Letter from Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) (1832–1898) to Alice Liddell Hargreaves (1852–1934) 

Lewis Carroll first told the story that would become Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland during an afternoon excursion up the River Thames in 1862. Alice Liddell, then 10 years old, so loved the tale that she asked for a written copy. Carroll presented one to her, with his own illustrations, in 1864. The published book—an instant and perennial bestseller—followed the next year. Carroll later published the original manuscript as a facsimile. In this letter, he writes to the story’s namesake about difficulties with the project, but concludes: “I quite hope to have the book completed, & to be able to send you a very special copy … by the end of the month.”