Born Charles Dodgson in 1832, later mathematics Don at Oxford, he is better known as Lewis Carroll author of Alice's Adventures In Wonderland. A classic in children's literature, Alice's adventures have been enjoyed by generations of children and adults alike. But, what about the man?
What we do know is that Carroll had a very close relationship with the Dean Liddell's three young daughters particularly Alice beginning when she was about four. He frequented the Liddell home and, as an avid photographer, took numerous pictures of Alice and her sisters. The story of Alice, originally, Alice Underground, was told to the girls orally while on a boating excursion on the Thames and later written down. At some point later he was exiled from the Liddell home, the reason for which is somewhat nebulous.
There was also found a number of photos taken by Carroll of children in suggestive clothing and some of them in the nude. It has been reported that this wasn't particularly unusual in Victorian photography, but some of the poses are certainly questionable. Then a photo allegedly of Alice's older sister in her early teens showed up in a French museum in which she is completely nude... a full frontal photo. Although it hasn't been conclusively determined that it is in fact the sister, Lurena. There is forensic evidence confirming the authenticity as well as a signature of Carroll on the back with Lurena's name.
There are many who still stalwartly defend Carroll even in light of the evidence. There is also the question of whether or not he was a repressed or practicing pedophile. Whatever the result, the evidence is pretty damning. It's difficult to imagine such a talented writer of children's stories could be a pedophile. You be the juror.
A talented writer of children's stories and a pedophile are not absolutes in evil and good, they are both humans, and humans are fallible and never entirely one way or the other.
These two also have a lot in common - they both spend a lot of time thinking about children. Same with teachers, relatives, and priests, same with a lot of humans that we assume are good, but perhaps our assumptions get in the way?
If there is any class that is labelled as "not likely to be a pedophile" then pedophiles will make it not so. Best not to obsess on labelling and prediction, and instead take a little care.
As you wrote "It's difficult to imagine such a talented writer of children's stories could be a pedophile", but it's true, there are too shadows on the life of Carroll. The history (and some recent stories) learned to us that not always a great talent make a great person. Alice's books make me feel "strange", it's not a "simple" reading, there is more different readings in that words, but maybe it's just because I read some of these horrible facts abaut Carroll.
I had no idea until I saw the video. I still hope it's not so!
I read some articles about it years ago (I don't remember where) and it was a shock for me. As you, I still hope it's not so, but in these last years everytime I read Alice's adventures I feel myself a little bit strange.
Carroll had a lolita fetish no doubt about it.