The Letters of Lewis Carroll

A very good set from Morton Cohen's own collection, with letter to MNC from C FitzSimons Allison

Author

Publisher

Printing Details

First US edition, first printing. Hardback, bound in blue cloth with gilt titling to spine, and housed in a slipcase. Each book measures 24 × 16cm, the slipcase measures 25 × 16.5cm. 1245pp.

This copy comes from Morton Cohen's own collection and loosely inserted is a letter from C FitzSimons Allison of Grace Church in New York to Morton Cohen dated 1979. There are also a few small notelets from Morton Cohen in the book noting typographical errors.

This set contains almost 1400 of Lewis Carroll's letters in an immense work of scholarshp by Morton Cohen. The first volumes covers from c1837 to 1885, the second fro 1886 to Carroll's death in 1898. They reveal Dodgson (Lewis Carroll's real name) in a fresh, clear light. As well as his involvment in mathematics and photography, he was caught up in the theatre, the art world and had a keen interest in science, medicine, technology, theolgy and college affairs. In the letters he discusses religious questions, political issues, the arrangements for staging Alice's Adventures in Wonderland on stage, his stammer, the Christ Church wine cellar etc etc. But by far the largest number of letters are those intended to puzzle or delight the many young girls whose friendship he ardently cultivated, and who meant so much to him. These letters to child friends are often gems from Wonderland, containing acrostics, word-puzzles, drawings, rebuses, miniature- and mirror-writing. No less interesting are the letters to the children's parents, arranging to "borrow" the children for tete-a-tete dinner parties, for photographic sittings (sometimes nude studies), and for outings. Both volumes contain facsimiles of letters and illustrations, and photographs of friends, many taken by Dodgson himself.

Condition

The books are in very good condition. The slipcase is chipped to the opening and bottom, with light overall wear but has done a good job in protecting the books.