"Dolly Varden, the Little Coquette from “Barnaby Rudge”" — Felix O. C. Darley's second illustration for 'Dickens' Little Folks" (1883)

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Dolly Varden, the Little Coquette from “Barnaby Rudge”

Felix O. C. Darley

Annin-Loomis

1883

11.4 x 7.6 cm (4 ½ by 3 inches) vignetted

Steel engraving

Second illustration for Dickens' Little Folks, republished by John B. Alden (New York: 1883).

[Click on illustration to enlarge it.]

Scanned image and text by Philip V. Allingham.

[You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the person who scanned it, and (2) linkyour document to this URL in a web document or cite the Victorian Web in a print one.]

Preface (1883)

HAPPIER than the life of most coquettes, Dolly Varden's closed in peace. But this should not make young minds forgetful of the many years of suffering that were caused another heart beside her own, by her coquettish ways.

Let us all remember to fill each little moment with tenderness towards those who look upon us lovingly, lest YEARS should be filled with sorrow by our thoughtlessness or pride.

Newtonville, Mass.

Passage Illustrated: Dolly Varden and Joe Willet, Gabriel Varden's Apprentice

Joe had no opportunity to say anything in his own defence, for at that moment Dolly herself appeared, and struck him quite dumb with her beauty. Never had Dolly looked so handsome as she did then, in all the glow and grace of youth, with all her charms increased a hundred fold by a most becoming dress, by a thousand little coquettish ways which nobody could assume with a better grace, and all the sparkling expectation of that accursed party. It is impossible to tell how Joe hated that party, wherever it was, and all the other people who were going to it, whoever they were.

And she hardly looked at him — no, hardly looked at him. [Chapter 6, "Dolly Varden," pp. 60-61]

Bibliography

Bentley, Nicolas, Michael Slater, and Nina Burgis. The Dickens Index. New York and Oxford: Oxford U. P., 1990.

Cohen, Jane Rabb. Charles Dickens and His Original Illustrators. Canton: Ohio U. P., 1980.

Darley, Felix Octavius Carr (illustrator). "Dolly Varden, the Little Coquette from “Barnaby Rudge” in Dickens' Little Folks. New York: John B. Alden, 1883. Pp. 2-147.

Davis, Paul. Charles Dickens A to Z: The Essential Reference to His Life and Work. New York: Facts On File, 1998.

Created 13 December 2023

Last modified 29 May 2025