Charles E. Carryl
Charles Edward Carryl was an influential figure born in 1841 in New York City, recognized primarily for his contributions to children's fantasy literature. Although he initially followed a traditional career path as a successful businessman and stockbroker—serving at high levels within railroad companies and holding a seat on the New York Stock Exchange for thirty-four years—his literary works have left a lasting legacy. Carryl's writing is often compared to that of Lewis Carroll, particularly during the early twentieth century, when he was seen as the American counterpart to the British author.
His most notable work, *Davy and the Goblin*, written in verse, features a young boy who embarks on a fantastical journey after a hobgoblin challenges his disbelief in magical creatures. This tale, along with other works such as *The Camel's Lament* and *A Capital Ship: Or, The Walloping Window-Blind*, reflects Carryl's ability to weave engaging stories that entertained his children and a broader audience. Carryl's literary endeavors served as a creative outlet amid his demanding professional life, showcasing his dual legacy as both a businessman and a beloved children's author.
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Charles E. Carryl
- Born: December 30, 1841
- Birthplace: New York, New York
- Died: July 13, 1920
Biography
Charles Edward Carryl was born in New York City in 1841. Although he followed in his father’s footsteps as a prominent businessman, Carryl is best known for his groundbreaking works of children’s fantasy literature. In fact, around the beginning of the twentieth century, Carryl was widely considered to be the American equivalent of Britain’s Lewis Carroll.
In his professional life, Carryl found immense success as a businessman and stockbroker. After serving at the highest levels of several railroad companies, he gained a seat on the New York Stock Exchange in 1874—a seat that he held for thirty-four years. In 1882 he published The Stock Exchange Primer, his first known published work.
For Charles Carryl, fantasy writing served largely as a diversion from the demands of his professional life. His fiction also served as a means of entertaining, and interacting with, his own children. Perhaps the best known of Charles Carryl’s children’s fantasy writing—all of which he wrote in verse—is Davy and the Goblin: Or, What Followed Reading “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.” After reading Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, the main character, Davy, declares that he does not believe in fairies and goblins. However, when a hobgoblin takes Davy on a “Believing Voyage,” he must quickly change his beliefs.
Along with Davy and the Goblin, Carryl is also remembered for The Camel’s Lament and A Capital Ship: Or, The Walloping Window-Blind.