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Doctor Dolittle #3
Doktor Dolittle'i postkontor. Doktor Dolittle'i reisid
Teine köide inglise lastekirjaniku Hugh Loftingi (1886-1947) populaarse Dolittle'i-seeria jutustustest. Heasüdamlik, üdini aus ning kartmatu tohter, kes oskab loomade keelt, võtab nende omakasupüüdmatut abi kasutades ette suuri asju nii loomariigi kui ka vähearenenud rahvaste «elu ja hariduse edendamiseks». «Reisides» annab autor jutujärje uue tegelase, kehva kingsepa poja Tommy kätte, kellest saab doktori assistent ning kaaslane seiklusrikkal merereisil, mille vältel imepärasel doktoril jällegi õnnestub mitmeti «maailma parandada» ja euroopalikku tsivilisatsiooni levitada.
496 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1923
48 people are currently reading
701 people want to read
About the author
Hugh Lofting
380 books185 followersHugh Lofting was a British author, trained as a civil engineer, who created the character of Doctor Dolittle — one of the classics of children's literature.
Lofting was born in Maidenhead, England, to English and Irish parents. His early education was at Mount St Mary's College in Sheffield, after which he went to the United States, completing a degree in civil engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
He traveled widely as a civil engineer before enlisting in the Irish Guards to serve in World War I. Not wishing to write to his children of the brutality of the war, he wrote imaginative letters that were the foundation of the successful Doctor Dolittle novels for children. Seriously wounded in the war, he moved with his family to Connecticut in the United States. Lofting was married three times and had three children, one of whom, his son Christopher, is the executor of his literary estate.
"For years it was a constant source of shock to me to find my writings amongst 'juveniles,'" Lofting reported. "It does not bother me any more now, but I still feel there should be a category of 'seniles' to offset the epithet."
Doctor Dolittle
Hugh Lofting's doctor from Puddleby-on-the-Marsh who could speak to animals first saw light in the author's illustrated letters to children, written from the trenches during World War I when actual news, he later said, was either too horrible or too dull. The stories are set in early Victorian England, (in and around the 1840s, according to a date given in The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle). The Story of Doctor Dolittle: Being the History of His Peculiar Life at Home and Astonishing Adventures in Foreign Parts Never Before Printed (1920) began the series and won the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award in 1958.The sequel, The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle (1922), won Lofting the prestigious Newbery Medal. Eight more books followed, and after Lofting's death two more volumes, composed of short unpublished pieces, appeared. The series has been adapted for film and television many times, for stage twice, and for radio.
Other Works for Children
The Story of Mrs Tubbs (1923) and Tommy, Tilly, and Mrs. Tubbs (1936) are picture books aimed at a younger audience than the Doctor Dolittle books. They concern the titular old woman, her pets (with whom she can speak) and the animals who help her out of trouble.
Porridge Poetry (1924) is the only non-Dolittle work by Lofting still in print. It is a lighthearted, colorfully illustrated book of poems for children.
Noisy Nora (1929) is a cautionary tale about a girl who is a noisy eater. The book is printed as if hand-written, and the many illustrations often merge with the text.
The Twilight of Magic (1930) is aimed at older readers. It is set in an age when magic is dying and science is beginning. This work is the only one of Lofting's books to be illustrated by another person (Lois Lenski).
Victory for the Slain
Victory for the Slain (1942) is Lofting's only work for adults, a single long poem in seven parts about the futility of war; the refrain "In war the only victors are the slain" permeates the poem. It was published only in the United Kingdom.
Lofting was born in Maidenhead, England, to English and Irish parents. His early education was at Mount St Mary's College in Sheffield, after which he went to the United States, completing a degree in civil engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
He traveled widely as a civil engineer before enlisting in the Irish Guards to serve in World War I. Not wishing to write to his children of the brutality of the war, he wrote imaginative letters that were the foundation of the successful Doctor Dolittle novels for children. Seriously wounded in the war, he moved with his family to Connecticut in the United States. Lofting was married three times and had three children, one of whom, his son Christopher, is the executor of his literary estate.
"For years it was a constant source of shock to me to find my writings amongst 'juveniles,'" Lofting reported. "It does not bother me any more now, but I still feel there should be a category of 'seniles' to offset the epithet."
Doctor Dolittle
Hugh Lofting's doctor from Puddleby-on-the-Marsh who could speak to animals first saw light in the author's illustrated letters to children, written from the trenches during World War I when actual news, he later said, was either too horrible or too dull. The stories are set in early Victorian England, (in and around the 1840s, according to a date given in The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle). The Story of Doctor Dolittle: Being the History of His Peculiar Life at Home and Astonishing Adventures in Foreign Parts Never Before Printed (1920) began the series and won the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award in 1958.The sequel, The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle (1922), won Lofting the prestigious Newbery Medal. Eight more books followed, and after Lofting's death two more volumes, composed of short unpublished pieces, appeared. The series has been adapted for film and television many times, for stage twice, and for radio.
Other Works for Children
The Story of Mrs Tubbs (1923) and Tommy, Tilly, and Mrs. Tubbs (1936) are picture books aimed at a younger audience than the Doctor Dolittle books. They concern the titular old woman, her pets (with whom she can speak) and the animals who help her out of trouble.
Porridge Poetry (1924) is the only non-Dolittle work by Lofting still in print. It is a lighthearted, colorfully illustrated book of poems for children.
Noisy Nora (1929) is a cautionary tale about a girl who is a noisy eater. The book is printed as if hand-written, and the many illustrations often merge with the text.
The Twilight of Magic (1930) is aimed at older readers. It is set in an age when magic is dying and science is beginning. This work is the only one of Lofting's books to be illustrated by another person (Lois Lenski).
Victory for the Slain
Victory for the Slain (1942) is Lofting's only work for adults, a single long poem in seven parts about the futility of war; the refrain "In war the only victors are the slain" permeates the poem. It was published only in the United Kingdom.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
March 29, 2018
☆3/5☆
▪Plot 3/5
▪Details 3/5
▪Characters 4/5
▪Logic 3/5
▪Writing style 3/5
▪Enjoyment 2.5/5
There are some things that aren't suitable for children, in my opinion. But overall it's just an average story.
▪Plot 3/5
▪Details 3/5
▪Characters 4/5
▪Logic 3/5
▪Writing style 3/5
▪Enjoyment 2.5/5
There are some things that aren't suitable for children, in my opinion. But overall it's just an average story.
Read
March 26, 2022A glorious guilty pleasure.
In relative suffering over recent endless sleepless nights I sought comforts in the audiobooks I loved as a child - Alan Bennet reading Doctor Dolittle.
So much did I enjoy them that I have been dipping in to the ones I never read as child. I'm hopelessly attached and charmed.
In relative suffering over recent endless sleepless nights I sought comforts in the audiobooks I loved as a child - Alan Bennet reading Doctor Dolittle.
So much did I enjoy them that I have been dipping in to the ones I never read as child. I'm hopelessly attached and charmed.
September 13, 2020
(See also my review of volume 2.)
This one was OK (I like anything to do with letters and postage stamps).
I was a bit bemused by the fact that there are an owl and a mouse in Doctor Dolittle's entourage, and the owl describes hunting mice as a matter of course. Also meat is served and eaten without qualms, occasionally from species represented in the gathering.
I liked the creativity of the translator, especially when it came to names.
This one was OK (I like anything to do with letters and postage stamps).
I was a bit bemused by the fact that there are an owl and a mouse in Doctor Dolittle's entourage, and the owl describes hunting mice as a matter of course. Also meat is served and eaten without qualms, occasionally from species represented in the gathering.
I liked the creativity of the translator, especially when it came to names.
June 27, 2017
I really wish I had known there were more of these when i was a child. I loved the first one so much. I feel I lose a little of the magic reading these as an adult since they are children stories, but overall they are still enjoyable and I'll want to eventually read the others too. If you like Doctor Dolittle, I recommend this.
March 20, 2020
Have you read any of the Doctor Dolittle books?
I have now read three: The Story of, The Voyages of, and Doctor Dolittle's Post Office. All were surprisingly fun! WAY better than the old Rex Harrison movie (for those of you who also thought it too long and boring as a kid 😉). And I'm not big on animal stories either, but found these to be engaging and full of wit, and not just about the animals but about the Doctor too. A good family read-aloud!
Here's an interesting little excerpt about how Hugh Lofting came to write the series:
"During World War I he left his job as a civil engineer, was commissioned a lieutenant in the Irish Guards, and found that writing illustrated letters to his children eased the strain of war. 'There seemed to be very little to write to youngsters from the front; the news was either too horrible or too dull. One thing that kept forcing itself more and more upon my attention was the very considerable part the animals were playing in the war. That was the beginning of an idea: an eccentric country physician with a bent for natural history and a great love of pets...' These letters became The Story of Doctor Dolittle, published in 1920."
Ages: 6 - 12
Cleanliness: "Holy smoke," "Good heavens," "golly," "gosh," "goodness," "my gracious," "go to the dickens," "my word," and "Good Lord" are used. Mentions smoking a pipe, drinking port and tobacco. Natives think "evil magic" is used but it's just the animals. There are cooking goblins with a magical cucumber (a fairy tale is told) and mentions sprites and ogres.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! You’ll see my updates as I’m reading and know which books I’m liking and what I’m not finishing and why. You’ll also be able to utilize my library for looking up titles to see whether the book you’re thinking about reading next has any objectionable content or not. From swear words, to romance, to bad attitudes (in children’s books), I cover it all!
I have now read three: The Story of, The Voyages of, and Doctor Dolittle's Post Office. All were surprisingly fun! WAY better than the old Rex Harrison movie (for those of you who also thought it too long and boring as a kid 😉). And I'm not big on animal stories either, but found these to be engaging and full of wit, and not just about the animals but about the Doctor too. A good family read-aloud!
Here's an interesting little excerpt about how Hugh Lofting came to write the series:
"During World War I he left his job as a civil engineer, was commissioned a lieutenant in the Irish Guards, and found that writing illustrated letters to his children eased the strain of war. 'There seemed to be very little to write to youngsters from the front; the news was either too horrible or too dull. One thing that kept forcing itself more and more upon my attention was the very considerable part the animals were playing in the war. That was the beginning of an idea: an eccentric country physician with a bent for natural history and a great love of pets...' These letters became The Story of Doctor Dolittle, published in 1920."
Ages: 6 - 12
Cleanliness: "Holy smoke," "Good heavens," "golly," "gosh," "goodness," "my gracious," "go to the dickens," "my word," and "Good Lord" are used. Mentions smoking a pipe, drinking port and tobacco. Natives think "evil magic" is used but it's just the animals. There are cooking goblins with a magical cucumber (a fairy tale is told) and mentions sprites and ogres.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! You’ll see my updates as I’m reading and know which books I’m liking and what I’m not finishing and why. You’ll also be able to utilize my library for looking up titles to see whether the book you’re thinking about reading next has any objectionable content or not. From swear words, to romance, to bad attitudes (in children’s books), I cover it all!
October 7, 2019
On his many voyages, Doctor Dolittle stops by an African kingdom to help them establish their post office, and has the idea to start a post office for the animals as well. The birds have their own way of writing, which the Doctor helps them refine so they can write letters to each other. He is inundated with letters from animals all over the world asking for advice.
I enjoyed this funny story and all the hilarious antics of the animals! The characters are all so different and memorable, and the ridiculous situations the Doctor finds himself in always lead to some new discovery. The plot is interesting and kept my attention through the many different episodes. I really enjoyed the simple, old-fashioned writing style, and the compassion the Doctor extends to anyone in need.
I enjoyed this funny story and all the hilarious antics of the animals! The characters are all so different and memorable, and the ridiculous situations the Doctor finds himself in always lead to some new discovery. The plot is interesting and kept my attention through the many different episodes. I really enjoyed the simple, old-fashioned writing style, and the compassion the Doctor extends to anyone in need.
February 23, 2015
Gifted,
This review is from: Doctor Dolittle's Post Office (illustrated edition) (Kindle Edition)
as a great gift for someone..
This review is from: Doctor Dolittle's Post Office (illustrated edition) (Kindle Edition)
as a great gift for someone..
April 4, 2025
2.5 stars
March 15, 2016
I'm sure I read this back in about 5th grade, which was pretty much back in the dark ages. I loved Doctor Doolittle before he got swallowed up by Hollywood. In the past couple of years, I've reread the first two of the Doctor Doolittle books. They were charming stories, albeit rather racist. Whatever, I decided to read the next one on the list despite the racism.
There's a lot to like about this book. On the other hand, it does meander and seems to lack focus. I'm not sure Lofting knew where he was going, so he just made stuff up and ended up with lots of interesting vignettes, but not a coherent whole.
Doctor Doolittle and friends are headed back to England after having visited Africa. They come upon a woman weeping in a canoe and stop to help. It seems her husband was sold into slavery, so the Doctor goes off to help capture the slave traders, something he does with the help of a British Man o' War he bumps into by accident, and also some swallow friends, who act as scouts. When they get the woman and her husband reunited, Doctor Doolittle and friends take her home. When they get there, they learn that the woman had written the king asking him not to sell her husband, but the king never got the letter, because the post office in his country wasn't properly organized. So Doctor Doolittle sets up a well-organized and reliable post office that uses migrating birds to carry the mails. Well, at one point and another, the good doctor also sets up a weather bureau, helps an impoverished kingdom gain riches by way of a pearl fishery, protects the same impoverished kingdom from the depredations of rampaging amazons (I'm not sure how it is that Amazons, i.e. big, strong, active women—kind of like the Williams sisters—are to be found in Africa, despite the fact that "The Amazon" is in South America), visits an ancient turtle who personally witnessed the Flood in the Noah and the Ark story (never mind that that flood took place in the Middle East, not Africa), and so forth. It's just one thing sort of leading to another without plan (kind of like my sentence structure).
So, anyway, this is a quite good read. It's probably a better read for 10-year olds who aren't so picky about having things make sense. On the other hand, there are little bits of wry humor in some of the events and asides that aren't likely to be properly understood except by more mature readers (e.g. a quip about "pearls before swine").
There's a lot to like about this book. On the other hand, it does meander and seems to lack focus. I'm not sure Lofting knew where he was going, so he just made stuff up and ended up with lots of interesting vignettes, but not a coherent whole.
Doctor Doolittle and friends are headed back to England after having visited Africa. They come upon a woman weeping in a canoe and stop to help. It seems her husband was sold into slavery, so the Doctor goes off to help capture the slave traders, something he does with the help of a British Man o' War he bumps into by accident, and also some swallow friends, who act as scouts. When they get the woman and her husband reunited, Doctor Doolittle and friends take her home. When they get there, they learn that the woman had written the king asking him not to sell her husband, but the king never got the letter, because the post office in his country wasn't properly organized. So Doctor Doolittle sets up a well-organized and reliable post office that uses migrating birds to carry the mails. Well, at one point and another, the good doctor also sets up a weather bureau, helps an impoverished kingdom gain riches by way of a pearl fishery, protects the same impoverished kingdom from the depredations of rampaging amazons (I'm not sure how it is that Amazons, i.e. big, strong, active women—kind of like the Williams sisters—are to be found in Africa, despite the fact that "The Amazon" is in South America), visits an ancient turtle who personally witnessed the Flood in the Noah and the Ark story (never mind that that flood took place in the Middle East, not Africa), and so forth. It's just one thing sort of leading to another without plan (kind of like my sentence structure).
So, anyway, this is a quite good read. It's probably a better read for 10-year olds who aren't so picky about having things make sense. On the other hand, there are little bits of wry humor in some of the events and asides that aren't likely to be properly understood except by more mature readers (e.g. a quip about "pearls before swine").
April 4, 2016
This was one of my favorite in the series as a kid, but it hasn't held up as well. It's too meanderingly episodic, and Lofting's fantasy rules don't quite hold water all the time. Doctor Dolittle isn't racist, and according to what I read neither was Hugh Lofting. But he writes in a certain time period when it was considered okay to write about Africans in a derogatory way and that fact certaily rings true in Post Office. Certainly, if this were written today it would have a far different feel. That large complaint aside, I still had fun reading it. I love Gub-Gub the pig; and racist though he may be, Cheapside the Cockney Sparrow can be quite fun. "Jip's Story" is the best of the animal stories; it could certainly stand alone.
June 6, 2018
Read to my young son I tried to capture the memory I had of my Dad reading a Dolittle book with a post office to me... but the things I recall from that book were missing.
The book was episodic and a mixed bag of out-of-date cultural prejudices coloured with some quirky twists to Loftings general benevolent tone. The economics never made sense - even to an 8 year old.
I think we're done with these stories now. There are too many other good books to read together.
The book was episodic and a mixed bag of out-of-date cultural prejudices coloured with some quirky twists to Loftings general benevolent tone. The economics never made sense - even to an 8 year old.
I think we're done with these stories now. There are too many other good books to read together.
May 9, 2016
This is a spectacular book not just a children's literature book. Hugh Lofting is lovely with the language and makes his own illustrations to match the stories. Even though the portrayal of Africans will appear and may represent his feelings of White Anglo superiority, this should not prevent people from really enjoying his writing prowess. "Then King Koko again begged him {Dr John Doolittle} to take charge of the post office and try to get it running in proper order." Fabulous !!
Read
March 10, 2017This book starts out with a story about a slave ship and goes on to have many observations that are highly prejudiced and Eurocentric.
I don't think Hugh Lofting meant to be racist, but this book was written in a different era and it really shows.
I read this with my 1st grader and had many discussions along the way.
I would not recommend that today's children read it without a lot of discussion and thought about it.
I don't think Hugh Lofting meant to be racist, but this book was written in a different era and it really shows.
I read this with my 1st grader and had many discussions along the way.
I would not recommend that today's children read it without a lot of discussion and thought about it.
August 3, 2017
My mom read this particular book to me before bed when I was very young, so I "re-read" this with some sentimentality. As others have noted, this book was written during a different time, so if you are reading with kids, it may require some discussions. That aside, I enjoyed the stories within the story and the inter-species interactions. Overall Dr Dolittle and his crew give me the warm fuzzies inside. I have more installments to read to see how they compare.
January 23, 2016
This volume seemed rather haphazard. It didn't seem like Lofting had any idea of where this book would go beyond, "Hey, I'll have Dolittle make a post office in Africa." It wasn't even episodic like many children's books are. And I know this is a children's book, but the discontinuity of who can understand which languages bugged me. I'm not sure if I'll continue with the series or not.
October 29, 2009
This book made me crazy- Dr. Dolittle's personality goes and goes! I am glad he was able to help so many people and animals. What a way to live your life. I love that the book is nothing like the movie, much better. Great Classic!
February 6, 2012
Childhood nostalgia for this and all the other original Dr. Dolittle books has clouded some of the unfashionable portrayals of African residents that don't sit well a century later. The tales within the tale, however, are still pretty warm and timeless.
March 1, 2011
This book seemed to drag more than the earlier books. It was good, but just far too long and drawn out.
March 16, 2016
Judah
I love this book.It is a creative book with great and amazing ideas. The best book I've read will be this one.
I love this book.It is a creative book with great and amazing ideas. The best book I've read will be this one.
December 27, 2016
Politically correct this book is not but if you can ignore that the story is a fun read.
November 15, 2017
Too fun, who knew that animals had their own way of writing and who is a better person to set up a post office than Doctor Doolittle.
August 16, 2025
May 2024 (4 stars)
I enjoyed it. There was plenty going on here, lots of sub-adventures and lots of inventiveness. I think it's easier to see why Forrest Reid might have been impressed with Doctor Dolittle after reading this title rather than after either of the previous two.
July 2024 (4 stars)
Doctor Dolittle is quite an interesting leading character from the point of view that he isn't your usual hero. He's very quiet and unassuming. He's not good-looking. He isn't chatty. You could say he doesn't have much personality. But he just a good and decent man who works hard at whatever he is doing, making as little fuss as possible, doing what is required of him without any complaint, fading into the background whenever necessary. So much of the time, particularly in this book, he doesn't really take centre-stage. All the other characters get their chance to take the lead. It's only two months since I last read Doctor Dolittle's Post Office but I enjoyed it just as much.
August 2025 (5 stars)
I read this twice last year and gave it four stars on both occasions. This time I am going to up my rating to five stars. There is just something so special about Doctor Dolittle. I've only discovered him in middle-age and yet I find the books so delightful and a great joy to read. On the one hand they are so simple with nice short chapters and very simple illustrations, and yet they are clever and inventive, imaginative, full of charm and interest.
I strongly disagree with all the negative reviews which level charges of racism against Lofting because there is no hint of racism in this book whatsoever, and I would say that anyone who accuses it of racism does so through their own biases or hypersensitivity, reading it into the text where it doesn't actually exist. There isn't even any need for people to defend the book on the grounds of being 'of its time' because there is nothing that needs defending or justifying. Doctor Dolittle isn't there to 'civilise' the Africans or to impose a British lifestyle upon them. He is there at the request of the Africans because they ask him to try to establish an efficient postal service - which he does - and he gives them a far more efficient service than anyone in Europe receives, what with the speed of deliveries, and the amusing differentiation between bills and more exciting letters.
Black people are never disparaged by Lofting because of their skin colour. The character of Cheapside displays some typical prejudices, but they are characterised as being just that. The only person in the book described as being hideously ugly is a white man. I think the case of the baby Spoonbills and the pearls is a representative instance of Doctor Dolittle's general attitude towards people in general - in his respect for their feelings and an appreciation of their values. He respects other people's values even if they are very different to those customary in Western society.
I feel so thankful that I have discovered the Doctor Dolittle series. They aren't widely read or publicised in Britain these daysnbut I hope these books will still be being read centuries from now when much current children's literature is long forgotten.
I enjoyed it. There was plenty going on here, lots of sub-adventures and lots of inventiveness. I think it's easier to see why Forrest Reid might have been impressed with Doctor Dolittle after reading this title rather than after either of the previous two.
July 2024 (4 stars)
Doctor Dolittle is quite an interesting leading character from the point of view that he isn't your usual hero. He's very quiet and unassuming. He's not good-looking. He isn't chatty. You could say he doesn't have much personality. But he just a good and decent man who works hard at whatever he is doing, making as little fuss as possible, doing what is required of him without any complaint, fading into the background whenever necessary. So much of the time, particularly in this book, he doesn't really take centre-stage. All the other characters get their chance to take the lead. It's only two months since I last read Doctor Dolittle's Post Office but I enjoyed it just as much.
August 2025 (5 stars)
I read this twice last year and gave it four stars on both occasions. This time I am going to up my rating to five stars. There is just something so special about Doctor Dolittle. I've only discovered him in middle-age and yet I find the books so delightful and a great joy to read. On the one hand they are so simple with nice short chapters and very simple illustrations, and yet they are clever and inventive, imaginative, full of charm and interest.
I strongly disagree with all the negative reviews which level charges of racism against Lofting because there is no hint of racism in this book whatsoever, and I would say that anyone who accuses it of racism does so through their own biases or hypersensitivity, reading it into the text where it doesn't actually exist. There isn't even any need for people to defend the book on the grounds of being 'of its time' because there is nothing that needs defending or justifying. Doctor Dolittle isn't there to 'civilise' the Africans or to impose a British lifestyle upon them. He is there at the request of the Africans because they ask him to try to establish an efficient postal service - which he does - and he gives them a far more efficient service than anyone in Europe receives, what with the speed of deliveries, and the amusing differentiation between bills and more exciting letters.
Black people are never disparaged by Lofting because of their skin colour. The character of Cheapside displays some typical prejudices, but they are characterised as being just that. The only person in the book described as being hideously ugly is a white man. I think the case of the baby Spoonbills and the pearls is a representative instance of Doctor Dolittle's general attitude towards people in general - in his respect for their feelings and an appreciation of their values. He respects other people's values even if they are very different to those customary in Western society.
I feel so thankful that I have discovered the Doctor Dolittle series. They aren't widely read or publicised in Britain these daysnbut I hope these books will still be being read centuries from now when much current children's literature is long forgotten.
December 16, 2020
Somewhere in here there is a delightful story about a kind middle-aged man who can talk to the animals and birds, who is innocent, naive and has a permanent sense of wonder and the delight of discovery and learning. Sadly, it begins wrapped in white superiority and the ignorance of black Africans. It would be impossible to give this original version to a child today. It would have been the version I would have read as a child though.
The Africans are uneducated children who need to be shown wisdom and taught by the civilised white man. Lofting doesn’t mean to be racist, though he is. The only bad or wicked people in the book are white; they are the thieves and the slave traders that Dr Dolittle and all the animals, fishes and birds have to thwart.
I had tried to block out the racist language and thinking when I reviewed the first two books in the series but that was impossible here as it drives the opening of the story. For a long time I was going to give it one or two stars but the second half of the books leaves a lot of that thinking behind and you see the delightful adventure that Lofting thought he had written.
I understand that there are newer versions by Lofting’s son, give that version to a child today.
The Africans are uneducated children who need to be shown wisdom and taught by the civilised white man. Lofting doesn’t mean to be racist, though he is. The only bad or wicked people in the book are white; they are the thieves and the slave traders that Dr Dolittle and all the animals, fishes and birds have to thwart.
I had tried to block out the racist language and thinking when I reviewed the first two books in the series but that was impossible here as it drives the opening of the story. For a long time I was going to give it one or two stars but the second half of the books leaves a lot of that thinking behind and you see the delightful adventure that Lofting thought he had written.
I understand that there are newer versions by Lofting’s son, give that version to a child today.
February 26, 2020
It was okay -- I was prooflistening for a recorded version for Librivox. Stories involved Dolittle going off to Africa and setting up a post office there, so it was very imperialist and plenty of the casual racism/stereotypes (including in drawings by author) usual for the time. While racist, Dolittle's attitudes are generally positive -- he's on the "we need to civilize these backwards people" end of the scale and his actions are meant to help (by making them more like the British of course) -- but not the "these are savage animals" end. In one of the stories he rescues the husband of a local woman who has been kidnapped by slavers (book was written in the 1920s but takes place in early Victorian period). Dolittle's attitude is generally well meaning and accepting; one character( a talking bird) who talks all the time about how things are better in England and complains about heathens and savages and unfamiliar food is played for laughs and the reader is supposed to understand that his approach is not the right one. Relic of its time, but it is a reasonable document of its time as well.
September 23, 2022
In his third book about Doctor Dolittle, Hugh Lofting returns his hero to west Africa, where he helps a peaceful African tribe.
There are multiple stories in "Doctor Dolittle's Post Office". The primary one is featured in the title and tells of how John Dolittle establishes a post office in a small African village - first, to help the residents send messages to one another; but soon expands to send messages to and from other countries using migratory birds to carry them. He even allows animals to send messages across disparate continents.
In addition to the titular story, we hear of the Doctor helping to capture a slave ship, fending off attacks on the peaceful village from other tribes, and his visit to an ancient turtle living in an isolated region of Africa, who remembers the time of Noah's Biblical flood.
As an intermission, we even get a few short stories told by Dolittle's animal friends.
Doctor Dolittle is a physician turned veterinarian, who learned the language of many of Earth's animals and spent his life helping people and beasts. This is another entertaining book by Lofting that focuses on the Doctor's kindness and the respect that it brings him.
There are multiple stories in "Doctor Dolittle's Post Office". The primary one is featured in the title and tells of how John Dolittle establishes a post office in a small African village - first, to help the residents send messages to one another; but soon expands to send messages to and from other countries using migratory birds to carry them. He even allows animals to send messages across disparate continents.
In addition to the titular story, we hear of the Doctor helping to capture a slave ship, fending off attacks on the peaceful village from other tribes, and his visit to an ancient turtle living in an isolated region of Africa, who remembers the time of Noah's Biblical flood.
As an intermission, we even get a few short stories told by Dolittle's animal friends.
Doctor Dolittle is a physician turned veterinarian, who learned the language of many of Earth's animals and spent his life helping people and beasts. This is another entertaining book by Lofting that focuses on the Doctor's kindness and the respect that it brings him.
August 16, 2020
Doctor Dolittle has ended up on an Island close to Africa. This particular Island has many people living there. He made friends with them and helped many of their animals. Then the city got the news that postage mail was a new way to communicate with others. The King was thrilled and said he wanted the best post office in the world. Doctor Dolittle put it his mission to make the best post office they ever saw. He got all the birds of the world and told him his plan. This method of transportation was the fastest around. This new way will only be for you to find out by reading this book.
August 31, 2020
After reading the first two books to my kids (I missed these somehow in my childhood), I was gearing up to read the whole series! The books were engaging, clever and a joy to read. This book took a very different turn.I found this book very tiresome, elongated and tangent laden. There were too many episodic adventures that just made it not even plausible in the imaginary (as the others held that potential for my kids).
I was so glad it was finally over. This is a very rare feeling I leave a book with. My kids seemed to feel the same way.
On to other pastures for now. Maybe we will revisit Dolittle again one day, but for a series loving family, we are good for now...
I was so glad it was finally over. This is a very rare feeling I leave a book with. My kids seemed to feel the same way.
On to other pastures for now. Maybe we will revisit Dolittle again one day, but for a series loving family, we are good for now...
April 26, 2020
Just to clarify, I don't condone the racist undertones in these novels whatsoever. I have only noticed them now because the last time I read this book, I was in kindergarten. Having grown up in a European country, where almost 100 per cent of the people are white, I didn't notice it as a kid. The rating is mainly for the way I felt about this book about ten years ago. It still brings me happy memories, but unfortunately, I can't ignore Lofting's prejudice against all people of colour. I still haven't quite figured out how to feel about problematic books that bring me enjoyment. The age-old question: should we separate the art from the artist? It should be noted that the author wrote them almost one hundred years ago, but it still shouldn't be condoned.
June 6, 2022
My son loves these books Becayse he wants to be doctor Doolittle. However, the books are vaguely problematic in their colonialist bullshit. It was a good opportunity to talk about stuff like that with my son, but I don’t relish turning night time reading into a fairly complex conversation every single day. I suspect we will stop reading this series after this one…but did you know there are something like 11 books in this series?!
October 18, 2020
What a great imagination! I was totally amazed until the last sentence! Great for children and adults.
Indulge yourself and go for a ride, or should I say fly, with Doctor Dolittle, and have some fun! Thank you Hugh for writing, during World War I, to your children and telling them the most detailed voyages of a life time!
Indulge yourself and go for a ride, or should I say fly, with Doctor Dolittle, and have some fun! Thank you Hugh for writing, during World War I, to your children and telling them the most detailed voyages of a life time!
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