Doctor Dolittle's Caravan

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Doctor Dolittle's Caravan
Doctor Dolittle's Caravan.jpg
Cover of the first ed. with Lofting illustration.
Author Hugh Lofting
IllustratorHugh Lofting
Cover artistHugh Lofting
CountryUnited States
Series Doctor Dolittle
Genre Fantasy, children's novel
Publisher Frederick A. Stokes Co. [1]
Publication date
1926
Media typePrint (hardcover)
Pages342
LC Class PZ10.3.L85 Dc [1]
Preceded by Doctor Dolittle's Zoo  
Followed by Doctor Dolittle's Garden  

Doctor Dolittle's Caravan is a novel written by Hugh Lofting and published in 1926 by Frederick A. Stokes. [1] It deals with the titular character's bird opera, centering on a female green canary named Pippinella. It is one of many books Hugh Lofting authored about Doctor John Dolittle.

Contents

Plot summary

Pippinella is special in that she possesses what is generally assumed to be an exclusive trait of male canaries: birdsong. Ultimately, Doctor Dolittle creates a "Canary Opera" (using canaries and other bird species as well), based on Pippinella's life story. This opera, jointly composed by both the Doctor and Pippinella, becomes an overwhelming success in the Regent Theatre, London. He also shuts down a poorly run pet store and receives accolades from Niccolò Paganini himself.

The novel disrupts the chronological order of the series, with events occurring between Doctor Dolittle's Circus and The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle despite the book's publication between Doctor Dolittle's Zoo and Doctor Dolittle's Garden . This book is the follow-up to Doctor Dolittle's Circus, for the Doctor (at this point in time) is still operating the circus he inherited from the runaway former owner, Albert Blossom. Pippinella's eventual fate, and Doctor Dolittle's final adventures with her, are ultimately revealed in the much later book, Doctor Dolittle and the Green Canary .

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Doctor Dolittle's caravan". Library of Congress Online Catalog (permalink, lccn.loc.gov). Retrieved 2016-12-15.