The information below is intended to address some frequently asked questions about the LCSNA and about Lewis Carroll, but is by no means intended to answer all questions. Further questions can be addressed to our web contact,

Joel Birenbaum.

About the Lewis Carroll Society of North America

How do I join?
Come to one of our meetings, or join online right now!

What does the LCSNA do?
We promote the study and appreciation of the works and life of Lewis Carroll. For more information, please see our About Us page.

What are your members like?
We're a remarkable mix of scholars, enthusiasts and collectors. While we are based in the U.S., we have members of all ages and backgrounds from all over the world. Come to a meeting and see for yourself! We're as diverse as the residents of Wonderland and Looking-Glass World -- but generally far more agreeable. Shown here are the Bursteins, spanning three generations of members.

What does my membership include?
You receive all new issues of our entertaining and enlightening Knight Letter magazine, discounts on books, and advance notice of all upcoming meetings. On occasion, we create some wonderful members-only publications and memorabilia. We have also been known to have an auction now and again, which always contains items of interest for collectors at every level.

I've produced a paper, book, artwork or composition inspired by Lewis Carroll and/or his works. Would the LCSNA be interested in knowing more about it, or having me speak at an upcoming meeting?
We are always eager to learn of new scholarship and art relating to Lewis Carroll. You are welcome to submit a proposal to us at any time. As a volunteer organization, it may take some time for us to reply, but all serious inquiries will receive a response.

I'd love to get involved -- how can I help?
Join online, come to a meeting, or send us an e-mail or letter. Let us know your particular interests and talents. We look forward to welcoming you into the Society!

About Lewis Carroll

Who exactly was Lewis Carroll?
Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, known by his pen name, Lewis Carroll, was a man of diverse interests -- in mathematics, logic, photography, art, theater, religion, medicine, science, and of course literature. He was happiest in the company of children for whom he created puzzles, clever games, and charming letters.

As all Carroll admirers know, his book Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865), became an immediate success and has since been translated into more than eighty languages. The equally popular sequel Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There, was published in 1872.

The "Alice" books are but one example of his wide ranging authorship. The Hunting of the Snark (1876), a classic nonsense epic and Euclid and His Modern Rivals (1879), a rare example of humorous work concerning mathematics, still entice and intrigue today's students. Sylvie and Bruno (1889), published toward the end of his life, contains startling ideas including a description of weightlessness.

The humor, sparkling wit and genius of this Victorian Englishman have lasted for more than a century. His books are among the most quoted works in the English language, and his influence (as well as that of his illustrator, Sir John Tenniel) can be seen everywhere, from the world of advertising to that of atomic physics.

Why did Mr. Dodgson write under the pen name of Lewis Carroll?
As a modest gentleman and a scholar/instructor at Oxford, he valued his privacy very highly. He would refuse letters sent to "Lewis Carroll, Christ Church, Oxford", claiming no such person lived there! But he did occasionally use his pen name to smooth an introduction to a well-known member of society or new child friend.

How did he come up with the name Lewis Carroll?
He took the first two parts of his name, Charles Lutwidge, and translated them into Latin: Carolus Ludovicus. He then reversed their order: Ludovicus Carolus, and then loosely translated them back into English: Lewis Carroll. He actually supplied his first publisher with a short list of possible pen names, and it was the publisher who selected "Lewis Carroll" from the list. Share that bit of trivia at your next mad tea party!

Was there a real Alice?
Indeed there was. Alice Pleasance Liddell was Charles Dodgson's first and perhaps greatest child friend. She was one of the daughters of Henry George Liddell, Dean of Christ Church, Oxford, where Mr. Dodgson lived, taught and wrote.

Was Lewis Carroll in love with Alice?
To say that much has been written on this question would be a monumental understatement. For the purposes of this site, suffice it to say that in addition to being a friend during her childhood years, she was his first true creative muse. Interestingly, Alice Liddell also inspired a number of other well known artists of the time, including John Ruskin, William Richmond and Julia Margaret Cameron. The fact that the two "Alice" books are still so beloved today stands as a testament to the lasting power of that original inspiration, and to Mr. Dodgson's timeless genius.

What was the origin of the Alice books?
Mr. Dodgson would often take young Alice and her sisters Lorina and Edith on leisurely rowing expeditions in the company of a fellow Oxford scholar. During these boat rides and subsequent picnics, he would make up fantastical tales to entertain the girls. What we now know as Alice's Adventures in Wonderland began as one of these stories, and was only written down because Alice begged Mr. Dodgson to do it. The first version, which he wrote and illustrated by hand for her, was entitled Alice's Adventures under Ground. Some of the most famous chapters of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland were actually written only after his friend (and noted children's author) George MacDonald and his family encouraged Mr. Dodgson to explore the idea of expanding and publishing the story so that more children could enjoy it. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland met with instant success, as did its sequel, Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There.

Where can I find out more about Lewis Carroll?
You can find extensive information about Lewis Carroll on the Lewis Carroll Homepage, our Links page, and in the books included in our reference list.