Alice Liddell was almost five years old when she first met the mathematician Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, better known by his pen name Lewis Carroll. She lived at Christ Church College at the University of Oxford, where her father was the Dean and Dodgson was a maths tutor. With Dodgson's study adjoining the Liddells' lodgings, he soon became a friend, photographer and storyteller to the Liddell family.

The Alice stories were first created one legendary 'golden afternoon' on 4 July 1862. While entertaining the three Liddell sisters, Alice, Lorina and Edith, during a boating trip, Dodgson improvised the story that would become Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The main character, Alice, shared many characteristics with Alice Liddell, being stubborn, precocious and curious, (although the famous illustration of Alice by John Tenniel would depart strongly from Liddell's brunette bob and short fringe).

Behind the scenes with Tim Walker

Alice Liddell

Alice in Wonderland photoshoot featured in Annie Liebovitz's new Book!

Press me to unlock secrets

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