Lewis Carroll Discusses His Hatred of Fame in Letter Up for Auction

Posted on February 26, 2014

Charles Dodgson, author of Alice in Wonderland, did not like the fame he received from his books published under the pseudonym Lewis Carroll. Bonhams is auctioning a letter from Dodgson to his friend Mrs. Symonds. In the letter, Dodgson explains how he does not want his letters put into autograph collections because it could lead to strangers being able to identify him.

Dodgson says, "All that sort of publicity leads to strangers hearing of my real name in connection with the books, and to my being pointed out to, and stared at by, strangers, and treated as a 'lion'. And I hate all that so intensely that sometimes I almost wish I had never written any books at all."

The letter will be auctioned by Bonhams in March. It is expected to sell for around $5,000 to $6,700.