Dickens's "Barkis and David in the carrier's van" by Harold Copping (1924)

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Barkis and David in the carrier's van

Harold Copping

1924

Photographic reproduction of line drawing

16 x 12.8 cm (6 ⅛ by 5 inches), vignetted

An illustration for "Little David Copperfield," p. 61.

[Click on image to enlarge it.]

Scanned image and text by Philip V. Allingham.

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Passage Illustrated: David puzzles over Barkis's peculiar message to Peggotty

The carrier looked thoughtful, and then asked David if he would send a message to Peggotty from him. David agreed, and the message was "Barkis is willing." While David was waiting for the coach at Yarmouth, he wrote to Peggotty.

"My Dear Peggotty, — I have come here safe. Barkis is willing, My love to mamma. — Yours affectionately.

"P. S. — He says he particularly wanted you to know Barkis is willing." [Character Sketches from Dickens, 59]

Commentary: Barkis shares confidences with David

The moment depicted here occurs in instalment two (Chapter 5, "I Am Sent Away from Home"), June 1849. The line drawing possesses the advantage of some highly realistic contextual details, including the box on which the driver and the child sit, and the canopy (left). Copping catches nicely David's look of concern as he tries to comprehend Barkis's message about the proposal that he is simply too shy to make himself.

Other Illustrators' Depictions of The Willing Barkis (1849 to 1910)

Left: W. H. C. Groome's version of Barkis's proposal to David: "Basrkis is willin'," says you. (1900). Centre: Dickens's original illustrator, Phiz, introduces the saturnine carrier in Mrs. Gummidge casts a Damp on our Departure (August 1849). Right: Harry Furniss's humorous presentation of Peggotty's wedding day in the Charles Dickens Library Edition: Barkis is Willin' (1910). Right:

Left: The sheepish carrier and Peggotty on the seat of the van in Sol Eytinge Junior's Diamond Edition sequence: Peggotty and Barkis (1867). Right: Fred Barnard's Household Edition depiction of David and the Carrier in the van as Peggotty elopes with him: "I saw to my amazement, Peggotty burst from a hedge and climb into the cart (1872).

Relevant Illustrated Editions of this Novel (1849 through 1910)

David Copperfield (homepage)
Phiz's 40 serial illustrations for David Copperfield (May 1849 - November 1850)
O. C. Darley's Frontispiece in the New York edition (Vol. 1, 1862)
O. C. Darley's Frontispiece in the New York edition (Vol. 2, 1862)
O. C. Darley's Frontispiece in the New York edition (Vol. 4, 1862)
John Gilbert's Frontispiece in the New York edition (Vol. 3, 1862)
Sol Eytinge, Junior's sixteen Diamond Edition Illustrations (1867)
W. H. C. Groome's seven illustrations for the Collins Clear-type Pocket Edition, Vol. I (1907)
Kyd's five Player's Cigarette Cards, 1910
Harry Furniss's 29 Illustrations for Dickens's The Personal Experience and History of David Copperfield in the Charles Dickens Library Edition (1910)

Bibliography

Dickens, Charles. David Copperfield. Illustrated by Hablot Knight Browne ("Phiz"). London: Chapman & Hall, May 1849 to April 1850.

Dickens, Mary Angela [Charles Dickens' grand-daughter]. Dickens' Dream Children. London, Paris New, York: Raphael Tuck & Sons, Ltd., 1924.

Dickens, Mary Angela et al. Children's Stories from Dickens. Introduction by Percy Fitzgerald. Illustrated by Harold Copping. London, Paris New, York: Raphael Tuck & Sons, Ltd., 1893.

Matz, B. W., and Kate Perugini; illustrated by Harold Copping. Character Sketches from Dickens. London: Raphael Tuck, 1924. Copy in the Paterson Library, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.

Created 29 September 2023