Doctor Dolittle's Post Office (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. A West African Animal Fantasy of Talking Birds, Postal Routes, and Prehistoric Island AdventureBy Hugh Lofting
Length7h 47m
About this audiobook
In Doctor Dolittle's Post Office, Hugh Lofting expands his celebrated animal-speaking physician's world into an ingenious fantasy of communication, travel, and moral adventure. Set largely in West Africa, the narrative follows Dolittle as he establishes an international postal service aided by birds and animals, blending episodic quest, comic invention, and Edwardian children's romance. Its playful prose, whimsical dialogue, and fascination with natural history place it within early twentieth-century animal fantasy, while modern readers should also recognize its colonial-era assumptions and dated racial attitudes. Lofting, an English-born civil engineer who served in the First World War, first invented Doctor Dolittle in illustrated letters to his children, preferring imaginative tales of humane fellowship to accounts of battlefield violence. His engineering mind is visible in the book's delight in systems, routes, and practical solutions, while his affection for animals gives the fantasy its ethical center: a belief that listening across species might correct human arrogance. This book is recommended for readers interested in classic children's literature, the evolution of animal fantasy, and works that reward both enjoyment and historical reflection. It offers charm, invention, and narrative momentum, while inviting thoughtful discussion of the period that produced it.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
GenreChildren's Literature
Length7 hrs 47 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateApr 23, 2019
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Introduction
2Introduction
3Synopsis
4Historical Context
5Doctor Dolittle's Post Office
Show all chaptersShow less
6Prologue
7PART I
8Chapter II. The Doctor's Reception on the Warship
9Chapter III. A Great Gunner
10Chapter IV. The Royal Mails of Fantippo
11Chapter V. The Voyage Delayed
12Chapter VI. No-Man's-Land
13Chapter VII. The Animals' Paradise
14Chapter VIII. The Swiftest Mail in the World
15PART II
16Chapter II. Cheapside
17Chapter III. The Birds That Helped Columbus
18Chapter IV. Cape Stephen Light
19Chapter V. Gulls and Ships
20Chapter VI. Weather Bureaus
21Chapter VII. Teaching By Mail
22PART III
23Chapter II. The Doctor's Story
24Chapter III. Gub-Gub's Story
25Chapter IV. Dab-Dab's Story
26Chapter V. The White Mouse's Story
27Chapter VI. Jip's Story
28Chapter VII. Too-Too's Story
29Chapter VIII. The Pushmi-Pullyu's Story
30PART IV
31Chapter II. The Great Mail Robbery
32Chapter III. Pearls and Brussels Sprouts
33Chapter IV. Pearl Divers
34Chapter V. Obombo's Rebellion
35Chapter VI. The Doctor's Release
36Chapter VII. A Mysterious Letter
37Chapter VIII. The Land of the Mangrove Swamps
38Chapter IX. The Secret Lake
39Chapter X. The Postmaster General's Last Order
40Chapter XI. Goodbye to Fantippo
41Analysis
42Reflection
43Memorable Quotes
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