Half a century after the publication of The Lonely Doll, Dare Wright
remains a subject of fascination. A strikingly attractive woman-child--a
model and fashion photographer who always saw the world through the eyes
of a girl--she was the author of nineteen children's books that are
still remembered fondly by a legion of fans. Ocracoke in the Fifties,
now in print for the first time, is Dare Wright's only book for adults.
First and foremost, it is a tribute to one of Dare's favorite places. It
is also a time capsule of a unique island culture just past the midpoint
of the twentieth century. And surprisingly, it is a testament to the
timelessness of Ocracoke--which would please Dare immensely. Ocracoke
has seen its share of changes, to be sure, but readers will have no
trouble recognizing the durable little island off the North Carolina
coast. The Ocracoke Lighthouse, the British Cemetery, the pony herd, the
white picket fences, the legend of Blackbeard, the weathered fishermen,
the barefoot children--seldom have Ocracoke's landmarks, legends, and
people been portrayed so memorably as by Dare Wright's camera and pen.
Dare Wright died in 2001. Ocracoke in the Fifties will bring a twinge
of nostalgia to those who loved her children's books and introduce her
to a new generation of readers.
Dare Wright (1914-2001) was born in Canada on December 3, 1914. Her
parents' marriage dissolved before Dare turned three, and Dare's father
left with her older brother, Blaine. The children were not to reunite
until they were in their twenties. Dare grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, and
showed an early creative aptitude. Encouraged by her mother, the artist
Edith Stevenson Wright, Dare learned to sketch, paint, write, and sew.
It took the catalyst of photography for Dare to later combine these
talents into her Lonely Doll book series. Moving to New York in her
twenties, Dare modeled for major magazines and had small parts in
theatrical productions. A stunning beauty, Dare seemed a natural for
show business, but she was never comfortable performing in a public
venue. Competition, whether with other actresses for roles, or with her
mother as a painter, was too distressing. Instead, Dare found her niche
as a photographer, first in the fashion field, and then as a children's
book author. In 1941, Dare and her brother Blaine met for the first time
since they had been separated as children. Blaine was handsome, witty,
and everything Dare could have wished for in a sibling. Blaine
introduced Dare to his RAF friend, Philip Sandeman. The two became
engaged, but the wedding never transpired. The 1957 success of Dare's
first book, The Lonely Doll, brought her recognition as both an author
and photographer. Illustrated with Dare's haunting black-and-white
photographs, the seemingly simple text touched both children and their
parents. Almost fifty years later, Dare's nineteen published books
continue to delight a new generation of readers.
