The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle - 1923 Newbery Medal Winner

1923's Medal winner The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle is actually the second book in a series. So, although it is not necessary, I decided to read the first in the series - The Story of Doctor Dolittle. While I found it inventive and amusing it was a bit of slog due to the lack of a cohesive plot. So, when I discovered this was 400 pages I was very very concerned. It is also my belief that sequels are almost never as strong as their predecessors. Fortunately, my fears were unfounded. This was a much more pleasurable read! I think the biggest difference was the addition of a new character by the name of Tommy Stubbins. Tommy is a little boy who becomes Dolittle's apprentice. He is a character who children can relate to and his narration made for a better narrative flow from start to finish.

Summary:

Stubbins and Dolittle are off on an adventure and joined by characters from the first story – animal friends Polynesia the parrot, Chee-Chee the monkey, and Jip the dog (to name a few). Bumpo, the controversial African Prince, also makes a surprise reappearance. This voyage takes the crew of the Curlew to both the Mediterranean (mostly Spain) and South America in search of the floating island dubbed Spider Monkey Island. They are in search of the world’s greatest naturalist, Long Arrow, who has gone missing.

Positives:

Brilliant and eccentric Doctor Dolittle is impossible not to love. He is kind to all creatures and unflappable even in the most trying situations. To sum up he is an ideal role model for young people. His animal friends have large personalities and are always a very funny and clever addition to the story.

Negatives:

It is the rare book that is without controversy and this one is no exception. It really all started with the first book and the character of Prince Bumpo. In the first book Doctor Dolittle travels to Africa where he encounters Bumpo - a black prince. But before I continue, it should be said that author Hugh Lofting was actually a bit ahead of his times in terms of ideas about race.

He once said: If we make children see that all races, given equal physical and mental chances for development, have about the same batting averages for good and bad, we shall have laid another very substantial foundation stone in the edifice of peace and internationalism.

But in the 1920s there was really no such thing as political correctness and Lofting's way of expressing himself is now considered offensive to modern sensibilities. In that story Prince Bumpo wants desperately to be white so he can be attractive to a fairy tale princess. He is also portrayed as a rather foolish and credulous character. I believe the point of this passage was to emphasize the folly of vanity and the importance of self acceptance, but I'm afraid the message is obscured nowadays.

In this second book Dolittle encounters a tribe of 'Indians' and, even in an edited version, Lofting's attitude towards them is paternal and condescending at best. He portrays them as stubborn and childlike and incapable of governing themselves. But then again this is a story set in the 1920s where a white man is portrayed having an equal and mutually respectful relationship with people of color. I know it doesn't seem very revolutionary in this day and age, but it certainly was in 1923.

I've also read that Lofting's original illustrations are considered offensive, but I can't comment on that as my versions contained new illustrations by Michael Hague.

My conclusion:

I still recommend this series for children who love animals and grand adventures. Edited versions are available and parents just need to make themselves aware and use their best judgment regarding these issues.

Interesting Tidbits:

The recent Eddie Murphy films have very little do with books. Doctor Dolittle is a plump Englishman who purposely set out to converse with animals. The earlier film staring Rex Harrison is a little closer to the mark, but still strays considerably from the plot.

Hugh Lofting came up with the idea for these stories while away fighting in WWI. He wanted to send stories back to his children that would delight them. He was struck by the injustice of how animals (particularly horses) were treated on the battlefield. He wanted to create a character who was a champion and voice for animals. His books have a pervasive message of peace and tolerance which is likely a direct result of his unpleasant wartime experiences.