author
Bertha Upton
1849–1912
Best known for the verse that brought the Dutch dolls and Golliwogg to life, Bertha Upton helped create one of the most popular illustrated children’s-book series of the late Victorian era. Her lively partnership with her daughter, illustrator Florence Kate Upton, began with a single book in 1895 and grew into a celebrated series.
1 Audiobook
The Adventure of Two Dutch Dolls and a 'Golliwogg'
by Bertha Upton
About the author
Bertha Upton (1849–1912), born Bertha Hudson, was a British writer who moved to New York in 1870 after marrying Thomas Harborough Upton. After her husband’s death in 1889, she supported the family by giving voice lessons while her daughter Florence developed a career as an illustrator.
Mother and daughter collaborated on The Adventures of Two Dutch Dolls and a “Golliwogg”, published in 1895. Bertha wrote the verse and Florence supplied the illustrations, introducing the Golliwogg character and the playful world of the Dutch dolls. The book’s success led to a series of further adventures, published between 1895 and 1909, including The Golliwogg’s Bicycle Club, The Golliwogg’s Circus, and The Golliwogg in the African Jungle.
Although Florence’s artwork made the books especially distinctive, Bertha’s rhyming text shaped their humor, movement, and storytelling. The Golliwogg later became controversial because of the racist caricature tradition surrounding the character, but the original books remain an important part of the history of illustrated children’s literature.