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Edith #1
The Lonely Doll
A lonely doll named Edith finally finds friendship with two visiting teddy bears.
64 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1957
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 197 reviews
December 8, 2015
Edith lives in a lovely house and has everything she needs -- except company. She is desperately lonely, praying every night for friends and trying to talk with the small animals who seem to be the only living things left in this deserted world. Perhaps there has been some apocalypse, some epidemic which wiped out all mammals. Edith is on the verge of going mad from isolation when finally two strange bears appear. Father and son? They do not say. Possibly Mr Bear appropriated and "adopted" Little Bear in the same manner as he quickly assumes the parental role over Edith, monitoring her behavior and controlling her activities. When the formerly-independent Edith resists Mr Bear's domination, she is punished, never more severely than on the instance in which she attempts to shed her submissive, child-like trappings and dress as an adult, putting on lipstick and highheeled shoes. Physically beaten and terrified of abandonment, she kowtows to patriarchal authority.
I did not encounter this book as a child. I think it would have disturbed me then, too, since I grew up in a large city and was aware of dangers such as kidnapping and child molestation at a very young age. As an adult I do not like the book, but find it fascinating as a psychological artifact and a creative product. The text story is creepy enough on its own -- a little doll all alone is so desperate for friends that she lets in strangers who quickly take control of her home and life. The accompanying photos are even more revealing, intense and disturbing. They alternate between scenes of isolation and even desolation, and uneasy, claustrophobic closeness. Often the two bears seem to press themselves onto Edith from either side, touching her and pulling at her hair and clothing. Although no violence is explicit except for the infamous "spanking scene," too many of Edith and Little Bear's behavioral and personality elements correspond with those of abused children, as do Mr Bear's with those of an abuser -- obsessive control and watchfulness, thwarting of other social contacts, violent or irrational behavior coupled with assertions of love and protection, resistance to the "children" growing up.
My review of the sequel The Lonely Doll Learns a Lesson:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I did not encounter this book as a child. I think it would have disturbed me then, too, since I grew up in a large city and was aware of dangers such as kidnapping and child molestation at a very young age. As an adult I do not like the book, but find it fascinating as a psychological artifact and a creative product. The text story is creepy enough on its own -- a little doll all alone is so desperate for friends that she lets in strangers who quickly take control of her home and life. The accompanying photos are even more revealing, intense and disturbing. They alternate between scenes of isolation and even desolation, and uneasy, claustrophobic closeness. Often the two bears seem to press themselves onto Edith from either side, touching her and pulling at her hair and clothing. Although no violence is explicit except for the infamous "spanking scene," too many of Edith and Little Bear's behavioral and personality elements correspond with those of abused children, as do Mr Bear's with those of an abuser -- obsessive control and watchfulness, thwarting of other social contacts, violent or irrational behavior coupled with assertions of love and protection, resistance to the "children" growing up.
My review of the sequel The Lonely Doll Learns a Lesson:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
May 5, 2021
my thanks to boyd for answering my call for "more creepy doll books." it seems everyone knew about this but me. and it's great! i got the two still in print, and will track down the rest. and while i was buying them, my cashier-friend commanded me to read the bio, which i will also do. this book is beautiful and sad and just so well-posed. there's a lot more conveyed than meets the eye at first glance. these photos need to be really examined, not just paged through. another book i am baffled that children are exposed to.
come to my blog!
come to my blog! 
April 28, 2011
how many of you were sucked into Dare Wright's world as a child? What a world! Black and white photographs of a doll stepping into an old abandoned house, meeting a friendly old turtle, riding on his back to the outside, befriending 2 teddy bears, a nice one and a grumpy one...at one point she takes off her clothes and they dress her in fern leaves...what a world. Beautiful and mysterious and a bit kinky. I think we should start a Dare Wright Club and call it Under the Influence. I know her own life was sheltered and sad and under the shadow of her mother who treated her like a doll... there's a biography out now I've read a long excerpt of.
note: the edition I read (and still have) was not pink...but black and white and grey and rather imposing.
note: the edition I read (and still have) was not pink...but black and white and grey and rather imposing.
December 19, 2015
What a strange book. When my 15yr. old daughter saw me checking this out of the library, she looked at me like I was crazy. As soon as she opened it, she immediately called it weird and creepy and decided to read it on the spot. She definitely picked up on the very weird vibe of this book, calling it disturbing and "porny".
I have to agree that the book teeters on the edge of inappropriateness. The book was written in 1957. It a story told in black and white photographs about a doll, Edith, who is lonely. Along come a dad/son duo, Mr. Bear and Little Bear, who end up moving into Edith's house. Mr. Bear immediately takes control of the house and of Edith. Lesson: Don't open the door if your parent's are not home and Don't let strangers in.
Some of the pictures are downright scary and creepy. You see Mr. Bear chasing Edith, who seems to have a terrified look on her face. There's a bit of pictures of creepy Mr. Bear right up on Edith' behind. There's a bit of tension in the book that not all is right in this household. Mr. Bear goes on an errand and while he's away, Edith and Little Bear go into a room where they start to play dress-up. Edith dons high heels, a ruffled petticoat, does her hair up in a knot She tried making it into a knot. That looked very grown up. She also puts on some, gasp!, lipstick. In walks Mr. Bear and you see him staring at Edith through the reflection in the mirror. He looks like such a creepy peeping tom, like he'd been staring at Edith for a while. So on went on the lipstick! But in the mirror Edith saw Mr. Bear watching! In the next pages you see a picture of Mr. Bear spanking Edith on the behind, now undressed to her underclothes, bent over his knee, staring at her butt and punishing her for what she just did. It's all so voyeuristic in a very disturbing way.
How did Mr. Bear manage to infiltrate Edith's house? He has exerted his rules on the household and on Edith, sneaked into her life an affections. I really don't think this is necessarily a children's book. Or maybe it's just the time we live in that made me look at this book the wrong way.
This book was recommended to me by Miriam.
I have to agree that the book teeters on the edge of inappropriateness. The book was written in 1957. It a story told in black and white photographs about a doll, Edith, who is lonely. Along come a dad/son duo, Mr. Bear and Little Bear, who end up moving into Edith's house. Mr. Bear immediately takes control of the house and of Edith. Lesson: Don't open the door if your parent's are not home and Don't let strangers in.
Some of the pictures are downright scary and creepy. You see Mr. Bear chasing Edith, who seems to have a terrified look on her face. There's a bit of pictures of creepy Mr. Bear right up on Edith' behind. There's a bit of tension in the book that not all is right in this household. Mr. Bear goes on an errand and while he's away, Edith and Little Bear go into a room where they start to play dress-up. Edith dons high heels, a ruffled petticoat, does her hair up in a knot She tried making it into a knot. That looked very grown up. She also puts on some, gasp!, lipstick. In walks Mr. Bear and you see him staring at Edith through the reflection in the mirror. He looks like such a creepy peeping tom, like he'd been staring at Edith for a while. So on went on the lipstick! But in the mirror Edith saw Mr. Bear watching! In the next pages you see a picture of Mr. Bear spanking Edith on the behind, now undressed to her underclothes, bent over his knee, staring at her butt and punishing her for what she just did. It's all so voyeuristic in a very disturbing way.
How did Mr. Bear manage to infiltrate Edith's house? He has exerted his rules on the household and on Edith, sneaked into her life an affections. I really don't think this is necessarily a children's book. Or maybe it's just the time we live in that made me look at this book the wrong way.
This book was recommended to me by Miriam.
August 30, 2013
The Lonely Doll is one of the creepiest books I've ever read. That it's supposed to be a kid's book only makes it creepier.
It's a 1950s book made up of black and white photos - that's right, no colour for you damn kids! - starring a disturbed, sad doll as two terrifying teddy bears, the youngest of whom is blank faced making him even more scary, and an adult bear, who has what can only be described as a crazy expression, move into the doll's house so she's no longer alone.
The phrase "Just wait and see what fun we'll have!" uttered by the bears is one of the most haunting lines I've ever read.
When the doll and the little bear behave like all kids (I assume the doll herself is supposed to be a kid - the alternative is that she's mentally handicapped. But then why is she allowed to live alone?), they are beaten by the adult bear. It's at this point that I began formulating my own plot about this book: the doll wants company and out of desperation (and probably a potent combo of liquor and prescription drugs) makes a bad decision and takes in a couple of transients who proceed to take over her house and hold her hostage.
Later when the adult bear leaves, the doll and the little bear attempt to escape the house which they've now become prisoners in. They fail and wind up trying to have as much fun as they can before the crazy adult bear returns. The photo of when they're playing dress-up and the adult bear is in the background standing in the doorway with that expression on his face - that is straight up, 100% legit, horror. The adult bear then proceeds to beat them. Then later, in a case of Stockholm syndrome and/or cultish devotion, they believe they've done wrong and apologise to the adult bear for their non-transgressions!
The fact that this book is presented with dead toys in chilling black and white photos with a chintzy dress pattern on the background cover, makes it even more disturbing to read. And if you look into the author Dare Wright's sad life where she had a domineering and insane mother and an allegedly incestuous relationship with her brother, the only man she could be close to, it just adds that extra layer of terror to the book.
This is a kid's book that I wouldn't ever think in a million years to give to a kid - it's like reading a book a mental patient in Bellevue wrote which somehow got published and became a serial killer's bible. The photos, the story, it's all just nightmare fuel. This is the anti-Toy Story.
Just wait and see what fun we'll have...
It's a 1950s book made up of black and white photos - that's right, no colour for you damn kids! - starring a disturbed, sad doll as two terrifying teddy bears, the youngest of whom is blank faced making him even more scary, and an adult bear, who has what can only be described as a crazy expression, move into the doll's house so she's no longer alone.
The phrase "Just wait and see what fun we'll have!" uttered by the bears is one of the most haunting lines I've ever read.
When the doll and the little bear behave like all kids (I assume the doll herself is supposed to be a kid - the alternative is that she's mentally handicapped. But then why is she allowed to live alone?), they are beaten by the adult bear. It's at this point that I began formulating my own plot about this book: the doll wants company and out of desperation (and probably a potent combo of liquor and prescription drugs) makes a bad decision and takes in a couple of transients who proceed to take over her house and hold her hostage.
Later when the adult bear leaves, the doll and the little bear attempt to escape the house which they've now become prisoners in. They fail and wind up trying to have as much fun as they can before the crazy adult bear returns. The photo of when they're playing dress-up and the adult bear is in the background standing in the doorway with that expression on his face - that is straight up, 100% legit, horror. The adult bear then proceeds to beat them. Then later, in a case of Stockholm syndrome and/or cultish devotion, they believe they've done wrong and apologise to the adult bear for their non-transgressions!
The fact that this book is presented with dead toys in chilling black and white photos with a chintzy dress pattern on the background cover, makes it even more disturbing to read. And if you look into the author Dare Wright's sad life where she had a domineering and insane mother and an allegedly incestuous relationship with her brother, the only man she could be close to, it just adds that extra layer of terror to the book.
This is a kid's book that I wouldn't ever think in a million years to give to a kid - it's like reading a book a mental patient in Bellevue wrote which somehow got published and became a serial killer's bible. The photos, the story, it's all just nightmare fuel. This is the anti-Toy Story.
Just wait and see what fun we'll have...
October 7, 2016
Go check out my review and video of me reading this book out loud on my booktube channel http://YouTube.com/peterlikesbooks
August 10, 2017
This was one of my favorite books growing up. As an only child, I could relate to Edith's loneliness. It's a children's book from the 1950's with black and white photographs depicting a doll (Edith) and two teddy bears (a dad and kid) who come to stay with her.
I was shocked when I read through some of the reviews!
"Creepy."
"Downright sexual."
"Abusive."
Listen, this book was written in the 1950's where everyone spanked their kids, especially when the kid had been bad. Context is a beautiful thing.
I know I'll probably be slammed here for saying how much I love this book but there it is.
My Rating: 5 stars
I was shocked when I read through some of the reviews!
"Creepy."
"Downright sexual."
"Abusive."
Listen, this book was written in the 1950's where everyone spanked their kids, especially when the kid had been bad. Context is a beautiful thing.
I know I'll probably be slammed here for saying how much I love this book but there it is.
My Rating: 5 stars
September 20, 2009
I had this book as a child -- still own it as a matter of fact. I had the doll as well. I was looking for a new copy for my granddaughter when I ran across some rather surprising reviews. Seems the general consensus is that the author, Dare Wright, had a troubled childhood and it is reflected in her books. I guess when viewed from todays pc society, the books don't fit into what is right for "today's" kids -- I mean there is an instance of the father bear spanking the little bear when he disobeyed and of "Edith" begging for forgiveness promising to "do anything he wanted" just to not be left. I loved this book as a child and I read it to my children. It must not have affected my daughter because she doesn't even remember it! It was wirtten in 1957 and back then, children got spanked. And, did any of them ever cry and say they would do anything just don't take the toy away, put me in timeout, whatever? I think most of the reviews are just being over analytical and trying to put a human spin on what is obviously a fictional children's book -- it is after all, a doll and a couple of stuffed bears -- ok, one is a Stieff but still. I won't buy the book for my granddaughter but I think it is a shame -- it is a cute book. Plus, after perusing the children's section of my local bookshop I have to say that "today's" children's books are really not good. Plus, I found an awful lot of books involving subject matter that I would have nixed for my 70's children!
August 28, 2017
I might have liked this more when I was a child. I might like it more if I'd not been so influenced by others' reviews. But yeah, I'm finding it creepy and weird and I'm not interested in others in the series.
June 26, 2020
This one disturbed me when I was a child, although the pictures were amazing.
October 12, 2016
Peter Monn read this to us on his bookTube channel and it was an unforgettable once in a lifetime experience go and enjoy it at: http://youtube.com/peterlikesbooks
February 27, 2021
I've been feeling nostalgic about picture books lately. I have a teen-almost-adult-soon-to-be-heading-to-college-daughter. I'm sure you get it. So, I asked her recently what were some of her favorite picture books we read back in the day. I had some idea of what she might say, but she totally surprised me by replying Goodnight Moon and The Lonely Doll. Ultimately, it makes sense as she's always been one to embrace her duality.
The question: Is this book creepy? As hard as it is to believe, some people really think this is just a sweet story of lonesome Edith and her new bear friends. Mmmmmkay. But, I think you'd be hard pressed to find many modern/first time readers who don't find the story and the accompanying black and white photographs a bit eerie, if not downright disturbing. Add in all the lore surrounding author, Dare Wright, and you'd be hard pressed to not find deep wells of Freudian subtext. That said, I think the more essential question is how all of this makes the reader feel? Some feel unsettled and put off. That's fine, I get it. Some lean into the uncanny melancholy of it all and find comfort in it. I fall into the latter camp.
Also, wow, the illustrations! These photographs were created in the 50s long before photo editing software, and they're just so astonishingly beautiful with so much loving and haunting detail. And then there's all the mystery surrounding Dare Wright and her life. A quick search will yield a lot of interesting results. Was she a beautiful, tortured soul trapped in dysfunction, forever suspended in a childlike state? Or was she perhaps just one of those rare artists who could tap into the wonder and gloom of childhood? Who really knows, but I'm glad to see her art live on for us to appreciate and contemplate.
The question: Is this book creepy? As hard as it is to believe, some people really think this is just a sweet story of lonesome Edith and her new bear friends. Mmmmmkay. But, I think you'd be hard pressed to find many modern/first time readers who don't find the story and the accompanying black and white photographs a bit eerie, if not downright disturbing. Add in all the lore surrounding author, Dare Wright, and you'd be hard pressed to not find deep wells of Freudian subtext. That said, I think the more essential question is how all of this makes the reader feel? Some feel unsettled and put off. That's fine, I get it. Some lean into the uncanny melancholy of it all and find comfort in it. I fall into the latter camp.
Also, wow, the illustrations! These photographs were created in the 50s long before photo editing software, and they're just so astonishingly beautiful with so much loving and haunting detail. And then there's all the mystery surrounding Dare Wright and her life. A quick search will yield a lot of interesting results. Was she a beautiful, tortured soul trapped in dysfunction, forever suspended in a childlike state? Or was she perhaps just one of those rare artists who could tap into the wonder and gloom of childhood? Who really knows, but I'm glad to see her art live on for us to appreciate and contemplate.
March 28, 2014
You know, if you read this at a surface level, it might seem innocent and pretty normal. However, underneath there's something creepy, and I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed that. The beautifully constructed photographs evoke in turn loneliness and subjugation, and the text itself tells us how Edith is so lonely, that she lets complete strangers inside the house and take over her life. Occasionally she seems to have fun, but then she gets spanked for doing a naughty thing. There's no one else in the world but them (and a couple of rude pigeons).
Is the doll an adult or a child? She lives alone, so she must represent an adult. But then the spanking scene becomes kind of kinky and strange. If Edith is a child, then it's equally odd that she would just happen to let two bears enter into her life. What the hell? Then again, having heard a few things about Wright's life I suppose I couldn't have expected anything less. After reading the biography I'm probably going to be even more weirded out.
Apparently, the interpretation of the story depends on the reader's background and age. For me, the pink covers are deceptive. Wright's world is sad and weird, but I think I like it just the way it is. Despite the length there's a lot of room for further examination on the next round of reading.
PS. Oh great, now Bette Davis in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? popped into my head. I think I've had enough of dolls for a while. Then again, I also feel like throwing my own giant blank faced bear to the balcony. Jesus.
PPS. To lighten the mood, here's a lovely Finnish animation about thin ice and a drowning bear: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaoLk...
Is the doll an adult or a child? She lives alone, so she must represent an adult. But then the spanking scene becomes kind of kinky and strange. If Edith is a child, then it's equally odd that she would just happen to let two bears enter into her life. What the hell? Then again, having heard a few things about Wright's life I suppose I couldn't have expected anything less. After reading the biography I'm probably going to be even more weirded out.
Apparently, the interpretation of the story depends on the reader's background and age. For me, the pink covers are deceptive. Wright's world is sad and weird, but I think I like it just the way it is. Despite the length there's a lot of room for further examination on the next round of reading.
PS. Oh great, now Bette Davis in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? popped into my head. I think I've had enough of dolls for a while. Then again, I also feel like throwing my own giant blank faced bear to the balcony. Jesus.
PPS. To lighten the mood, here's a lovely Finnish animation about thin ice and a drowning bear: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaoLk...
October 5, 2009
I was reading this story book because I learned of the biography of the author, Dare Wright, by Jean Nathan. The biography suggests that the story book series reflects a sinister, sexual tone because in nearly every photo frame one can see the doll's underwear, and because in one scene the doll is being spanked.
I read the book for the first time now, as an adult, with the biographer's idea lodged in my brain, but I have to admit I do not see any sinister, sexual overtones that would be apparent to a child. I think a child would understand and enjoy the book and come away unscathed or permanently damaged by seeing the doll's underwear. It is much more painful for me to think of Dare Wright, the author of the series, spending the time to get the underwear display just right. Children won't be damaged, but Dare may have been.
I read the book for the first time now, as an adult, with the biographer's idea lodged in my brain, but I have to admit I do not see any sinister, sexual overtones that would be apparent to a child. I think a child would understand and enjoy the book and come away unscathed or permanently damaged by seeing the doll's underwear. It is much more painful for me to think of Dare Wright, the author of the series, spending the time to get the underwear display just right. Children won't be damaged, but Dare may have been.
February 23, 2017
Beautiful. I wish I'd had this book when I was small. The photographic illustrations are lovely, and the story is so gentle and profoundly personal.
March 2, 2013
I both loved this book and found it creepy. I don't know if the creepiness was what appealed to me, actually. I read a feature on Dare Wright in Tin House years ago that confirmed that she was herself lonely and a bit odd.
This is in that category of books that were very influential but about which I have mixed feelings. The photographs themselves and the doll (why are certain dolls creepy?) are well done and very innovative. I have always responded to children's books that are illustrated with photographs of toys, dolls, live animals and people. They have been a big inspiration for my own photography and illustration.
This is in that category of books that were very influential but about which I have mixed feelings. The photographs themselves and the doll (why are certain dolls creepy?) are well done and very innovative. I have always responded to children's books that are illustrated with photographs of toys, dolls, live animals and people. They have been a big inspiration for my own photography and illustration.
May 28, 2023
I came across a photo of this book completely by accident and it brought back such a flood of memories. We read every single one of these strange books by Dare Wright as kids. There was something creepy and a little scary about them - the staginess of all the scenes, the black and white photography. One picture that stayed with me in particular, I'm not sure from which book, was Edith the doll turned over Mr. Bear's knee getting a spanking. Now the whole idea makes me think of Cindy Sherman....
These books are absolutely brilliant.
These books are absolutely brilliant.
April 4, 2019
Three stars as A for Effort (and work and production, especially considering the time it was created), but as for results...yeeesh.
The Lonely Doll books (or at least some of them) can be found on Internet Archive's website, and one or two can be read online. They're PDF scans of old library books, which from what I saw were checked out enough to fill the card and the paper that goes in the front of the book.
I'll admit a lot of work and planning and effort went into this cautionary tale about not rebelling against your parents, and accepting the consequences--in those days, a spanking. Spanking was not a big deal in those days; it was part of being a child. I guess what makes the book so ca-reepy is the expression on the doll's face. Those eyes, the angle of the head, the little repressed mouth. No smiling expression for Edith! but then, from what I understand, the author had very little to smile about. The doll in question is also rather wild-eyed; her basic expression is repressed terror mixed with a good dollop of resentment. But then that's understandable, within the parameters of the tale. This little doll (girl) lives alone, having been abandoned? by those who own the house. The house holds jewels and clothes and flowers galore, but if she touches them, she's punished by Mr Bear, who just turned up one day and took over. To all intents and purposes, it's HER HOUSE, dammit! Or at least more hers than Mr Bear's...but you can't tell him that. Even in the photo where we are told "They did have fun!" it looks more like Edith is desperately trying to escape the Bear's clutches. To top it off, I got the impression that what triggered Edith being "disciplined" was not so much that she dared play dressup (and, oh horrors! used lipstick like a GROWNUP!) but that she called Mr Bear "a silly old thing." In WRITING. How dare her! as Shylock said.
Perhaps if I had found this book as a small child, growing up in a dysfunctional and (I now know) abusive family, I actually would have liked it--after all, Edith does rebel, and does break the rules, she doesn't just get smacked on spec. But as an adult? I wouldn't let my kids near it, if I had any. I can understand the...fascination...it may have for the adult reader. It certainly makes an impact. So to speak.
The Lonely Doll books (or at least some of them) can be found on Internet Archive's website, and one or two can be read online. They're PDF scans of old library books, which from what I saw were checked out enough to fill the card and the paper that goes in the front of the book.
I'll admit a lot of work and planning and effort went into this cautionary tale about not rebelling against your parents, and accepting the consequences--in those days, a spanking. Spanking was not a big deal in those days; it was part of being a child. I guess what makes the book so ca-reepy is the expression on the doll's face. Those eyes, the angle of the head, the little repressed mouth. No smiling expression for Edith! but then, from what I understand, the author had very little to smile about. The doll in question is also rather wild-eyed; her basic expression is repressed terror mixed with a good dollop of resentment. But then that's understandable, within the parameters of the tale. This little doll (girl) lives alone, having been abandoned? by those who own the house. The house holds jewels and clothes and flowers galore, but if she touches them, she's punished by Mr Bear, who just turned up one day and took over. To all intents and purposes, it's HER HOUSE, dammit! Or at least more hers than Mr Bear's...but you can't tell him that. Even in the photo where we are told "They did have fun!" it looks more like Edith is desperately trying to escape the Bear's clutches. To top it off, I got the impression that what triggered Edith being "disciplined" was not so much that she dared play dressup (and, oh horrors! used lipstick like a GROWNUP!) but that she called Mr Bear "a silly old thing." In WRITING. How dare her! as Shylock said.
Perhaps if I had found this book as a small child, growing up in a dysfunctional and (I now know) abusive family, I actually would have liked it--after all, Edith does rebel, and does break the rules, she doesn't just get smacked on spec. But as an adult? I wouldn't let my kids near it, if I had any. I can understand the...fascination...it may have for the adult reader. It certainly makes an impact. So to speak.
April 8, 2018
I’m conflicted about this book: my five year old daughter is a little obsessed with it right now, and it’s not hard to see why. The illustrations are beautiful black and white photographs of toys in perfect settings. It’s as if all those horrible YouTube videos she likes to watch were remade as an attractive book with a coherent plot. I know I would have loved it as a kid.
But...the photos (and the story itself) are a more than a little creepy. There’s something kinky about the bear spanking Edith. I mean, there’s something kinky about spanking in general, which is why it’s tricky when it comes up in picture books. Also, trying to figure out what the roles really are—are the bears her friends? Why does Mr. Bear have all this authority? It seems like Edith is in the submissive role in an abusive co-dependent relationship. We’ve been talking a lot at our house about what the hell is up with THAT.
Lillian seems not so hung up on what the actual roles are: friend? Surrogate parent? She doesn’t care. But she definitely wants to know what the hell is up with the spanking.
But...the photos (and the story itself) are a more than a little creepy. There’s something kinky about the bear spanking Edith. I mean, there’s something kinky about spanking in general, which is why it’s tricky when it comes up in picture books. Also, trying to figure out what the roles really are—are the bears her friends? Why does Mr. Bear have all this authority? It seems like Edith is in the submissive role in an abusive co-dependent relationship. We’ve been talking a lot at our house about what the hell is up with THAT.
Lillian seems not so hung up on what the actual roles are: friend? Surrogate parent? She doesn’t care. But she definitely wants to know what the hell is up with the spanking.
July 20, 2022
Okay, I was warned but I chose to go forward and read this book anyway. I don't see dolls as having a creep factor like other members of my family, at least I didn't until I read this book. This is totally messed up! Those photos of the doll walking and acting out her life were just beyond weird. My poor son, who really does have a problem with dolls, nearly had a breakdown when I started showing him the photos. (Okay, it was a little bit funny.) I understand that there are more books in this series. I will be giving those a hard pass.
May 26, 2017
When a lonely doll living by herself gets an unexpected visit she is euphoric. From that point on she has friends to play with, Mr. Bear and Little Bear. Doesn't sound very exciting right?
Except when you look at the context... that's when it becomes deeply unsettling. Dare Wright grew up fairly isolated by a smothering, overbearing mother who pushed her into the spotlight as a model. They even shared the same bed as adults. Jean Nathan, her biographer, reckons that Wright remained a virgin her whole life, except for the rape by a homeless man whom she had previously befriended.
Anyways, I don't belong to the group who read this classic as a kid, feeling all warm and fuzzy, because this is my first time reading it, but I can clearly see how off-putting it might be when revisiting 'The Lonely Doll' as an adult.
Back to the book:
Once when Mr. Bear goes away for a short while, Edith and Little Bear excitedly explore the house, trying on high heels, lipstick and a new dress. Mr. Bear has been watching. WHAT? It just screams pedobear to me...
Little Bear though used to the punishments doled out by Mr. Bear is visibly terrified of the repercussions, just like Edith. Of course he punishes the both of them with a firm spanking which is by far the most famous scene. After some apologising for fear of being abandoned, everything is peace love and understanding. With Mr. Bear touching her on the head or shoulder or standing inappropriately close. #ew #goosebumps #swallow
Reading only the text without the accompanying pictures, it mightn't seem so repulsive... I don't think. The combination of the writing and visuals is what makes this utterly compelling. It sort of reminded me of Tender Morsels which I couldn't finish though I've heard nothing but praise about it.
There is just something so upsetting and disgusting when something that should be considered a safe haven for a child gets subverted and violated. In "Lonely Doll" it's the bears that come for a seemingly friendly visit and then decide to stay indefinitely. It's just bears, you might say and normally I would agree with you wholeheartedly, but again: context!!! Edith is depicted showing an interest in her sexuality when putting on lipstick and jewellery which is completely natural. You'll feel chilled though, when an undressed Edith gets touched, by Mr. Bear who clearly is a father figure to her.
Let me rephrase Patricia Arquette's quote by saying "(..) what is deviant is when [someone] decides that they can break into your sexuality, steal that from you [and] insert themselves".
Reading this disturbing work just made me sad and mad for the lonely doll and Wright herself.
The point of view is that of a child doll, so you get the sense that the ominous scenes of abuse are downplayed. Edith feels like a 'bad girl', displeasing Mr. Bear and fears that she might lose his affection, thus she endures the physical violence inflicted by him. It's heartbreaking to witness because it's obvious that 'if' not 'when' she breaks away it's going to take a lot of self-strength/will. After all, the Mr. Bears it seems, are good at picking victims and exploiting their weaknesses.
I can definitely see the appeal for audiences and why "The Lonely Doll" has stayed a classic thus far. It's haunting. It truly is.
Except when you look at the context... that's when it becomes deeply unsettling. Dare Wright grew up fairly isolated by a smothering, overbearing mother who pushed her into the spotlight as a model. They even shared the same bed as adults. Jean Nathan, her biographer, reckons that Wright remained a virgin her whole life, except for the rape by a homeless man whom she had previously befriended.
Anyways, I don't belong to the group who read this classic as a kid, feeling all warm and fuzzy, because this is my first time reading it, but I can clearly see how off-putting it might be when revisiting 'The Lonely Doll' as an adult.
Back to the book:
Once when Mr. Bear goes away for a short while, Edith and Little Bear excitedly explore the house, trying on high heels, lipstick and a new dress. Mr. Bear has been watching. WHAT? It just screams pedobear to me...
Little Bear though used to the punishments doled out by Mr. Bear is visibly terrified of the repercussions, just like Edith. Of course he punishes the both of them with a firm spanking which is by far the most famous scene. After some apologising for fear of being abandoned, everything is peace love and understanding. With Mr. Bear touching her on the head or shoulder or standing inappropriately close. #ew #goosebumps #swallow
Reading only the text without the accompanying pictures, it mightn't seem so repulsive... I don't think. The combination of the writing and visuals is what makes this utterly compelling. It sort of reminded me of Tender Morsels which I couldn't finish though I've heard nothing but praise about it.
There is just something so upsetting and disgusting when something that should be considered a safe haven for a child gets subverted and violated. In "Lonely Doll" it's the bears that come for a seemingly friendly visit and then decide to stay indefinitely. It's just bears, you might say and normally I would agree with you wholeheartedly, but again: context!!! Edith is depicted showing an interest in her sexuality when putting on lipstick and jewellery which is completely natural. You'll feel chilled though, when an undressed Edith gets touched, by Mr. Bear who clearly is a father figure to her.
Let me rephrase Patricia Arquette's quote by saying "(..) what is deviant is when [someone] decides that they can break into your sexuality, steal that from you [and] insert themselves".
Reading this disturbing work just made me sad and mad for the lonely doll and Wright herself.
The point of view is that of a child doll, so you get the sense that the ominous scenes of abuse are downplayed. Edith feels like a 'bad girl', displeasing Mr. Bear and fears that she might lose his affection, thus she endures the physical violence inflicted by him. It's heartbreaking to witness because it's obvious that 'if' not 'when' she breaks away it's going to take a lot of self-strength/will. After all, the Mr. Bears it seems, are good at picking victims and exploiting their weaknesses.
I can definitely see the appeal for audiences and why "The Lonely Doll" has stayed a classic thus far. It's haunting. It truly is.
December 5, 2012
Never read The Lonely Doll as a kid, somehow acquired a biography of Dare Wright (still unread), saw this displayed in the kiddie section at the library and snatched it up. I read it this morning because I needed to take it back to the library.
This is a children's book that involves a story, told through photographs, of a doll who is desperate for friends until one day two bears mysteriously show up. There's a large bear who ends up being a father figure and a little bear who ends up being the doll's partner in crime. The text is simple and brief and the photographs are dreamy black-and-white shots.
I think as a kid I would have thought it was just a cute story and been inspired to tell a similar story with my dolls, but as an adult I found it terribly sad and a little creepy. (And it would be creepy even without the oft-mentioned spanking scene.) It's pretty, though.
This is a children's book that involves a story, told through photographs, of a doll who is desperate for friends until one day two bears mysteriously show up. There's a large bear who ends up being a father figure and a little bear who ends up being the doll's partner in crime. The text is simple and brief and the photographs are dreamy black-and-white shots.
I think as a kid I would have thought it was just a cute story and been inspired to tell a similar story with my dolls, but as an adult I found it terribly sad and a little creepy. (And it would be creepy even without the oft-mentioned spanking scene.) It's pretty, though.
December 30, 2019
I never came across this as a child, but did so recently when I was doing research on creepy children’s books. This sure is creepy. It’s about a girl desperate for friendship, which she receives when two bears put an end to her lonely existence. When Edith and Little Bear make a mess of the house and get sassy, Mr. Bear punishes them with a spanking. This was written decades ago and would probably be considered inappropriate and even sexual by readers today, but it was interesting and engaging. I’m now curious to read Wright’s other books and even read and watch any available biographies on her.
December 21, 2016
This is not a book I would encourage anyone to give to a child. It's creepy and strange and makes you think of something nasty in the woodshed. It's the sort of book that booksellers enjoy showing to one another, in a "I bet you haven't ever seen anything like this" way. I don't say that it would scar a child for life, just that once you start thinking something is strange you can't stop thinking that.
Library copy
Library copy
February 14, 2014
There is something off-putting and unintentionally creepy about this book and I’m not sure if that’s a bad thing. I love the element of photography instead of illustrations. I’m not sure if this is an ideal book for a child but I found it to be something different which is always fun.
Personally it reminds me of old stop motion short films I used to watch as a small child.
Personally it reminds me of old stop motion short films I used to watch as a small child.
June 11, 2009
Edith is lonely until two bears turn up to be her friends and guardians. I loved this book as a child, and was just as happy not knowing anything about the author's troubled life.
Read
February 27, 2020Now that I’ve had some time to calm down and reflect, I can absolutely understand why people (adult people!) find this book so compelling. The photographs are incredible. They could easily be hung in an art museum to be pondered over for decades. They are tender and poignant and somehow perfectly reflect the artist’s exploration of childhood isolation, abuse and trauma, much of which she herself experienced (also interesting that the doll, Edith, was named after her mother). Viewed from that angle, this really is an exceptional book.
All that being said, imagine my response upon my 6 year old bringing this book home from her school library and immediately showing me the picture of the bear “looking at that doll’s privates!”. Yeah….let’s just say I was less than pleased.
Oh, but for the curious, check out this article about this book and the artist who made it: https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-...
All that being said, imagine my response upon my 6 year old bringing this book home from her school library and immediately showing me the picture of the bear “looking at that doll’s privates!”. Yeah….let’s just say I was less than pleased.
Oh, but for the curious, check out this article about this book and the artist who made it: https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-...
August 22, 2019
I want you to close your eyes and imagine a slightly unsettling children’s story illustrated with Cindy Sherman photos. Done? Good! Now you know what it’s like to read Dare Wright’s 1957 classic, The Lonely Doll.
This book has been cited as very influential by many women artists, including Cindy Sherman herself. It’s fascinating, disturbing, beautifully photographed, playful, sad, and mysteriously melancholic. I think in 2019 it is more realistic to view it as an art book or literary piece as opposed to a children’s book. Dare Wright was a model, actress, and photographer who had a sharp eye and a meticulous touch. In that way, the book is a photographic masterpiece—really.
Here’s an excellent New Yorker article about the history of the book, its lasting influence, and the rather strange life of the author: https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-....
This book has been cited as very influential by many women artists, including Cindy Sherman herself. It’s fascinating, disturbing, beautifully photographed, playful, sad, and mysteriously melancholic. I think in 2019 it is more realistic to view it as an art book or literary piece as opposed to a children’s book. Dare Wright was a model, actress, and photographer who had a sharp eye and a meticulous touch. In that way, the book is a photographic masterpiece—really.
Here’s an excellent New Yorker article about the history of the book, its lasting influence, and the rather strange life of the author: https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-....
November 19, 2019
I found this on a list of weirdest books and decided to check it out at the local library. It certainly lives up to its reputation! The photographs of the dolls and teddy bears are so well staged that the life-like nature of the dolls adds to the oddness. (For all you grad students out there who have studied psychoanalytic theory, this would be related to Mori's theory of "the uncanny valley." A doll's life-like nature is pleasing until it reaches a point where it's a little too real, which suddenly makes it disturbing and repulsive. In other words, classic grotesque. That's this book in a nutshell.) Part of what makes it so disturbing is the 1950s patriarchal values that underpin the story: Mr. Bear is the man, and he lays down the rules. Break those rules, and you're in for a spanking! (Yeah, the photos on that page are just as weird as you'd expect.) Worth a look if you like offbeat books, but I don't know who in their right mind would read this to a kid in earnest.
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March 9, 2018I’ve heard about this book for years, but I finally read it because Betsy Bird recently featured it on her podcast. It’s....something else. o_O
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