The Controversial Genius Behind Alice In Wonderland | The Secret World Of Lewis Carroll | Timeline

I'm not sure why anyone would expect the genius behind "Alice in Wonderland" to be anything BUT odd.

I think the older sister situation checks out. It would have been very scandalous for her virtue to be in question at the time and considering he wasn't of the social rank that her mother approved of along with the letters that were written that created the narrative that he was too close to Alice, I think it's more than likely the case about the older sister. I think little Alice was a spunky little girl who he got much enjoyment out of just like many adults enjoy the wit and humor that children like that can bring.

If Charles Dodgson was on the autism spectrum, his affinity for puzzles, and for children, is perfectly to be expected. The adult world would have been a bit of a struggle for him, but with children he could have indulged his natural abilities to see the absurd in societal norms. With children, he could have relaxed.

I think it's sooooo interesting how they justify the obvious. Only one person was blatantly honest. There are tons of things in the Victorian age they did to kids that were absolutely horrible. Some things don't need historical context, it's just wrong.

Why would people say that Alice's stories are not for children? Both books are both for children and adults: for children - to develop their imagination and see something beyond, deeper down the surface of the pond of cognition and for adults - to exercise again the pleasure of a child's joy of discovering things despite the rigid boundaries of already conceived and seemingly systemised pieces of knowledge. Thank you so much for this documentary! I really enjoyed it!!!

Familial dynamics in L C childhood are a mystery in that we only know about his stories and above board activities. Crossing the adult to child boundry is catastrophic. That Laurina was NOT HAPPY being exposed before an adult male is obvious in her posture and expression. It doesnt matter in any era what is considered "acceptable" or not, children KNOW THE DIFFERENCE between play and passion.

It was thrilling to see Carroll’s original handwritten text of the book given to Alice Liddell.

The fact that Alice grew up to name her son Carroll and deny the connection is very similar to when Lefroy named his daughter Jane and then denied it had anything to do with Austen and she was instead named after his mother-in-law. It's just to spare the feelings of the partner/spouse so they can believe their child wasn't named after a lost love their significant other still pines for.

I would have to say that Alice is not per se a rebel, but the embodiment of curiosity and imagination.

I believe in our modern times it’s imperative that we start to normalize separating the art from the artist. Just because you like an author or a musician doesn’t mean you have to defend their terrible and very obvious misgivings.

One of his math book called "pillow problems" suggests his troubled thoughts and starts with an explanation about how it's good to have some wholesome logic/math puzzles to preoccupy one's mind while trying to fall asleep: "There are skeptical thoughts, which seem for the moment to uproot the firmest faith; there are blasphemous thoughts, which dart unbidden into the most reverent souls; there are unholy thoughts, which torture, with their hateful presence, the fancy that would fain be pure. Against all these some real mental work is a most helpful ally."

In a way (and I say this very loosely) Carroll wasn't completely unlike Michael Jackson. A renowned artist whose relationship with children was obsessive enough to be concerning. Of course we'll never really know, but it feels like there are some similarities there.

Yikes, do these people hear themselves? "Yes, he took naked pictures of little girls, yes he befriended little girls...but that was ok back then! And he was a father figure!" To anybody, it should at least comes off as odd, but it seems they are too blind with admiration. The other gentleman had it right, just because someone makes good art, does not mean they are a good person. And they actually do not show the full picture supposedly of Lorina Lindell...but yes, her lower bits were included! Its super creepy, especially her facial expressions. She looks hurt or scared. Not to mention theres a picture of Alice kissing him on the mouth. While they were explaining about his friendships with the girls, I just couldn't help but think he was grooming them.

I always found these facts interesting...    There are at least three direct links to [Alice] Liddell in the two books. First, he set them on 4 May (Liddell's birthday) and 4 November (her "half-birthday"), and in Through the Looking-Glass the fictional Alice declares that her age is "seven and a half exactly", the same as Liddell on that date. Second, he dedicated them "to Alice Pleasance Liddell". Third, there is an acrostic poem at the end of Through the Looking-Glass. Reading downward, taking the first letter of each line, spells out Liddell's full name. The poem has no title in Through the Looking-Glass, but is usually referred to by its first line, "A Boat Beneath a Sunny Sky". A boat beneath a sunny sky, Lingering onward dreamily In an evening of July— Children three that nestle near, Eager eye and willing ear, Pleased a simple tale to hear— Long has paled that sunny sky: Echoes fade and memories die. Autumn frosts have slain July. Still she haunts me, phantomwise, Alice moving under skies Never seen by waking eyes. Children yet, the tale to hear, Eager eye and willing ear, Lovingly shall nestle near. In a Wonderland they lie, Dreaming as the days go by, Dreaming as the summers die: Ever drifting down the stream— Lingering in the golden gleam— Life, what is it but a dream? In addition, all of those who participated in the Thames boating expedition where the story was originally told (Carroll, the Reverend Duckworth and the three Liddell sisters) appear in the chapter "A Caucus-Race and a Long Tale" – but only if Alice Liddell is represented by Alice herself.

The British writers, and German too, are the ones who influenced my youth. I grew up in The Netherlands, Spain and Germany where I still live. Of course Jules Verne, Mark Twain, The Brothers Grimm and their books made my day every single time. Alice in Wonderland was one of those classics I will never forget.

The lock of hair is not only a sign of love... Was also a way of remember someone loved but not only in a romantic way... A cousin... A friend... A mother... A father... A little friend... Etc...

well, that was unexpected. Quote of the day "it's a problem when someone writes a great book but they are not a great person."

"I think that's what pedophiles are interested in, is the apparent innocence of children." This guy got it on the dot

This was an absolutely first-rate documentary, a really brilliant piece of work.

When I was little and my sister in the 1960’s, my Australian parents took lots of nude photographs of us scampering about the yard. Today, if they were sent to a lab for processing, I bet a child protective services would pay a Welfare Visit!!!