I love that word, too. I knew it originally from the wonderful short story "Mimsy Were the Borogoves" by Henry Kuttner and C.L. Moore. A few years ago was made into a feeble and, to me at least, disappointing movie called The Last Mimzy.

Rosefolly

I have been fascinated by this book since early girlhood, especially how she glides through a mirror into another parallel universe. I love the poems Carroll wrote at the beginning and end. I loved "Jaberwocky" so much that I memorized it as a child. I can still recite it by heart. What I later read of L. Carroll and his relationship with "Alice" seemed a bit creepy, however....

From the bits and pieces I have read, the evidence for the relationship being creepy is really rather weak. There was a rift, and a missing diary page, and some suspicion that he liked the governess too much, as well as some disagreement on policy. Very decent men do exist who enjoy the company of children in an appropriate way. It may indeed have been what some suspect, but it is also very likely that it was not.

It makes me quite sad to think that men (and sometimes women) cannot enjoy the company of children without becoming objects of suspicion. My own father, a genuinely good man, loved children, and children loved him in return. He enchanted children with his storytelling and his make-believe nonsense. I think it refreshed him to see the world through the wondering eyes of childhood rather than the jaded eyes of adulthood. We children had a truly magical childhood.

I do not know what kind of man Charles Dodgson actually was, and if he harmed Alice Liddell or any other child, he deserves full condemnation. But I cannot help thinking that he may well have been a kindly man who liked to tell stories, and did no harm.

Rosefolly

Rosefolly, my husband is the kind of man you describe as your father being. At one time, one of his daughters and her small son lived with us for three-plus years, and our yard and the garage was the neighborhood playground with DH right in the middle of it. I have never told him, but one new neighbor said something to the mother of a couple of little boys who were dear playmates about inappropriateness. Her reply, in no uncertain terms, was, "Bud is every child's substitute grandfather in this neighborhood and don't ever think anything different!"

It's sad to think how a rumor can ruin a reputation, and I wish I'd never heard the Alice one. OTOH, if such a thing were true, people certainly need to know. We have a dreadful case in a local court right now involving a family's uncle.

I had never heard that rumour, but I never delved into the author's biography. I think the latest Woody Allen episode has everyone talking about this subject again. Both my husband and I were Girl Guide/ Scout leaders when our kids were growing up...some of the rules and regulations they had to avoid this kind of thing were to the point of being ridiculous. OTOH, these abusers are often the people we trust the most, so I don't know. It's awful where an older man who genuinely just likes kids is often now perceived with some suspicion though.

I memorized Jabberwocky as part of my audition for a major role in my high school musical. I got the part, and like Mary, still remember the whole thing. I never really did like the books though, somehow they just seemed disturbing...otoh I loved the Wizard of Oz books.

I don't think it's certain that he was a "funny uncle" or anything....although he may have been.
I read a book ALICE I WAS and it told the story of Alice and Dodgson. Not sure how much was based on fact. Apparently he was given lots of free time with the children to take them on little jaunts.
His photos of Alice had her in her underwear.....because he felt it was more childlike.
???
In the story Alice had a kind of crush on him, probably because he was a playful adult who was willing to spend time with her and her siblings.

This post was edited by yoyobon on Fri, Feb 7, 14 at 11:05