The Story of Doctor Dolittle

The Story of Doctor Dolittle (1920), a children’s novel by Hugh Lofting, is the first in a series of books about the adventures of the title character, who learns how to speak with animals. The original story contained many plot elements and vocabulary choices that have become controversial over time; later editions often bowdlerize these passages.

John Dolittle, M.D., a clever and popular doctor, lives with his sister, Sarah, in the small English town of Puddleby-on-the-Marsh. Fond of animals, the doctor keeps many pets in his small, charming house. However, Dolittle’s love of animals is getting out of hand, his many pets threatening to ruin him financially. His sister is frustrated with the mess. Patients avoid coming to see him because of the animals until the only patient he has left is the Cat’s-Meat Man.

The Cat’s-Meat Man suggests Dolittle give up being a human doctor entirely and become an animal doctor. When the Cat’s-Meat Man leaves, Dolittle’s parrot, Polynesia, speaks to him, supporting the suggestion. Polynesia tells Dolittle that parrots speak both human and parrot, speaking a sample of the parrot language to him. Excited, Dolittle begins to study bird language with Polynesia. He learns animal languages and gives up being a people’s doctor entirely.



Dolittle’s fame among animals spreads, and more animals come to live with him. When an alligator takes up residence, his sister, Sarah, announces she cannot take it anymore and is leaving Puddleby to be married. Dolittle’s money problems become dire. He receives a message from the monkey kingdom in Africa, telling him his fame as the doctor who can speak with animals has spread worldwide, and he is needed to help cure an epidemic there. Dolittle ponders how he will be able to afford a trip to Africa.

Dolittle borrows money, supplies, and a ship. He sets sail with a crew of animals; the creatures of the sea help him avoid bad weather and to find supplies. However, they encounter bad weather and are shipwrecked. Polynesia is happy to be back home in Africa, but Dolittle is sad to have lost his hat. When the hat is found, they discover a white mouse hiding in it—the mouse had been left behind, but stowed away. A black man confronts the group, telling them they must go before King Jolliginki.

Angry about the treatment of his people by white Europeans, King Jolliginki arrests Dolittle and his band of animals. Polynesia sneaks into the king’s bedroom. Mimicking Dolittle’s voice, Polynesia convinces Jolliginki that Dolittle is a powerful wizard who can be invisible and do almost anything. Afraid, Jolliginki releases them. The Queen returns in time to see Polynesia sneaking away, and Jolliginki, realizing he has been tricked, pursues. The animals help Dolittle evade Jolliginki; Chee-Chee the monkey helps them hide. As they near the Monkey Kingdom, the monkeys cheer their arrival, attracting Jolliginki’s soldiers. They race to the edge of a deep chasm, fearing they are trapped, but the monkeys quickly link arms and legs to form a monkey bridge, allowing Dolittle’s band to make it across, and leaving Jolliginki’s soldiers stuck on the other side.



Dolittle cares for the monkeys, who have been devastated by a terrible disease. He inoculates the healthy monkeys and tenderly cares for the dying. Grateful for the help, the monkeys offer Dolittle a way to make enough money to survive: there is rare animal known as a pusmi-pullyu, which he can display in a circus and charge admission. They throw a banquet for Dolittle and are sad to see him go.

As they try to make their way home, Dolittle is once again captured by Jolliginki’s army. Polynesia meets Jolliginki’s son, Prince Bumpo, who tells the parrot that his greatest wish is to become white so he can marry Sleeping Beauty and become a dashing European prince. Dolittle agrees to bleach Bumpo in order to achieve this; Prince Bumpo arranges to set them free and provides them with a boat.

Sailing home, they are pursued by pirates. Banding together, the birds tie themselves to the ship, beating their wings, and the ship quickly outpaces the pirates. They anchor at an island to rest, and the rats on the ship inform Dolittle the ship is going to sink. As Dolittle and the animals eat and rest, the pirates come and ransack their ship. The birds suggest to Dolittle they steal the pirate ship while the pirates are all on theirs. Their ship begins to sink; sharks offer to eat the pirates, but Dolittle, instead, commands the pirates to live on the island peacefully.



They discover a boy imprisoned on the pirate ship. The boy implores them to help him find his uncle. The animals help Dolittle locate the boy’s uncle, and they are reunited. Dolittle returns to England and makes a small fortune displaying the pusmi-pullyu, allowing him to retire to Puddleby with his animals.