one of them - Charles belonged to his father, the other - Lutwidge, inherited from his mother. At a young age, having become interested in writing poetry, Charles came up with an original pseudonym from his two names. Having translated both of these names into Latin, he rearranges the words, and then, translating them back into English, he gets Lewis Carroll. Under this pseudonym his most popular literary work- “Alice in Wonderland.”
Among the many abilities that the gifted young man possessed were mathematical ones. This determined the fate of Charles Lutwidge, who graduated from Oxford and at the age of 23 was appointed professor of mathematics at one of the colleges of this educational institution.
Dr. Dodgson was not a sociable person. This side of his character was most likely influenced by his physical disabilities - he stuttered and suffered from deafness in one ear. The professor lived alone in his Oxford house and spent hours walking around the neighborhood. Not distinguished by the emotionality of the writer Lewis Carroll, he delivered his lectures monotonously and was by no means considered a favorite of students.
Charles drew a lot, using charcoal and pencil for this purpose. He published entire magazines for his younger brothers and sisters. Once the professor sent his drawings to the humor section of the Times newspaper, but they did not interest the editor.
This failure gave birth to his passion for photography, opening new page in the biography of Lewis Carroll. Success awaited him in the field of this activity, and to this day this gifted man is considered one of the best non-professional photographers of the 19th century. In one of the English publishing houses, in 1950, a book was published, “Lewis Carroll - Artist,” telling about this type of activity of this talented writer and scientist. Six years later, an exhibition of photographs entitled “The Human Race” visited many countries, including Russia, which also contained Carroll’s works.
Lewis was distinguished by his enormous capacity for work, and in order not to be distracted by food, he often limited his daily diet to cookies and a glass of sherry. The professor, suffering from insomnia, spent long nights coming up with various mathematical puzzles, which were later published in the book “Mathematical Curiosities.”
The scientist left the borders of his native country only once in his life, and in this he retained his originality, traveling not to popular countries such as Switzerland, Italy, France, but to distant Russia.
Professor Dodgson came up with different games, some of them are still popular in Britain, invented all kinds of devices. Many of them have been "reinvented" and bear the names of other people.
Dodgson died on January 14, 1898. This date ends the biography of Lewis Carroll, whose stunning abilities can only be marveled at.
Lewis Carroll (real name Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, or Charles Lutwidge Dodgson) - English writer, mathematician, logician, philosopher, deacon and photographer - born January 27, 1832 at the vicarage in the village of Daresbury, Cheshire.
In total there were 7 girls and 4 boys in the family. He started studying at home and showed himself to be smart and quick-witted. His father was in charge of his education. Was left-handed; according to unverified data, he was forbidden to write with his left hand, which traumatized the young psyche (presumably this led to stuttering).
At the age of 12 he entered a small grammar private school near Richmond. He liked it there, but in 1845 Lewis had to go to Rugby School, where he liked it much less. He studied at this school for 4 years and showed excellent abilities in mathematics and theology.
In May 1850 was enrolled at Christ Church, one of the most aristocratic colleges at Oxford University, and moved to Oxford in January of the following year. He was not a very good student, but thanks to his outstanding mathematical abilities, after receiving his bachelor's degree he won a competition to give mathematical lectures at Christ Church. He gave these lectures for the next 26 years. They provided good income, although they were boring to him.
According to the college charter, he was ordained, but not as a priest, but only as a deacon, which gave him the right to preach sermons without working in the parish. He began his writing career while studying in college. He wrote poems and short stories, sending them to various magazines under the pseudonym “Lewis Carroll.” This pseudonym was invented on the advice of publisher and writer Yates. It is formed from the author's real names "Charles Lutwidge", which are equivalents of the names "Charles" (Latin: Carolus) and "Louis" (Latin: Ludovicus). Dodgson chose other English equivalents of the same names and swapped them around.
Other options for a pseudonym are Edgar Cutwellis (the name Edgar Cutwellis is obtained by rearranging the letters from Charles Lutwidge), Edgard W.C. Westhill and Louis Carroll were rejected. Gradually he gained fame. Since 1854 his works began to appear in serious English publications: The Comic Times and The Train. In 1856 A new dean appeared at the college - Henry Liddell, with whom his wife and 5 children arrived, among whom was 4-year-old Alice.
In 1864 wrote famous work"Alice in Wonderland." Three years later, Deacon of the Anglican Church Dodgson, together with the theologian Reverend Henry Liddon (not to be confused with Deacon Henry Liddell), visited Russia. This was a period of theological contact between Anglican and Orthodox churches, in which Lyddon and the influential Bishop of Oxford, Samuel Wilberforce, were especially interested, whose letters of recommendation were secured by both clerics.
Together with Liddon, Carroll was received in Moscow and Sergiev Posad by Metropolitan Philaret (the visit was timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of his tenure at the Moscow see) and Archbishop Leonid (Krasnopevkov). The route of the trip was as follows: London - Dover - Calais - Brussels - Cologne - Berlin - Danzig - Koenigsberg - St. Petersburg - Moscow - Nizhny Novgorod - Moscow - Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius - St. Petersburg - Warsaw - Breslau - Dresden - Leipzig - Ems - Paris - Calais - Dover - London.
This was Carroll's only trip abroad. He described it himself in the “Diary of a Travel to Russia in 1867” (not intended for publication, but published posthumously), which provides tourist impressions from the cities visited, notes about meetings with Russians and Englishmen in Russia and recordings of individual Russian phrases.
Also published a lot scientific works in mathematics under own name. He studied Euclidean geometry, linear and matrix algebra, calculus, probability theory, mathematical logic, and fun mathematics (games and puzzles). In particular, he developed one of the methods for calculating determinants (Dodgson condensation).
However, his mathematical work did not leave any noticeable mark on the history of mathematics, while his achievements in the field of mathematical logic were ahead of their time.
Lewis Carroll died January 14, 1898 in Guildford, Surrey. He was buried there, along with his brother and sister, in the Ascension Cemetery.
Works:
"Useful and edifying poetry" ( 1845
)
"Algebraic analysis of the Fifth Book of Euclid" ( 1858
)
"Alice's Adventures Under Ground" (written before "Alice in Wonderland" in November 1864, Russian translation by Nina Demurova ( 2013
))
"Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" ( 1864
)
"Information from the theory of determinants" ( 1866
)
"Bruno's Revenge" (the main core of the novel "Silvia and Bruno") ( 1867
)
"An Elementary Guide to the Theory of Determinants" ( 1867
)
"Phantasmagoria and Other Poem" ( 1869
)
“Through the Mirror and What Alice Saw There” (“Alice Through the Looking Glass”) ( 1871
)
"The Hunt for the Snark" ( 1876
)
Mathematical work "Euclid and his modern rivals"; "Doublets, word riddles" ( 1879
)
"Euclid" (Books I and II) ( 1881
)
Collection “Poems? Meaning?" ( 1883
)
"A Tangled Tale" 1885
) - a collection of riddles and games
"Logic game" ( 1887
)
"Mathematical Curiosities" (Part I) ( 1888
)
"Silvia and Bruno" (Part I) ( 1889
)
"Alice for Children" and "Round Billiards"; "Eight or nine words of wisdom about how to write letters" ( 1890
)
"Symbolic Logic" (Part I) ( 1890
)
“Conclusion of “Sylvie and Bruno”” ( 1893
)
The second part of “Mathematical Curiosities” (“Midnight Problems”) ( 1893
)
This amazing story English writer and scientist. At the same time, the whole world knows him as a storyteller who wrote one of the most famous stories about the adventures of the girl Alice. His career was not limited to writing: Carroll studied photography, mathematics, logic, and taught. He holds the title of Professor at Oxford University.
The writer's childhood
Lewis Carroll's biography originates in Cheshire. It was here that he was born in 1832. His father was a parish priest in the small village of Daresbury. The family was large. Lewis's parents raised 7 more girls and three boys.
Carroll received his initial education at home. Already there he showed himself to be a quick-witted and intelligent student. His first teacher was his father. Like many creative and talented people, Carroll was left-handed. According to some biographers, Carroll was not allowed to write with his left hand as a child. Because of this, his childhood psyche was disrupted.
Education
Lewis Carroll received his initial education at a private school near Richmond. In it he found language with teachers and students, but in 1845 he was forced to transfer to Rugby School, where conditions were worse. During his studies, he demonstrated excellent results in theology and mathematics. Since 1850, Lewis Carroll's biography has been closely connected with the aristocratic college in Christ Church. This is one of the most prestigious educational institutions at Oxford University. Over time, he transferred to study at Oxford.
Carroll was no different academically special successes, stood out only in mathematics. For example, he won a competition for giving mathematical lectures in Christ Church. He did this work for 26 years. Although she was boring for a mathematics professor, she brought in a decent income.
According to the college charter, another amazing event occurs. Writer Lewis Carroll, whose biography many associate with the exact sciences, takes holy orders. These were the requirements of the college in which he studied. He is awarded the rank of deacon, which allows him to preach sermons without working in the parish.
Lewis Carroll begins writing stories in college. A short biography of an English mathematician proves that talented people have abilities in both the exact sciences and the humanities. He sent them to magazines under a pseudonym, which later became world famous. His real name is Charles Dodgson. The fact is that at that time in England, writing was not considered a very prestigious occupation, so scientists and professors tried to hide their passion for prose or poetry.
First success
Lewis Carroll's biography is a success story. Fame came to him in 1854; authoritative literary magazines began publishing his works. These were the stories "Train" and "Space Times".
Around the same years, Carroll met Alice, who later became the prototype of the heroines of his most famous works. A new dean arrived at the college - Henry Liddell. His wife and five children came with him. One of them was 4-year-old Alice.
"Alice in Wonderland"
The author's most famous work, the novel "Alice in Wonderland", appears in 1864. The biography of Lewis Carroll in English details the history of the creation of this work. This is an amazing story about a girl Alice, who... rabbit hole finds himself in an imaginary world. It is inhabited by various anthropomorphic creatures. The fairy tale is extremely popular among both children and adults. This is one of best works in the world written in the absurdist genre. It contains a lot of philosophical jokes, mathematical and linguistic allusions. This work had a huge influence on the formation of an entire genre - fantasy. A few years later, Carroll wrote a continuation of this story - "Alice Through the Looking Glass."
In the 20th century, many brilliant film adaptations of this work appeared. One of the most famous was directed by Tim Burton in 2010. The main roles were played by Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp and Anne Hathaway. According to the plot of this picture, Alice is already 19 years old. She returns to Wonderland, where she was in her distant childhood, when she was only 6. Alice has to save the Jabberwocky. She is assured that she is the only one who is capable of this. Meanwhile, the dragon Jabberwocky is at the mercy of the Red Queen. The film seamlessly combines live action with beautiful animation. That is why the film became one of the highest-grossing films in the world in the history of cinema.
Travel to Russia
The writer was predominantly a homebody; he only went abroad once. In 1867, Lewis Carroll came to Russia. Biography on English mathematics tells in detail about this trip. Carroll went to Russia with the Rev. Henry Liddon. Both were representatives of theology. At that time, the Orthodox and Anglican churches were actively in contact with each other. Together with his friend, Carroll visited Moscow, Sergiev Posad, many other holy places, as well as largest cities countries - Nizhny Novgorod, St. Petersburg.
A diary kept by Lewis Carroll in Russia has reached us. Brief biography for children describes this journey in detail. Although it was not originally intended for publication, it was published posthumously. This includes impressions of cities visited, observations from meetings with Russians and recordings of individual phrases. On the way to Russia and on the way back, Carroll and his friend visited many European countries and cities. Their path lay through France, Germany and Poland.
Scientific publications
Under his own name, Dodgson (Carroll) published many works on mathematics. He specialized in Euclidean geometry, matrix algebra, and studied mathematical analysis. Carroll also loved entertaining mathematics, constantly developed games and puzzles. For example, he owns a method for calculating determinants, which bears his name - Dodgson condensation. True, in general his mathematical achievements did not leave any noticeable mark. But work on mathematical logic was significantly ahead of the time in which Lewis Carroll lived. The biography in English details these successes. Carroll died in 1898 in Guildford. He was 65 years old.
Carroll the photographer
There is another area in which Lewis Carroll was successful. A biography for children details his passion for photography. He is considered one of the founders of pictorialism. This trend in the art of photography is characterized by the staged nature of filming and editing of negatives.
Carroll communicated a lot with the famous 19th century photographer Reilander and took lessons from him. The writer kept his collection of staged photographs at home. Carroll himself took the photograph of Reilander, which is considered a classic of photographic portraiture. mid-19th century.
Personal life
Despite his popularity among children, Carroll never married and did not have children of his own. His contemporaries note that the main joy in his life was his friendship with little girls. He often painted them, even naked and half-naked, naturally, with the permission of their mothers. Interesting fact, which should be noted: at that time in England, girls under 14 were considered asexual, so Carroll’s hobby did not seem suspicious to anyone. Back then it was considered innocent fun. Carroll himself wrote about the innocent nature of friendship with girls. No one doubted this, that in the numerous memories of children about friendship with the writer there is not a single hint of a violation of the norms of decency.
Suspicions of pedophilia
Despite this, serious suspicions have already emerged in our time that Carroll was a pedophile. They are mainly associated with free interpretations of his biography. For example, the film “Happy Child” is dedicated to this.
True, modern researchers of his biography come to the conclusion that most of the girls with whom Carroll communicated were over 14 years old. Mostly they were 16-18 years old. Firstly, the writer’s girlfriends often underestimated their age in their memoirs. For example, Ruth Gamlen writes in her memoirs that she dined with Carroll when she was a shy child of twelve. However, researchers were able to establish that at that time she had already turned 18. Secondly, Carroll himself used to use the word “child” to refer to young girls up to 30 years old.
So today it is worth admitting with a high degree of confidence that all suspicions about the unhealthy attraction of the writer and mathematician to children are not based on facts. Lewis Carroll's friendship with his dean's daughter, from which the amazing "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" was born, is absolutely innocent.