There are very few writers in fantasy who managed to garner so many fans as did Lewis Carroll. The real name of this legendary author was Charles Lutwidge Dodgson. Although he had written several children’s books, he was also an excellent mathematician and photographer.
Among those who truly admired the works of this great author was Walt Disney. He made Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland into an animated film in 1951. The film was extremely successful at sharing the unique ideas of Carroll with modern audiences. Even Carroll’s book didn’t have such a huge impact on people.
Lewis Carroll remained a lifelong bachelor and devoted most of his time to reading, writing, and photography. Taking photographs was a hobby that he took up during the mid-19th century. He often persuaded other writers to be photographed and admired many of them.
Some of the contemporary writers of his times that he admired included William Makepeace Thackeray and Alfred, Lord Tennyson. It is indeed surprising how Lewis Carroll manages to inspire many, even after so many years of his death. His books Through The Looking Glass and Alice in Wonderland are in demand even today.
Now, let’s take a look at some of the other literary works that were influenced by this great author:
1. Lolita
In this book, author Vladimir Nabokov mimics Lewis Carroll’s affinity for photography in equal parts. There’s no factual evidence that Carroll did anything untoward with his young subjects. However, everything that’s been written in the book Lolita is just fiction.
2. Finnegan’s Wake
This is the last book of the Irish novelist, James Joyce. He is famous for the extensive use of allusions in his works. In Finnegan’s Wake, there’s a reference to a father figure who tries to tempt his daughter. This is exactly where the notorious life of Lewis Carroll parallels with Joyce’s. There’s also a lot of wordplays used in the book, which honours the literary legacy of Carroll.
3. Night of the Jabberwock
Released in 1950, this novel by Frederick Brown is an unconventional thriller. The story has a character in it who is a member of the society, but a bit lunatic. This particular character believes that the books of Lewis Carroll are visions of the actual world.
4. Coraline
Written by Neil Gaiman, this book is a dark fantasy novella for children. It tells the tale of a young girl named Coraline. The book also features a talking cat in its story. Coraline enters a topsy-turvy universe through a strange door in her new house. When compared to the character of Alice in Lewis Carroll’s book, Coraline’s adventures are different.
They are extended out of proportion and feed on the inner fears of children. Of course, there is a great similarity between Lewis Carroll and Neil Gaiman. Both of them play on a child’s fear of abandonment in their books.
5. Lost Girls
This is a graphic novel by Alan Moore, which features Alice from the Wonderland series. It also features Dorothy Gale from The Wizard of Oz and Wendy from Peter Pan. This book is a fictional account of the erotic adventures of the trio as young woman. You’ll also find lots of words in the book that are a tribute to Carroll’s literary style.