Doctor Dolittle and the Secret Lake

Last updated

Doctor Dolittle and the Secret Lake
Doctor Dolittle and the Secret Lake.jpg
First edition
Author Hugh Lofting
IllustratorHugh Lofting
LanguageEnglish
Series Doctor Dolittle
Genre Fantasy, children's novel
Publisher J. B. Lippincott
Publication date
1948
Publication placeUnited Kingdom
Media typePrint (hardcover and paperback)
Preceded by Doctor Dolittle's Return  
Followed by Doctor Dolittle and the Green Canary  

Doctor Dolittle and the Secret Lake is a Doctor Dolittle book written by Hugh Lofting. The book was published posthumously in 1948, [1] 15 years after its predecessor. [2] Fittingly, it is the longest book in the series, and the tone is the darkest; World War II took place before the book was published, during which Lofting had published his 1942 anti-war poem Victory for the Slain . The book contains passages that almost border on being misanthropic with some very powerful passages concerning war and Man's inhumanity to man.

Contents

Style

The book starts with the Doctor giving up his dream of lengthening human life with discoveries he made on the Moon, and showing signs of despair. The tone of the passages for the first time acknowledges 'nature red in tooth and claw': another of the Doctor's experiments, a house where scavengers and parasites can live without harming other creatures, is also doomed to failure.

The Doctor then receives an urgent call to rescue what is literally his oldest friend: Mudface the Giant Turtle, who was a passenger on Noah's Ark. Mudface's tale of the Great Flood is told, which was missing from Lofting's 1923 novel Doctor Dolittle's Post Office . Mudface's account of the Flood and its aftermath takes up most of the book, and it is by no means a jolly story. There are many references to genocide and slavery, including a passage where animals gather outside a hut to devour the humans inside (a young man and his beloved, who are the most sympathetic characters next to Mudface and his mate).

Comedy is reduced to a mere sprinkling, just enough to lighten some of the more dark passages. The book stands alone in style but with, arguably, some of Hugh Lofting's most powerful writing.

Also of note is that Lofting's depiction of African characters is far less caricatured than in previous novels.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hugh Lofting</span> English-American childrens writer (1886–1947)

Hugh John Lofting was an English-American writer, trained as a civil engineer, who created the classic children's literature character Doctor Dolittle. The fictional physician to talking animals, based in an English village, first appeared in illustrated letters to his children which Lofting sent from British Army trenches in the First World War. Lofting settled in the United States soon after the war and before his first book was published.

<i>Doctor Dolittle</i> (1967 film) 1967 American musical film directed by Richard Fleischer

Doctor Dolittle is a 1967 American musical fantasy film directed by Richard Fleischer and starring Rex Harrison, Samantha Eggar, Anthony Newley, and Richard Attenborough. It was adapted by Leslie Bricusse from the Doctor Dolittle novel series by Hugh Lofting, primarily The Story of Doctor Dolittle (1920), The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle (1922), and Doctor Dolittle's Circus (1924).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doctor Dolittle</span> Character from novels by Hugh Lofting

Doctor John Dolittle is the central character of a series of children's books by Hugh Lofting starting with the 1920 The Story of Doctor Dolittle. He is a physician who shuns human patients in favour of animals, with whom he can speak in their own languages. He later becomes a naturalist, using his abilities to speak with animals to better understand nature and the history of the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mephisto (Marvel Comics)</span> Marvel Comics fictional character

Mephisto is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Silver Surfer #3, and was created by Stan Lee and John Buscema and based on Mephistopheles: a demon character from the Faust legend, who has sometimes been referred to as Mephisto. Introduced as a recurring adversary of the Silver Surfer and Ghost Rider, Mephisto has also endured as one of Spider-Man's most prominent adversaries, being responsible for Norman and Harry Osborn's respective transformations into the Green Goblin and Kindred; and for the superhero's loss of his marriage to Mary Jane Watson, considering their future daughter Spider-Girl his archenemy. Mephisto has often come into conflict with Doctor Strange, Doctor Doom, Scarlet Witch and other heroes of the Marvel Universe, being responsible both for the creation of the Cosmic Ghost Rider and the descents of Phil Coulson and Otto Octavius into villainy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonathan Cape</span> English publishing firm (founded 1921)

Jonathan Cape is a London publishing firm founded in 1921 by Herbert Jonathan Cape (1879–1960), who was head of the firm until his death.

<i>The Story of Doctor Dolittle</i> 1920 novel by Hugh Lofting

The Story of Doctor Dolittle, Being the History of His Peculiar Life at Home and Astonishing Adventures in Foreign Parts (1920), written and illustrated by the British author Hugh Lofting, is the first of his Doctor Dolittle books, a series of children's novels about a man who learns to talk to animals and becomes their champion around the world. It was one of the novels in the series which was adapted into the 1967 film Doctor Dolittle.

<i>The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle</i> 1922 book by Hugh Lofting

The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle is the second of Hugh Lofting's Doctor Dolittle books. Published in 1922, the writing style is aimed at a more mature audience and features more sophisticated illustrations than its predecessor. The novel's scope is vast; it is nearly five times as long as its predecessor and is divided into six parts. It won the Newbery Medal for 1923.

<i>Doctor Dolittles Garden</i> The seventh work of Doctor Dolittle Books, the author was Hugh Lofting

Doctor Dolittle's Garden (1927) is the eighth book in Hugh Lofting's Doctor Dolittle series of children's books.

<i>Doctor Dolittle in the Moon</i> Eighth work of Doctor Dolittle Books, written by Hugh Lofting

Doctor Dolittle in the Moon is a 1928 children's book by Hugh Lofting. The book tells the story of Doctor Dolittle who studies mystical animals and plants on the Moon. While on his adventure, his friends on Earth long for his return home.

<i>Doctor Dolittles Return</i> The ninth work of Doctor Dolittle books authored by Hugh Lofting

Doctor Dolittle's Return, published in 1933, is the ninth book in Hugh Lofting's Doctor Dolittle series. The book was published five years after the publication of Doctor Dolittle in the Moon and continues the plot line begun in that book. Lofting originally intended to end the series with Doctor Dolittle in the Moon, but for some reason changed his mind and the book was published.

<i>Dr. Dolittle</i> (1998 film) 1998 film directed by Betty Thomas

Dr. Dolittle is a 1998 American fantasy comedy film directed by Betty Thomas, written by Larry Levin and Nat Mauldin, and starring Eddie Murphy in the title role along with Ossie Davis and Oliver Platt. The film was based on the series of children's stories of the same name by Hugh Lofting, but used no material from any of the novels; the main connection is the titular character Dr. John Dolittle and his ability to talk to animals, although the Pushmi-Pullyu, a much-loved feature of the books, notably makes a very brief appearance in a couple of scenes. The first novel, The Story of Doctor Dolittle (1920) had originally and previously been filmed in 1967 as a musical of the same name, which was a closer adaptation of the book. The film was a box-office success, although it received mixed reviews from critics upon release.

<i>Doctor Dolittles Post Office</i> The third Doctor Dolittle book by Hugh Lofting

Doctor Dolittle's Post Office is the third of Hugh Lofting's Doctor Dolittle books. Set on the West Coast of Africa, the 1923 book follows the episodic format of most other books in the series. In the beginning of the book, Doctor Dolittle helps to capture a slave trader's ship, then organizes the postal service of a small African kingdom, Fantippo, ruled over by King Koko. Mobilizing migrating birds to carry people's mail from continent to continent, Doctor Dolittle effectively anticipates the 20th century invention of air mail. Over the course of later chapters, he discovers a hidden island populated by prehistoric creatures, gets thrown into another African jail, invents animal alphabets, and defeats at least two armies. Each of the animals in the Dolittle family also tells a personal story. The postal program grows into a worldwide postal and publishing service for the benefit of animals everywhere.

<i>Doctor Dolittles Circus</i> The fourth Doctor Dolittle book by Hugh Lofting

Doctor Dolittle's Circus, written by Hugh Lofting and published in 1924 by Frederick A. Stokes, is set in England sometime between the original story and the later voyages narrated by Stubbins. It was one of the novels in the series which was adapted into the film Doctor Dolittle.

<i>Doctor Dolittles Caravan</i> Sixth work of Doctor Dolittle Books, the author was Hugh Lofting

Doctor Dolittle's Caravan is a novel written by Hugh Lofting and published in 1926 by Frederick A. Stokes. 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.

<i>Doctor Dolittle and the Green Canary</i> Eleventh work of Doctor Dolittle Books, the author was Hugh Lofting

Doctor Dolittle and the Green Canary is a Doctor Dolittle book written by Hugh Lofting. Although much of the material had been printed originally in 1924 for the Herald Tribune Syndicate, Lofting planned to complete the story in the book form but never finished before he died. Lofting's wife's sister, dancer Olga Fricker, completed the book and was published posthumously in 1950. Everything except the first and last chapter are by Lofting.

<i>Victory for the Slain</i> A poem by hugh lofting

Victory for the Slain is an anti-war poem written by children's author Hugh Lofting, creator of the Doctor Dolittle series. Published in 1942, the poem is based on Lofting's experiences during World War I and one of the strongest literary expressions of his pacifism. It was Lofting's second book of verse but the only work written by him for adults.

<i>Doctor Dolittles Puddleby Adventures</i> Final work of Doctor Dolittle Books short stories, the author was Hugh Lofting

Doctor Dolittle's Puddleby Adventures is a collection of short stories written and illustrated by Hugh Lofting, published posthumously as twelfth and last in the Doctor Dolittle series of children's fiction. The stories and illustrations were distributed during the 1920s by the Herald Tribune Syndicate and all may have been published in the New York Herald Tribune newspaper, among others. The 1952 collection was their first appearance in book form.

<i>Dolittle</i> (film) 2020 film by Stephen Gaghan

Dolittle is a 2020 American fantasy adventure film directed by Stephen Gaghan from a screenplay by Gaghan, Dan Gregor, and Doug Mand, based on a story by Thomas Shepherd. Dolittle is based on the title character created by Hugh Lofting and is primarily inspired by the author's second Doctor Dolittle book, The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle (1922). Robert Downey Jr. stars as the title character, alongside Antonio Banderas, Michael Sheen, Jim Broadbent, Jessie Buckley, Harry Collett, and Kasia Smutniak in live-action roles, with Emma Thompson, Rami Malek, John Cena, Kumail Nanjiani, Octavia Spencer, Tom Holland, Craig Robinson, Ralph Fiennes, Selena Gomez, and Marion Cotillard voicing an array of creatures.

The Dr. Dolittle franchise consists of American feature-length family films, based on the book series written by Hugh Lofting, Doctor Dolittle. Like their source material, the plot of each respective film follows the titular characters' adventures given their abilities to communicate with animals. The series consists of the original fantasy-period piece musical movie, a contemporary comedy remake, and a period piece fantasy-adventure reboot.

References

  1. Drew, Bernard A. (8 March 2010). Literary Afterlife: The Posthumous Continuations of 325 Authors' Fictional Characters. McFarland. p. 220. ISBN   978-0-7864-5721-2.
  2. "Book Review". The Gazette and Daily. 21 January 1949. Retrieved 20 November 2024.