009. Carroll’s letter to Tom Taylor

Carroll wrote to Tom Taylor, the Victorian dramatist and editor of Punch magazine, to ask for help in “fixing on a name” for his fairy tale

Ch. Ch. Oxford
June 10. 1864

My dear Sir,

You were kind enough 
to wish me to let you know
some while before I came 
to town on my photographic
visit, that you might see
whether you could entrap
any victims for me. My 
plans are not definitely 
settled yet, but, so far as I
can see, I shall be in
town on or before the 20th 
(though I could come sooner
If there were reason to do so.)
After that I shall be
photographing at various 
friends' houses for 2 or
3 weeks.— I am obliged 
to speak vaguely, as my
plans will be liable to
change from day to day.—

I have many children 
sitters engaged—among
others, Mr. Millais', who will
make most picturesque subjects.

Believe me 
Ever yours truly 
C. L. Dodgson

P.S. I should be very glad
If you could help me in
fixing on a name for my
fairy-tale, which Mr. 
Tenniell (in consequence 
of your kind introduction)
is now illustrating for me,
& which I hope to get
published before X^mas. The 
heroine spends an hour
underground, & meets various
birds, beasts & (no fairies)
endowed with speech. The 
whole thing is a dream, but
that I don't want revealed 
till the end. I first thought
of “Alice's Adventures
Under Ground,” but that
was pronounced too like
a lesson-book, in which 
instruction about mines
would be administered in
the form of a grill: then
I took “Alice's Golden
Hour,” but that I gave 
up, having a dark suspicion
that there is already 
a book called “Lily's Golden Hours.” 

Here are other names 
I have thought of: 

Alice among the { elves goblins

Alice's { hour doings adventures

in { elf-land wonderland.

Of all these I at present 
prefer “Alice's Adventures 
in Wonderland.” In spite of 
your “morality,” I want 
something sensational. Perhaps 
you can suggest a name 
better than any of these.