A Romantic Love Letter written by Lewis Carroll (1832-1898)to Gertrude

The Romantic Love Letter by Lewis Carroll published below has been adapted by many lovers in long distance relationships. Can you imagine what it would be like to receive a love letter like this setting out a humorous story but ending up with the reason for the accompanying apparently empty box.

Lewis Carroll (real name Charles Lutwidge Dodgson) was born in 1832 in Daresbury in Cheshire UK. He was part of a large family with seven sisters and three brothers and unusually for those days they all survived into adulthood. Initially educated at home by his parents Lewis Carroll grew up to be a bright articulate lad for example at the age of seven he was reading The Pilgrim’s Progress — a book that many adults find it difficult to read and fully understand.

At the age of twelve his parents sent him to a private school at nearby Richmond. Before moving on to Rugby school where his surviving letters suggest he was very unhappy. There is some suggestion of his sexual abuse at Rugby but the evidence is not definitive. Maybe because of this he did not work hard at school however he was very exceptionally gifted intellectually and achievement came easily to him. After achieving a first in Honour Moderations he became a Fellow of Christ Church College in Oxford University.

In 1856 he took up the still very new art form of photography he found that he could use it to show beauty in itself but by combining it with the poetry of words he could satisfy his desire and sense of theatrical performance. At six foot tall with a very slim figure and considered handsome he was something of a star able to stand in front of a big audience. Lewis Carroll was very charming but could also be very manipulative towards women who found him irresistible.

From evidence of letters to friends we know a lot of his initial work was love poetry — always a special interest to Lewis Carroll but with the special twist of being humorous — being published in various national publications most of his output was very funny. In 1856 he published his first romantic poem collection under the pen name of Lewis Carroll the first time he had used but by which he was to become internationally famous.

My Dearest Gertrude:

You will be sorry, and surprised, and puzzled, to hear what a queer illness I have had ever since you went. I sent for the doctor, and said, "Give me some medicine. for I'm tired." He said, "Nonsense and stuff! You don't want medicine: go to bed!"

I said, "No; it isn't the sort of tiredness that wants bed. I'm tired in the face." He looked a little grave, and said, "Oh, it's your nose that's tired: a person often talks too much when he thinks he knows a great deal." I said, "No, it isn't the nose. Perhaps it's the hair." Then he looked rather grave, and said, "Now I understand: you've been playing too many hairs on the pianoforte."

"No, indeed I haven't!" I said, "and it isn't exactly the hair: it's more about the nose and chin." Then he looked a good deal graver, and said, "Have you been walking much on your chin lately?" I said, "No." "Well!" he said, "it puzzles me very much.

Do you think it's in the lips?" "Of course!" I said. "That's exactly what it is!"

Then he looked very grave indeed, and said, "I think you must have been giving too many kisses." "Well," I said, "I did give one kiss to a baby child, a little friend of mine."

"Think again," he said; "are you sure it was only one?" I thought again, and said, "Perhaps it was eleven times." Then the doctor said, "You must not give her any more till your lips are quite rested again." "But what am I to do?" I said, "because you see, I owe her a hundred and eighty-two more." Then he looked so grave that tears ran down his cheeks, and he said, "You may send them to her in a box."

Then I remembered a little box that I once bought at Dover, and thought I would someday give it to some little girl or other. So I have packed them all in it very carefully. Tell me if they come safe or if any are lost on the way."

Lewis Carroll

 Lewis Carroll' to May Mileham    6 September 1885

7 Lushington Road, Eastbourne

Dearest May,

Thank you very much indeed for the peaches. They  were delicious. Eating one was almost as nice as kissing you; Of course not quite; I think, if I had to give the exact measurement, I should say three - quarters as nice; We are having such a lovely time here; and the sands are beautiful. I only wish I could some day come across you, washing your pocket -handkerchief in a pool among the rocks? But I wander on the beach, and look for you, in vain; and then I say, Where is May? And the stupid boatmen reply, It isn't May, sir? It's September?' But it doesn't comfort me.

Always your Loving    C.L.D.

When Henry Liddell was appointed as the new Dean at Christ Church, he brought his wife and children with him. Lewis Carroll quickly became close friends with the family especially the mother and the children. It was one of these children that prompted Lewis Carroll to tell the outline of the story which became the first Alice book. Having been begged by Alice to write it down for her he took the manuscript to Macmillan who immediately snapped it up for publication.

Although Lewis Carroll quickly became a famous and a very rich man from his writing letters and books he continued to teach at Christ Church College for another sixteen years. He died on January 14 1898 suddenly from a particularly violent form of pneumonia.

There is still a major mystery about Lewis Carroll and his romantic love letters to young people but it would be inappropriate to discuss these issues here.