The Story of Doctor Dolittle
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| Author | Hugh Lofting |
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| Illustrator | Hugh Lofting |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | Doctor Dolittle |
| Genre(s) | Fantasy, Children's novel |
| Publisher | Frederick A. Stokes |
| Released | 1920 |
| Media Type | Print (Hardcover and Paperback) |
| Pages | 180 pp (first edition hardcover) |
| ISBN | N/A |
| Followed by | The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle |
In The Story of Doctor Dolittle, Being the History of His Peculiar Life at Home and Astonishing Adventures in Foreign Parts (1920), the first of Hugh Lofting's Doctor Dolittle books, we are introduced to the doctor who gives up treating people after Polynesia, his parrot, teaches him animal languages. His fame in the animal kingdom spreads throughout the world and soon he sets off to cure a monkey epidemic in Africa, finding all sorts of exciting adventures on the way.
The style of the book is clearly aimed for young children, with a good deal of explanation of hard words. This would change with the sequels.
[edit] Plot introduction
The original edition of the book included language and plot elements that are considered racially derogatory by present-day standards, though probably not intended as such by the writer. Black African characters are clearly intended by the writer to be sympathetic, but their depiction reflects the paternalistic mindset of colonialism still prevailing in Britain at the time of writing, not to mention the racism in Lofting's adopted United States. Editions starting in the 1960s removed some offensive terms for black people. (Exactly when these revisions appeared is difficult to determine, as the changes are not explicitly noted.)
Later editions changed the plot as well, and noted these changes in a new preface for the book. The original edition had a plotline where Bumpo, the African prince, wishes he was white, so that he can marry the Sleeping Beauty. The Doctor, who is imprisoned by the prince's father, grants his wish in exchange for escape by covering him with white cream. In subsequent editions, Bumpo is either hypnotised or he wishes to be a lion.
[edit] Publication
The book entered the public domain in the United States in 1996, and in many Berne Convention countries in 1998. Since then, various publishers have printed both the original version, and various revisions and retellings.
[edit] External links
- The Story of Doctor Dolittle, available freely at Project Gutenberg
| Doctor Dolittle Books Hugh Lofting |
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