Doctor Dolittle's Circus

Doctor Dolittle #4

by Hugh Lofting

Although at first he plans only to exhibit the Pushmi-pullyu, John Dolittle soon becomes manager of a very special circus.

Genres: Fiction, Childrens, Fantasy, Classics, Animals, Adventure, Young Adult

290 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1924

About the author

Hugh 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 Eight more books followed, and after Lofting's death two more volumes, composed of short unpublished pieces, appeared.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.

Reviews

[Metodi Markov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Моята книжка е станала на баница от препрочитане - много любима история от детството ми, актуална и днес!

Вълнуващите приключения и топлата човещина в книгата са рецепта за изграждане на пълноценни човешки същества!

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO much better than the first book! I actually laughed aloud several times at the good doctor’s adventures and misadventures in this one.

The highlight for me was Dolittle getting arrested for murder after tossing a seal off the Bristol cliffs.

No racism this time out, either, which was nice…

[Shawn Thrasher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Doctor Dolittle books, and if forced to put them in order of favorites, I'd probably place Circus in the No. 2 spot. By this book, Lofting has fully developed the doctor's family - fussy housekeeper Dab-Dab, greedy narcissistic Gub-Gub, the accountant Too-Too, hearty brave and occasionally brush Jip,slightly sassy White Mouse (why doesn't HE have a name?). The doctor (and Lofting!) was ahead of his time in his dislike for the traditional circus and its treatment of animals. The Sophie chapters are exciting and funny; the talking horse chapters are fun as well. But the Harlequinade holds a place in my heart - for whatever reason, it was my favorite as a kid and it still is. Probably because Gub-Gub is my favorite of all the animals, and the Harlequinade chapters really belong to him.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s so nice to read these books. This is the fourth in the series. This one seems particularly supportive in defending animals and their plights. A young animal lover will surely be made to understand that “working” animals need rest, clean environments and good food; and most important nice treatment.

I did find myself smiling every time Dr Dolittle commented on the unimportance of money and how it gets in the way of things. Always making a person want more. Well...I suppose it’s always a good way to start out believing that way.

[Slaathlord · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doctor Dolittle's Circus is probably now my favourite book. I didn't know at first that Doctor Dolittle was a series, and it made me really excited to know there were more. Most of the characters in this book, especially John Dolittle, are all cheery and look more on the bright side of things. No matter the problem, they know it'll end up turning out alright, even if it isn't resolved. Doctor Dolittle's Circus is so joyous and amazing right up until the very end.

[sai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Judah

An excellent book with great ideas and creativity.Being kind to animals is the idea.One of the best books I've ever read is this one.I also recommend the other Doctor Dolittle books.

[Larry Piper · Rating 4 out of 5]

My recollection from the dark ages of elementary school was that this was my favorite of the Doctor Doolittle books. It certainly is a good one. I was a bit disappointed with Doctor Doolittle's Post Office, the one preceding this one (it seemed a bit disjointed), so I was happy to see that Lofting got his mojo back with Doctor Doolittle's Circus.

The Doctor needs to make some money so as to pay back a sailor for a boat he borrowed and subsequently wrecked. So he and his animal friends, along with the Cat's Meat Man, Matthew Mugg, join a circus to show off the Pushmi-pullyu at six pence a pop. The circus seems to be a bit seamy in parts, especially the way the animals are treated in the menagerie. After a while, through a series of adventures, the doctor ends up running the circus himself, and all appears to end happily. Who knows, perhaps they'll even make enough money to pay back the sailor one day.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of the better Dolittle books we've read so far (I'm read it to the kids for bedtime reading). Amazingly, and sadly, it still holds up as far being pertinent with it's discussion of how animals are treated in circuses but it brought up a good discussion with the kids about it and they know why we don't like to go to traditional circuses anymore.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the Dr. Doolittle books are REALLY fun. Recommended for all ages.

[Czegledi Kornel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fiamnak olvastam fel. Érdekes kalandos, szerintem nem annyira ötletes mint az első vagy a második rész, de vannak benne vicces részek és nagyon élvezetes történetek. Inkább olyan mintha 2-3 novella lenne egybegyúrva. A szereplők a régiek és ahol Göb Göb ott van ott csak vicces kalandok lehetnek.

[Nix · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it when the animals put on the play.

[Kailey (Luminous Libro) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is such a fun story! and the writing style is quite unique, and very well suited to the story line and characters.

[Izabela Kolar Furjan]

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Kandlerova 39, 52100 Pula

[Janistar 2012 · Rating 5 out of 5]

good

[Juuli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Neljandas klassis avastasin Doktor Dolittle raamatud ja sealt sai alguse suur lugemiskirg.
Loen neid raamatuid, kui tuju vajab tõstmist, aga eriti meeldivad mulle autori joonistatud pildid.

[Darian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read!

[Tommy Verhaegen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Een speciale kijk op dierenrechten gekruid met een behoorlijke dosis humor.geen wereldreis dit keer maar wel de trektocht van gemeente tot gemeente van een cirkus. De sprekende dieren stelen de show.

[Sparrow · Rating 2 out of 5]

This volume started out strong. Dr. Dolittle having a circus is such a natural plot. But again, halfway through, Lofting seemed to lose his inspiration and he made up random and boring plots to keep the book going. The plot with the sea lion started out interesting, but then it DRAGGED. Then the horse ranch, the fox hunt, the extremely detailed animal play, the commandeering of the circus...it took me forever to finish the book once I got halfway. So tedious and uninspiring. I may finish the series here.

I also found it funny that Dr. Dolittle cares about fox rights, but eats sausage. And Dab Dab is so obviously a sexist portrayal of women.

[Sarah Ashman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I actually found this a rather slow children's book, and at times it was quite hard work. Yes, it was entertaining in parts, but I don't think it was worth the effort of finishing. I actually think the original movie [not the awful recent ones] of this was better than the book, which is a rare thing for me to say...

[Janith Pathirage · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, well... I hadn’t rated this book the first time I read it.. Must have been before Goodreads. The book is just so good. Every single one of these Doctor Dolittle stories delivers. They are exactly what you expect them to be, take you to a special place, make you forget all your worries and leave you wanting to stay in that world just a little while longer.

I recently watched an amazing animal-centric movie called EO (2022). It’s a Polish film that I think even won an Oscar. A great story about a donkey, but it traumatized me to the point where I almost needed therapy. I kept pushing this book back for a while because it’s also about animals, but I knew what to expect from Doctor Dolittle. Still, I was hesitant. Turns out, this was the perfect cure I needed.

Coming back to the book.. this is one of my favorite books in the series. Love anything revolving around carnivals and this book has it all. It's not a masterpiece, but definitely the best of its kind.

[Juliette Beahan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Have you ever had a daydream about a hypothetical situation that went on way too long? That's what reading 'Doctor Dolittle's Circus' felt like. In this case the hypothetical situation being how do you steal a seal from a circus and get it to the coast without a carriage. There are so many things to think about; the breakout, staying hidden, transporting the seal who cannot walk particularly quickly or for a long time without hurting their belly scraping on the floor. You go along with the thought process for a looong time until you suddenly think, why the hell am I still thinking about this?

Listened to as an Audiobook read by Alan Bennett.

[Davidg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finally, a Dr Dolittle book that you could give to a child, no racist language and no white superiority. However, it is odd. Dolittle joins a circus to display the Pushmepullyou and earn enough money to pay what he owes for the fisherman’s boat he lost in a previous adventure. Much is made of the poor treatment of animals, which was very much ahead of its time. A huge proportion of the book is about the escape of seal back to the Arctic. The ringmaster then absconds with all the money. Right at the end of the book, the good Dr takes over the Circus and then it stops. He never has the money and there is no logical ending.

[Martyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The timing of this book really puzzled me. Initially the implication seemed to be that this was an expansion of the time spent travelling in the circus at the end of The Story of Doctor Dolittle after his trip to Africa to help to monkeys. But there were also references to Doctor Dolittle's Post Office, which only happened on a subsequent visit to Africa, so chronology-wise I can't figure it out. But Polynesia and Chee-Chee don't appear in either Doctor Dolittle's Post Office or Doctor Dolittle's Circus if that signifies anything (presumably they were still living wild in Africa). But other than the mystery over the timing it's another enjoyable volume in the Doctor Dolittle series.

[Checkthebook · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book so charming when I was a child. Dr. Dolittle can speak to the animals, so he can ASK them to perform in the circus, rather than forcing them. This makes Dr. Dolittle's circus very unique, because the animals are motivated to perform, and do so in creative ways. It is still a great Kosher Classic!

[Sara Aye Moung · Rating 5 out of 5]

A reread of my 60s puffin edition of a childhood favourite. A great tale and a delightfully pro animal take on the circus and fox hunting which I imagine was quite out there for a book written in 1925 .

[Kate H · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Hugh Lofting Doctor Dolittle stories are classics that stand the test of time. I really enjoy them and find them clever and enjoyable. I think the writing can be seen as a bit dated but I think it's still extremely readable.

[Shelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked that they talked about taking care of the animals better in circus’. Dolittle is constantly getting himself into jail because of his animals. There is only a few side stories this time so it follows one main plot. Not a bad read.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent continuation of Doctor Dolittle's adventures! The doctor's powers of morality might even rival his linguistic abilities! Such fun!

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

sweet, entertaining, lively

[Kylie Abecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I truly loved this book! It has variety, excitement, intrigue and mystery all in one. I loved it as a child and still loved it second time round, even though I’m now in my late 30’s.