Why did Charles Lutwidge Dodgson write under the pen name Lewis Carroll?

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It seems that Dodgson was very keen to keep his fictional work separate from his real and professional life. He never publicly acknowledged that he was also Lewis Carroll and even went to the lengths of printing a message to send to people who wrote to him as Lewis Carroll saying, "He neither claims or acknowledges any connection with any pseudonym, or with any book that is not published under his own name."

source: Rackin, D., Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass. Nonsense, Sense and Meaning

His pen-name was chosen by Edmund Yates, the editor of a magazine to which Dodgson had submitted a poem:


Dodgson first used 'B.B.' to sign his non-professional writings, but in March 1856, when he wanted to publish his poem 'Solitude' in the magazine "The Train", Edmund Yates, a magazine editor, thought that this one was not appropriate. Then Dodgson came up with 'Dares' (from Daresbury in Cheshire, his birthplace), but that one was also rejected. Finally he invented Edgar Cuthwellis (composed from the letters of his name), Edgar U.C. Westhill (idem), Louis Carroll...and Lewis Carroll (idem). Yates chose the last one.


source: Lenny's Alice in wonderland Site (see Related Link)

The name Lewis Carroll was created by Dodgson Latinising his first two names, and then Anglicising them again.

Lutwidge = Ludovic = Lewis
Charles = Carolus = Carroll

We know that there is no connection between Dodgson's pen-name and Alice Liddell because 'Solitude' was published under the name Lewis Carroll in March 1856, and he did not meet Alice Liddell until April of the same year.

First answer by Wolfgang schwartzschild. Last edit by MisoSoup. Contributor trust: 94 [recommend contributorrecommended]. Question popularity: 3 [recommend question].