Summary

Lewis Carroll, known for "Alice in Wonderland," has been falsely accused of pedophilia, a claim based on misinterpreted photographs and unfounded theories, while evidence suggests his relationship with the Liddell family was platonic and in line with Victorian social norms.

Abstract

Reverend Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, better known by his pen name Lewis Carroll, was a respected mathematician and author. His close friendship with the Liddell family, particularly Alice, inspired his famous work. Despite rumors fueled by a few nude photographs of children among thousands of his portraits, his interest in photography was typical of the Victorian era's artistic standards. The false accusations of pedophilia began decades after his death, initiated by unqualified psychoanalysis and perpetuated by sensationalist interpretations of his work and doctored photographs. Dodgson's own journals and the context of the time indicate a propriety in his interactions with children, and the missing page from his journal, often cited as evidence of inappropriate behavior, was likely removed due to local gossip about his visits to the Liddells, not because of any impropriety.

Opinions

The article refutes the notion that Dodgson had pedophilic tendencies, emphasizing the cultural and historical context of his photography, which was consistent with Victorian-era views on childhood and art.
The creation of "Alice in Wonderland" was a product of Dodgson's imaginative storytelling for the Liddell children, particularly Alice, and not indicative of any inappropriate interest.
The psychoanalytical interpretations by individuals like A.M.E. Goldschmidt and subsequent scholars are criticized for lacking qualifications and for projecting modern sensibilities onto Victorian-era behaviors and art.
The article highlights the absurdity of the pedophilia claims by pointing out the small number of controversial photographs out of Dodgson's extensive portfolio and the fact that nude photographs of children were considered art and innocence at the time.
The use of photoshopped images to support the false narrative is condemned, with examples provided to illustrate how these fabrications have misled the public.
The missing journal page is presented as a non-issue, with Dodgson's niece's account suggesting it was removed due to local gossip about courtship, not because it contained any incriminating evidence.
The article concludes that the rumors about Dodgson are baseless and that his reputation has been unfairly tarnished by a combination of poor research, sensationalism, and the spread of misinformation.

Sorry, Lewis Carroll Was No Pedophile

Worse? The Photos Are Fake. Some people make the Mad Hatter look sane

Fake photo of Lewis Carroll and Alice (source)

Reverend Charles Lutwidge Dodgson was a math teacher at Oxford and a deacon of the Anglican Church. But you probably know him as Lewis Carroll, the author of Alice in Wonderland.

Dodgson had enrolled in Oxford at 18. He ended up living there his entire adult life. First as a student and later as a teacher and deacon.

That’s how he met Alice.

A few years after arriving at Oxford, the dean died. A new one was brought in. His name was Henry Liddell and the two men became friends. He helped Liddell’s son Harry with his math struggles and spent time with the family.

Like many Victorian bachelors, Dodgson was an “uncle” to his friends’ kids.

He spent a lot of time with the Liddell family. Their favorite was to pack a picnic and go boating on the Thames, with adult friends or family members to share the rowing.

He was telling the kids stories as they sailed down the Thames one day, and made up a story featuring Alice, the middle of three Liddell girls.

She loved it so much she asked him to please write it down for her.

Photography was his real passion. It would end up fueling the pedophilia lies…

*Alice, Ina, Harry, and Edith Liddell, 1860.*Photograph from National Media Museum / source

Dodgson had a brilliant mind for math and storytelling, but his real passion was photography. It was brand new and he was an early enthusiast.

It didn’t take long before he had a reputation as a magnificent photographer.

He even did a photoshoot with Alfred Lord Tennyson, who was the Poet Laureate during much of Queen Victoria’s reign.

He also taught and photographed some of Queen Victoria’s children.

No, this isn’t how kids dressed in the 1800s. They’re in costumes. Photography in the 1800s was not like today.

Left photo, Harry Liddell (source) // Center photo: Alice Liddell (source) // Right photo, Arthur Junior Hughes (source)

See the photo in the middle, above? That’s Alice dressed as the little beggar girl. On the left is her brother Harry in an Oliver Twist type of costume.

Sure, he took portraits. Lots and lots of them.

But the Victorian era was different. They loved to take staged photos of kids in costumes from popular plays and stories.

When they did take portraits, they weren’t all staring at the camera.

Photo of the Liddell girls by Lewis Carroll. (source)

Cherub, cupid and nymph photos were all the rage. In the Victorian era, they didn’t see naked children as pornographic. They saw them as art. Little children posed as cupids and cherubs were often used on greeting cards and were considered to be innocence and art.

Victorians saw childhood as a state of grace; even nude photographs of children were considered pictures of innocence itself. — Smithsonian

photography by Lewis Carroll. Source: Wikiart

Over his career as a photographer, Dodgson took over 3000 photos. Only 30 of them were naked or semi-dressed children.

Those few photos would fuel the crazies.

That, and the story he wrote.

Some people make the Mad Hatter look sane

Alice in Wonderland First Edition book, 1865 // photo source

After Dodgson gave Alice the first printed copy of “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” he saw the Liddell family less. They drifted apart.

He continued teaching at Oxford and taking photos, and Alice grew up. The last photo he took of her was when she was 18. Just a formal portrait.

35 years after Dodgson’s death, the nonsense started

In 1933, a writer named A.M.E. Goldschmidt submitted an essay about Dodgson to Oxford. It was called “Alice in Wonderland Psycho-Analysed.”

Goldschmidt insinuated Dodgson had sexual feelings for Alice. His proof? He said Alice falling down the well was a metaphor for copulation.

Here’s the thing. He was not qualified to psychoanalyze anything. He was not an expert in psychology. But his opinions got people talking.

You know what they say about lies, right?

Alice with long neck and mouse speaking // Alice in Wonderland photo source

A lie can travel around the world before the truth gets its shoes on. That’s what they say. That’s pretty much what happened. The whispers started.

Ooh, all those nudie pictures of children. 30 out of 3000. In an era where nude and semi-nude photos of children were commonly used on birthday cards and greeting cards. Seen as innocence and art.

In 1938, New York professor Paul Schilder said with regard to Dodgson, he’s pretty sure the little girls substitute for incestuous love objects.

In 1947, psychoanalyst Martin Grotjahn said the illustration of long-necked Alice is “almost too obvious for words.”

Even today, writers ramble on for an entire article, wondering if his feelings for Alice were somehow inappropriate.

Then photoshop arrived…

If you’ve ever used photoshop, you know how simple a matter it is to place a different head on a body it doesn’t belong to.

If the articles weren’t enough — now there’s fake photos.

Lewis Carroll and Alice fake photo (source)

The photo above is a composite made with a photo of Dodgson reading, and the photo he took of Alice with her sister. Omg, look at them kissing. Except they’re not. It’s fake. Along with the weird zombie hand.

Alice sitting on his lap? Nope..

Here’s another. Omg — look at her on his lap. But no. It’s fake. The photoshop ‘wizard’ took a photo of a father and his daughter (far right) and swapped out the father’s head for Dodgson’s, and put Alice’s head on the child.

The original photo is Rev. Robert Salmon holding his daughter Frances for a father and child portrait. Dodgson took the photo.

Look at them holding hands. In public! Disgusting!

Yet another. Holding hands walking down the street. Except, no. It’s fake, too. The photo isn’t even Dodgson, it’s the Prince of Wales. The photoshop wizard used a famous photo of Alice and turned her head to face the other way. You can even see the street photos they used to make the composite.

There’s a ton of photos like this floating around. They’re all fake.

Hold up. What about the missing journal page?

Most people spreading the pedophile nonsense see the photos and that’s enough for them.

A few will dig in a little, but not enough.

Here’s the last piece of the puzzle. Dodgson kept a journal every day of his life. After his death, they discovered one page was missing. It was the day he last went to see the Liddell family.

Omg. Something bad happened!!

Except, no. His niece discussed that years ago. Long before people started accusing him of liking Alice in the “wrong” way.

She said the last time Dodgson visited the Liddell family, Mrs. Liddell told him the neighbors were asking questions. You see, Ina, Alice’s older sister, had just turned 14, which was the age when it was permissible for courtship to begin.

Apparently the neighbors wanted to know if Dodgson was courting the children’s governess or Ina.

When Mrs. Liddell repeated the gossip, he was terribly offended and said he shall not return for social visits with the family because he does not want to be the cause of that sort of gossip.

And that was that.

Not like he’s the first person to write something in a journal out of anger or frustration and later not want anyone to see it.

The rest was dirty minds, lack of research and pure nonsense.

Madder than a hatter.

“If everybody minded their own business, the world would go around a great deal faster than it does.” ―Lewis Caroll

References

— Lewis Carroll’s Shifting Reputation (Smithsonian) — The Real Alice In Wonderland Was An 11-Year-Old Girl — Fake Photos Of Lewis Carroll And Alice Liddell — Lewis Carroll and the loves of his life. — The Unknown Photography Career of Lewis Carroll