Lewis Carroll's Private Journal No. 5

1 January 1857 to 17 April 1858.

Published in 1995 by the Lewis Carroll Society as Volume 3
194 pages.
ISBN-10: 0 904117 08 1
ISBN-13: 978 0 904117 08 0

Synopsis

In this journal, we see Dodgson settling into his role as Mathematical Lecturer at Christ Church. He took his M.A. in February 1857. He became an active member in Common Room affairs, particularly the meetings organised by the academic staff to discuss the implications of the Royal Commission set up to consider changes to the constitution of the college. The outcomes of this Commission were to have a major effect on the position of the Dons with increased emoluments and more involvement in the management of the college. Over a period of time, power gradually shifted from the Dean and Chapter to the academic staff. Further gains were made by the Dons during Dodgson's time at Oxford in which he can claim some credit for achieving.

The absence of the Dean and Mrs Liddell, currently in the warmer climate of Madeira for the sake of the Dean's health, meant that Dodgson could spend time at the Deanery getting to know the children well. However, his frequent visits gave cause for some rumours to circulate concerning a possible interest he had in the children's governess, Miss Prickett. He was, after all, only 25 years of age, and it was natural for people to assume that his attentions may have had a romantic purpose. This was far from the truth, and Dodgson took steps to remedy the situation, knowing that such a rumour could damage the reputation of Miss Prickett. He spent time improving his photographic skills and, naturally, many of his portraits included the Liddell children. With the Dean and Mrs Liddell away for many months, he was able to make arrangements to set up his camera almost permanently at the Deanery and then invite the families of his friends and colleagues to come over for a sitting. Photography began to assume an important feature of his life.

His interest in art and paintings continued. During this period he made the acquaintance of members of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and was captivated by their pictures.

His publications during this period were mainly literary in character; he made further contributions to the pages of The Train. The most significant contribution was, without doubt, his parody of Longfellow, 'Hiawatha's Photographing'. Some verses written to accompany a photographic portrait of Agnes Grace Weld in the role of 'Little Red Riding-Hood', thought to have been lost, are reproduced here, as far as is known, for the first time. They were written into one of his many photographic albums, now in the Morris L. Parrish Collection at Princeton University, U.S.A.

Dodgson included in his journal the invention of two new ciphers and took several pages to describe how they operate.

Corrections to the LCS Edition of this Journal