Dolly Dialogues

by Anthony Hope

This unique edition of from Dolly Dialogues Dead Dodo Vintage includes the full original text as well as exclusive features not available in other editions.Anthony Hope is remembered today for his great adventure novel The Prisoner of Zenda. Prior to the success of that novel, he worked as a barrister while trying to establish himself as a writer. In the 1890s, he published a series of sketches in the Westminster Gazette. In 1894, these were collected together in book form as The Dolly Dialogues. The 24 chapters (or sketches) are light-hearted social comedy that gives the contemporary reader a perspective of upper class English society in the late Victorian period. The narrator, Mr. Samuel Carter, is a bachelor who carries a torch for a woman named “Dolly” with whom he once shared affections. Dolly marries Lord Archie Mickleham, a man deemed more suitable by virtue of his social position and wealth. The chapters trace the formal friendship between Carter and Dolly from before her engagement to years into her marriage. Each consists of conversations and light interactions between Carter and Dolly or others of her circle of family and acquaintances. The repartee is quick, sparkling, and clever, full of mild flirtation, epigrams, and double entendre. The tone is gently satirical, and the content superficial and mildly amusing. However, a touch of pathos suffuses the whole. Carter remains single as the ladies of his acquaintance marry and have families, and by the penultimate chapter he is feeling the press of a solitary middle age. The last sketch is a peculiar one — he has a dream in which has he died and finds himself in a waiting room to the Elysian Fields — into which he gains entrance, along with Dolly and of course, her ever- present husband. It is widely considered to be one of the top 100 greatest books of all time.

Genres: Fiction, Classics, Victorian

218 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1894

About the author

Prolific English novelist and playwright Sir Anthony Hope Hawkins especially composed adventure. People remember him best only for the book The Prisoner of Zenda (1894) and its sequel Rupert of Hentzau (1898). These works, "minor classics" of English literature, set in the contemporaneous fictional country of Ruritania, spawned the genre, known as Ruritanian romance. Zenda inspired many adaptations, most notably the Hollywood movie of 1937 of the same name.

Reviews

[Sherwood Smith]

My copy is falling apart. I don't know if these have been reissued, but they are Hope's wit at its very best; a comedy of manners set of short stories tangentially connected, in the silver fork style.

Dolly marries dull but steady and rich Lord Mickleham, in the teeth of his formidable mother and catty sisters, and in spite of her sometime romance with first person narrator Sam Carter. Sam flirts lightly with other women, such as the very good Mrs. Hillary, but he carries a torch for frivolous Dolly until she tricks her way through the Pearly Gates.

The stories are slight, the observations of high society shrewd and yet forgiving, the writing is brilliant in its seemingly effortless unstudiedness. It is very much of its period, yet there is a curious chapter in which Hope digs his quill into the savagery of hunting with an unexpected bit of gender reversal.

[Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Humorous dialogues of the flippant bachelor Carter with his flirtatious friend Dolly and other acquaintances.

Good practice for modern readers in picking up implication in Victorian writing, as the large gaps make it clear where the reader is meant to fill in something that isn't being said.

It appears to be free for Kindle and is included in The Woollcott Reader.

[K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this for free on my phone at random moments during the past few weeks. Five stars for wit & humor, sometimes laugh out-loud. Liked it, but not worth a five in either subject matter, philosophy or anything but the humor & crisp writing. Good way, however, to pass the time when waiting in the car, etc.

[Elizabeth Burgess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite enjoyed the little insights into the feeling of love at first sight - humorous yet strikingly realistic - and the wonderful flirtation between Mr Carter and Dolly. Truly loved Dolly's entire character - my little late 19th century soul sister. Most of the stories without Dolly didn't hold my interest as much but overall a good read.

[Auntiecatherine]

The Dolly Dialogues by Anthony Hope (?)

[Kathy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Obscure. Too clever by half.