DR. DOLITTLE Book Series (ePub)

Hugh Lofting was an English author and civil engineer best known for creating the beloved character Doctor John Dolittle, who has the singular ability to speak with animals. Born on January 14, 1886, in Maidenhead, Berkshire, Lofting showed an early interest in storytelling and sketching. Later, he pursued a career in civil engineering, which took him abroad to various parts of the world, feeding his vivid imagination and providing a backdrop for his future literary works. It was during the horrors of World War I, while serving in the trenches, that he conceived the idea of a gentle doctor who could communicate with the animal kingdom, preferring to pen entertaining stories for his children rather than expose them to the brutality of war. This idea flourished into the 'Doctor Dolittle' series, with the first book, 'The Story of Doctor Dolittle' (1920), setting the stage for a series that would capture the imagination of generations of readers. Lofting's writing is marked by a whimsical combination of adventure, humor, and a firm conviction in the equality of all living creatures. He continued to expand the Doctor Dolittle universe through subsequent novels including 'The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle' (1922), which was awarded the prestigious Newbery Medal. Lofting's literary contributions have been celebrated over time, despite some of the controversial racial characterizations in his earlier works, which have since been revised to reflect more sensitive modern perspectives. He passed away on September 26, 1947, in California, USA, leaving behind a legacy as a pioneering author in children's literature.