The Story of Lewis Carroll

What it is

This 1899 book was written by Isa Bowman, an actress who played Alice in a stage version of Carroll's story. It is a memoir for young readers, including a diary and facsimile letters Carroll wrote to her and others, along with photographs and sketches by Carroll.

Why it matters

Published the year after Carroll's death, this book is one of the earliest personal accounts of him, written by someone who knew him well as a child. It shows how Carroll was remembered by the children he befriended and helps historians understand his relationships with young friends.

Look closer

• Why might a memoir by a child-friend give a different picture of Carroll than a formal biography?
• What do the included letters and photographs add that a plain biography would not?
• How might Bowman's closeness to Carroll affect how she describes him?