British-American author Hugh Lofting crafted the fictional account chronicling the peculiar life and astonishing adventures of Dr Dolittle with the intention to entertain his children. Little did he know that these narratives will immortalise him in literary history. Let us revisit ‘The Story of Doctor Dolittle’ and see what makes it a classic.
About the author
Hugh John Lofting was one of six children born to Elizabeth Agnes and John Brien Lofting on January 14, 1886, in Maidenhead, Berkshire, England. His love for animals and storytelling was evident from a very young age. As a child, he loved concocting stories for his family and is said to have used his mother's linen cupboard to store his miniature zoo and wildlife museum. He attended Jesuit boarding school before he went on to study civil engineering and architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and London Polytechnic. As a civil engineer, he was constantly travelling to new places. His job took him to Canada, Africa, and the West Indies, before he returned to America in 1912, married Flora Small, and settled in New York City to begin a writing career.
A coping mechanism
In 1916, Lofting enlisted to fight for England in World War I. Instead of destressing his family with the gory details of what he witnessed on the battlefields, Lofting chose to write imaginative letters (complete with illustrations) detailing the astonishing adventures of Doctor Dolittle to entertain his children. Researchers speculate that gifting the character of Dolittle a special ability to communicate with animals was Lofting's coping mechanism to deal with the animal cruelty he witnessed in the trenches.
At the 1967 premiere of the story's big screen adaptation, Christopher Lofting (the youngest son of the author) said, "There were thousands of cavalry horses in the war, and also farm animals and pets who got caught in the crossfire. My father invented Dolittle… as a superhero who could do things he could not do."
The first book in the Doctor Dolittle series, titled ‘The Story of Doctor Dolittle’ was published in 1920, three years after Lofting was wounded and invalided out of the war.
The Story of Doctor Dolittle
The book follows John Dolittle, a reputed English country doctor who lives in a little town called Puddleby-on-the-Marsh He transitions from human medicine to veterinary practice after he is taught how to communicate with animals by his parrot. Polynesia, Risking a stable income and losing most of his patients do not dissuade him from going to Africa to cure a monkey epidemic. This book chronicles the peculiar life of Doctor Dolittle and his misadventures with a crew of animals that he befriends.
What makes it a classic?
The importance of communication
Through the interactions between Doctor Dolittle and his animal friends, the story highlights how important effective communication is in resolving day-to-day problems and conflicts. The unique personalities and perspectives of the diverse cast of animal characters in the story emphasise the importance of keeping an open mind and valuing other individuals' opinions.
Empathy and compassion
The compelling narrative of this book promotes animal welfare, teaches empathy, and encourages us to think about the importance of treating all living beings with respect and kindness. It also presents an opportunity to address the treatment of animals and the need for their conservation, an idea which is all the more important because of the climate crisis at hand.
Picture Credit : Google