Defence Against the Dark Arts Part XXXI: Hugh Lofting's Doctor Dolittle books

Even though they don't contain material suitable for quoting on here, I felt that the Rupert Bear books deserved a mention because of the very positive effect that they had on me when I first encountered them. Featuring these books was a way of repaying my debt to them.

It is much the same with Hugh Lofting's Doctor Dolittle books, which I first came across in the public library when I was very young: I thought it time to say a few words about the books and their author in return for the great enjoyment that they gave me as a child. 

I loved the stories with their amusing and unusual illustrations by the author. I admired Doctor Dolittle for his humanitarianism and dedication to animal welfare; I envied him for his travels and adventures with his animal companions.

I didn't notice anything wrong at the time, but, just as with the Rupert books, some of the material is now considered unacceptable because of the racial stereotyping. The Dr. Dolittle books have been issued in revised editions, but it is still possible to find the original versions in the Open Library. 

Something about the Doctor Dolittle books
Although the simple text makes it easy to get through each book very quickly, it would take a while to re-read all 15 or so of them, so for now I will just mention some highlights from my memories.

I particularly liked the first two books in the series i.e. The Story of Doctor Dolittle (1920), which introduces the main characters, and The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle (1922), which features the Great Glass Sea-snail.

I thought that Doctor Dolittle in the Moon (1928) was another partucilarly good story. Jamaro Bumblelily the giant lunar moth and Otho Bludge the giant Moon Man were fascinating characters.

I once named a budgerigar after Pippinella from Doctor Dolittle and the Green Canary:

I remember being fascinated by the pushmi-pullyu, who first appears in The Story of Doctor Dolittle:

I thought that the Bridge of Apes from the same book was a great idea:

Something about the creator of Doctor Dolittle
Hugh Lofting was born on January 14th 1885 and died on September 26th 1947. One of his parents was Irish, so he is yet another person of interest with a Celtic Connection. 

As with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Hugh Lofting was educated by Jesuits. As with George MacDonald and the similarly unfortunate Richard Barham, there was much tragedy, illness and suffering in his life.

Just as Stella Gibbons transmuted the dismal books that she had read into comedy, Hugh Lofting transmuted the horrible treatment and distressing suffering of animals that he had witnessed during World War I into books where animals' lives are enhanced by a doctor who has a great love for them. 

Perhaps his books influenced their readers and inspired them to understand animals, treat them well and look for ways to improve their welfare.

Doctor Dolittle first appeared in letters that Hugh Lofting sent to his children during the Great War, when he served with the Irish Guards and was badly wounded. Life in the trenches was either too boring or too horrific to write about, so he entertained the children with stories about a doctor who could talk to animals. 

There are several Doctor Dolittle films; some of them have been well received, but I much prefer the books!

Hugh Lofting, the creator of  Doctor Dolittle and his cleverly-named friends and constant companions Polynesia, Chee-Chee, Dab-Dab, Gub-Gub, Jip and Too-Too: