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Basic Reading List The principal books to read | |
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Reading Lists There have been hundreds of books and articles written about Lewis Carroll and his works. Mistakes and myths are plentiful and it can be difficult to get a fair and accurate portrayal of Carroll without taking care when choosing books to read. Our list is based on the consensus of a number of Carroll scholars and enthusiasts. See also our subject specific reading lists. Lewis Carroll's Works, Analysis and Criticism CARROLL, Lewis Martin Gardner’s annotations to the two Alice books first appeared in 1960, explaining some of the mysteries of the stories, adding background colour and helping to put them into the context of Victorian England, Oxford life and Christ Church tradition. More Annotated Alice appeared in the 1990s and this final update brings together all Gardner’s work to date. New readers start here. CARROLL, Lewis Carroll’s nonsense poem was first published in 1876; Martin Gardner’s annotations were added in 1962 and revised in 1974. This edition, often reprinted, with Henry Holiday’s original illustrations, is the most satisfactory introduction and is easily obtained. CARROLL, Lewis Not strictly complete, and illustrated only as far as Tenniel was involved, but a cheap and easy way of getting hold of all the major works and a good few others. There are numerous ‘complete works’ available, most of which serve the purpose: This one is a reprint of the respected Nonesuch edition of 1939. CARROLL, Lewis In addition to the texts, this book contains excerpts from biographies and important essays on aspects of Carroll’s work from writers such as Nina Auerbach, Gillian Avery, Elizabeth Sewell and Donald Rackin. PHILLIPS, Robert, editor Originally published in the U.S.A. in 1971, this compilation includes subjects from the Oxford Movement to the first acidhead, and writers from W.H. Auden to Grace Slick. The book is out of print but can often be found in second-hand shops. Lewis Carroll's Life: Letters and Diaries CARROLL, Lewis This first publication of the diaries is all that has been available to scholars unable to consult the original manuscript until the Wakeling edition (see below). Green worked from an edited typescript given him by Carroll’s nieces and imposed further omissions himself. CARROLL, Lewis For the first time, the Diaries are being published in their full, unexpurgated form, with full and copious annotations giving details of people and events. The set will eventually comprise nine volumes. Originally there were 13 volumes but four have gone missing. For more information about the diaries, click here to visit the relevant pages on this website. Vol. 1; Jan – Sep 1855; ISBN-10: 0 904117 06 5, ISBN-13: 978 0 904117 06 6 Vol. 2; Jan – Dec 1856; ISBN-10: 0 904117 07 3, ISBN-13: 978 0 904117 07 3 Vol. 3; Jan 1857 – Apr 1858; ISBN-10: 0 904117 08 1, ISBN-13: 978 0 904117 08 0 Vol. 4; May 1862 – 6 Sep 1864; ISBN-10: 0 904117 09 X, ISBN-13: 978 0 904117 09 7 Vol. 5; 13 Sep 1864 – 24 Jan 1868; ISBN-10: 0 904117 10 3, ISBN-13: 978 0 904117 10 3 Vol. 6; Apr 1868 – Dec 1876; ISBN-10: 0 904117 15 4, ISBN-13: 978 0 904117 15 8 Vol. 7; Jan 1877 – Jun 1883; ISBN-10: 0 904117 27 8, ISBN-13: 978 0 904117 27 1 Vol. 8; Jul 1883 – Jun 1892; ISBN-10: 0 904117 28 6, ISBN-13: 978 0 904117 28 8 Vol. 9; 1 Jul 1892 – 23 Dec 1898; ISBN-10: 0 904117 29 4, ISBN-13: 978 0 904117 29 5
CARROLL, Lewis Carroll was an avid, not to say compulsive, letter writer, approaching perhaps a total of 50,000 during his lifetime. Now out of print, this is the largest collection, although shorter selections have been published and are still available. Two further volumes of letter have also been published, on specific subjects - these are Carroll's letters to Macmillan (his publisher) and letters to the illustrators of his books (Tenniel, Furniss, et al). Lewis Carroll's Life: Formal Biographies CLARK, Anne A straightforward and very readable introductory biography, following a chronological path through Carroll’s life. Out of print, but reasonably easy to find. The author is a founder member of The Lewis Carroll Society and has written about various aspects of Carroll’s life, including a biography of Alice Liddell. COLLINGWOOD, Stuart Dodgson The first biography of Lewis Carroll, published in the year of his death by his nephew. It tends to be laudatory, even sycophantic, but has the advantage of being written with the complete diaries to hand, before certain volumes went missing. Out of print, of course, but it appears fairly regularly in booksellers’ catalogues. HUDSON, Derek Originally published in 1954, Hudson’s book is a straightforward biography combining the chronological and topic approach. Still available, it has appeared in many editions and reprints. This illustrated edition includes photographs of Carroll’s relations, friends and acquaintances and examples of the work of the various illustrators of his books. STOFFEL, Stephanie Lovett Brief, very attractive, pocket-sized introduction to all aspects of Carroll’s life and world, profusely illustrated in colour and widely available. Lewis Carroll's Life: Deeper Analysis COHEN, Morton N. Cohen's approach to the biography of Lewis Carroll is somewhat deeper and more interpretive than that of Anne Clark or Derek Hudson, dealing with aspects of Carroll’s life rather than relying solely on a chronological approach. Beacuse the analysis tends to be deep and the style of writing is generally academic, it is not always the recommended biography for the casual reader, but is, perhaps, a greater source of information than the others. LEACH, Karoline The author has reassessed our understanding of Carroll and has shown how Carroll biography has often been misdirected in the past and how myths about Carroll have evolved. Some scholars believe that this work, on its own serves as a suitable biography of Carroll, whilst others believe it is serves better as a complement to the other biographies. WOOLF, Jenny (ed, Intro, etc) This work is a transcription of Lewis Carroll's bank account, with introduction an notes. It is perhaps more for the specialist researcher, but it does present an unique view of certain activities in his life - and it likely to evoke the curiosity of all Carrollians and to offer some new lines of enquiry for serious researchers. Further details are available from the website set uo to accompany the book: Lewis Carroll in his Own Account Visitors' Guides LOVETT, Charlie Guide book to those sites in England and Wales associated with Lewis Carroll and Alice suitable for tourists and enthusiasts who wish to visit. It also serves as an all round guide to the important activities is Carroll's life.
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