Happy Summer Days: 1880 to 1898


July 1880 marked a change in Dodgson's life. From this point on the enthusiastic photographer took no more photographs. Perhaps Dodgson began to become aware of growing disapproval of his subjects of photography and the way in which he carried it out. Even with parental permission, photographic pre-pubescent naked girls was sailing close to dangerous waters.

With the ending of Dodgeson's photographic hobby he turned almost completely to writing. In 1881 he gave up his Christ Church lectureship, planning to devote his time to write on mathematical education, religious thought and 'innocent recreation for children'. By 1885 he had writing projects which included seven books on logic or mathematics, two on games and puzzles and seven others on other topics, one of which was Sylvie and Bruno.

Dodgson had been working on expanding the Sylvie and Bruno stories (first published in 1867's Aunt Judy's Magazine) since a visit to the Salisbury family at Hatfield. The two Salisbury children had asked for more stories, and he later wrote in his diary:

'...the appetite of the party for stories is insatiable. Luckily I had thought of a few more incidents for Sylvie and Bruno, and gave them another chapter, which took nearly an hour.'

The Sylvie and Bruno stories were published in 1889 and a sequel, Sylvie and Bruno Concluded, appeared in 1893. Although he had placed far more effort into these books than the Alice books, they were never as popular. One point worth noting is that while the Alice books had been pure entertainment, Sylvie and Bruno incorporated some more serious ideas.

The Memorial window at Daresbury.


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This page and images are Copyright 1995,96, Cameron Newham