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In one way the Preface illustrates the mixed quality of the book. The opening section had interesting passages about the nature of inspiration and the way the story grew from a series of fragments. It reminds me of a similar idea in Pullman’s Lyra’s Oxford.
But then we get a turgid series of what is necessary for a “proper” book for children—especially young girls. It would seem that he wants to “Bowldlerise” Bowldler.
I remember reading an introductory essay to Carroll’s work that took the view that Lewis Carroll and Charles Lutwidge Dodgson were two warring personalities in the same person. Carroll was dominant in the “Alice” books while Dodgeson was relegated to the insipid poetry that introduced them. The writer said that Dodgeson became more intrusive in later life and finally dominated the Sylvie and Bruno works.
It has been a long time since I first read these books and I’ve not finished this session, but I suspect that there may be some truth in that essay.
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