Designed to appeal to the booklover, the Macmillan Collector's Library is a series of beautiful gift editions of much loved classic titles. Macmillan Collector's Library are books to love and treasure.
Doctor Dolittle is one of the most delightful and fascinating characters in children's literature. This Macmillan Collector's Library edition of The Story of Doctor Dolittle is illustrated with Hugh Lofting's own drawings, and includes updated material and an afterword by author Philip Ardagh.
Doctor Dolittle's house in Puddleby-on-the-Marsh is full to the brim with eccentric characters, from Polynesia the parrot to Gub-Gub the pig. After learning the languages of all his animals, the gracious and kind-hearted doctor hears that the monkeys in Africa have become inflicted with a terrible disease. So with a team of trusty creatures by his side, the doctor sets sail on an action-packed adventure to save them.
Any child who is not given the opportunity to make the acquaintance of this rotund, kindly and enthusiastic doctor and all his animal friends will miss out on something important -- Jane Goodall (world expert on chimpanzees) There are few kindlier heroes in children's literature. And none to match his gift for understanding animals -- Blake Morrison - Guardian
A work of genius...a treat for us all -- Nina Bawden - Evening Standard
Author
About Hugh Lofting
Hugh Lofting was born in Maidenhead in 1886. As a child he kept a miniature zoo and wildlife museum in his mother's linen cupboard and enjoyed making up stories for his family. He later studied engineering in London and the United States, and visited Canada, Africa and the West Indies. After his marriage in 1912 he settled in the United States. Hugh Lofting fought in the trenches during World War I and it was whilst observing the lack of compassion shown to the horses on the battlefields that the idea for Doctor Dolittle was born. He was the main character in letters Hugh sent home from the front to entertain his children. The successful publication of The Story of Doctor Dolittle in 1920 was followed by a further eleven books. In 1923 Hugh Lofting was awarded the Newbery Medal. He died in 1947.
