The Story of Doctor Dolittle [Hardcover]

Hugh Lofting (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1978

Doctor Dolittle is truly extraordinary. Not only can he talk to the animals--he can also understand what they say to him. One day Doctor Dolittle receives a message from Africa. The monkeys there need his help. So he sails off from his home,bringing along all his animal friends: Dab-Dab, the duck; Jip, the dog; Gub-Gub, the baby pig; Polynesia, the parrot; and Too-Too, the owl. The doctor and his friends have many amazing adventures. They even meet the rarest of all animals, the two-headed pushmi-pullyu!

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Listening to Alan Bennett read The Story of Doctor Dolittle is the next best thing to borrowing someone's kindly British grandfather for a marathon round of bedtime stories. Bennett seems to have an unlimited supply of voices, accents, and inflections on the ready, which he calls upon to impart each of Doctor Dolittle's animal companions with a distinct personality and voice.

Bennett's reading of the classic children's book is deliciously whimsical. As the tale opens, Dr. John Dolittle is on the verge of the realization that he's just not much good as a people doctor--his earnings have dwindled to a paltry sixpence a year. He takes the advice of his creaky-voiced 183-year-old parrot, Polynesia, and learns animal languages. As an animal doctor, he's brilliant and soon finds himself and his animal friends sailing to Africa to treat an epidemic among monkeys. With no trouble at all, Doctor Dolittle cures the monkeys, but he and his menagerie become embroiled in one adventure after another. They narrowly escape sinking in their leaky ship, thanks to some stowaway rats with surprisingly cultured and well-bred diction, who alert the doctor just in time. The doctor and his friends later run afoul of the Barbary pirates, known to be "a bad lot," for whom Bennett devises a hilariously unidentifiable but thoroughly villainous accent. With the help of some fast-talking (and hungry) sharks, Doctor Dolittle "persuades" the pirates they'd be much better off as birdseed farmers.

The adventures are exciting, but not frightening. Bennett's reassuring voice and the fact that the doctor always forges a peaceful solution to each predicament make the recording appropriate for small children. Adults, too, will find the stories appealing and are certain to appreciate the understated social satire occasionally voiced by the perceptive animals. The reading is rounded out by delightful orchestral selections from Camille Saint-Saëns's "Carnival of the Animals," which signal the beginning and end of each tape side. (Running time: 150 minutes, two cassettes) --Elizabeth Laskey --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

Kleinbaum's adaptations, accompanied by Lofting's illustrations from the original editions, bring the classic books to younger readers. Ages 6-9.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (June 1978)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 039730000X
• ISBN-13: 978-0397300006
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,808,112 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

88 of 97 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars The Potically Correct Version of Dr. Dolittle., August 4, 2000

By 

G. Powell (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Story of Doctor Dolittle (Books of Wonder) (Hardcover)

I liked the story of Dr. Dolittle. However I would like to warn modern readers, that the full version of this book is Racist. So the Editors have carefully changed the story of the African Chief who wished to become Cacausion in appearance to one where he wishes to become a lion. Now, I agree that the story is better this way, but mucking around with books after the author is dead and can't defend or fix them is right out. So in that vein I can't recommend this edition of this book. The editors should have changed the title to "The Modern Dr. Dolittle" or some other name which implies that the story isn't the orginal. They do it all the time with the bible, "King James Ed.", "Good News for Modern Man" etc.

If you are going to read to children, books which treat people unfairly you should take the time explain why this was a poor idea even in its day. Or not read them at all. Or own up to the fact that you've changed the story.

On the plus side the illustrations are great, M. Hague is a great artist.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is one of the best in all children's literature., June 1, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Story of Doctor Dolittle (Paperback)

I read "The Story of Doctor Dolittle" for the first time when I was seven. Recently I read the new edition illustrated by Michael Hague. This new edition is terrific. The revisions are obvious to one who read the original work, but they are sensible and reflect Lofting's intentions while reflecting modern thought. Hague's illustrations are beautiful. I would still recommend that older children and adults read the original, to learn a bit about Lofting's time and because the author's illustrations are wonderfully simplistic. This is also a good read-aloud for younger children, because many, when they are able to read it for themselves, will unfortunately have lost interest in such a fanciful story.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully illustrated and revised, July 15, 2005

By 

M. M. Corbett (Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Story of Doctor Dolittle (Books of Wonder) (Hardcover)

I presume anyone reading the reviews already is familiar with the storyline of Dr. Dolittle. I highly recommend this version with only a slight reservation (see below) because its illustration and editing would make an excellent introduction to children as well as a gift possibility and a lifelong keepsake.

I heartily disagree with the reviewer who discredits this edition because it has been updated to modern civilities. The reviewer mistakenly suggests that the edition conceals that changes have been made. To the contrary, the foreword fully describes the editors' concerns for literary sensitivities as they made changes.

If your purpose is to collect unabridged books, do shop elsewhere. But if you share my intent of introducing this wonderful story to children, this book serves the purpose very well. There is minimal distraction from unnecessary anachronisms.

I think this edition would serve children well through elementary school. I would nominate unabridged editions for older children to help teach them about society's changing attitudes towards racism.

My slight reservation (mentioned above) about this edition is that racial stereotypes do persist. In Africa, the (white) doctor is referred as "the good man" while the African king is unjust, his son is goofy, and both the king and his son are easily fooled. These characterizations ARE unavoidable without drastically changing the storyline. However, the story explains the motivation for the king's injustice and is a worthy point of discussion with a young reader.