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
Rating★★★★ 4.1 (3.2K)
Includes Goodreads, Amazon, StoryGraph, LibraryThing
GenreChildren's Literature
Length7 hrs 47 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateApr 23, 2019
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Doctor Dolittle's Post Office (Annotated)
2Introduction
3Synopsis
4Historical Context
5Prologue
Show all chaptersShow less
6PART I
7Chapter II. The Doctor's Reception on the Warship
8Chapter III. A Great Gunner
9Chapter IV. The Royal Mails of Fantippo
10Chapter V. The Voyage Delayed
11Chapter VI. No-Man's-Land
12Chapter VII. The Animals' Paradise
13Chapter VIII. The Swiftest Mail in the World
14PART II
15Chapter II. Cheapside
16Chapter III. The Birds That Helped Columbus
17Chapter IV. Cape Stephen Light
18Chapter V. Gulls and Ships
19Chapter VI. Weather Bureaus
20Chapter VII. Teaching By Mail
21PART III
22Chapter II. The Doctor's Story
23Chapter III. Gub-Gub's Story
24Chapter IV. Dab-Dab's Story
25Chapter V. The White Mouse's Story
26Chapter VI. Jip's Story
27Chapter VII. Too-Too's Story
28Chapter VIII. The Pushmi-Pullyu's Story
29PART IV
30Chapter II. The Great Mail Robbery
31Chapter III. Pearls and Brussels Sprouts
32Chapter IV. Pearl Divers
33Chapter V. Obombo's Rebellion
34Chapter VI. The Doctor's Release
35Chapter VII. A Mysterious Letter
36Chapter VIII. The Land of the Mangrove Swamps
37Chapter IX. The Secret Lake
38Chapter X. The Postmaster General's Last Order
39Chapter XI. Goodbye to Fantippo
40Analysis
41Reflection
42Memorable Quotes
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