The Story of Doctor Dolittle (Dramatic Reading): Free Audiobook and Listening Guide

The Story of Doctor Dolittle (Dramatic Reading), credited to Hugh Lofting, is available as a LibriVox volunteer audiobook. This guide identifies the recording, its source summary and its audio tracks.

About the work

The LibriVox catalogue summary, preserved with the recording, reads:

LibriVox recording of The Story of Doctor Dolittle (Dramatic Reading) by Hugh Lofting. Read in English by MaryAnn; Beth Thomas; Adam; Rachel; Willy; Larry Wilson; Donald Cummings; Paul Simonin; Lydia; Esther ben Simonides; Mary Kay; SuperCoconut; Vanessa Cooley; Adele de Pignerolles; Elijah; Shiloh Fuscello; Digs; April Walters; Zames Curran; michaelcjohnson John Dolittle, M. D., was once a famous doctor. But then he learned to talk Animal-Language, picked up several interesting pets, and gradually began to lose his patients. Finally the only patient who remains, the Cat's-Meat-Man, makes a suggestion - why doesn't he give up treating people and become an animal doctor? And so Dr. Dolittle becomes an animal doctor, and life seems to be going well. But with the addition of an escaped crocodile to his store of pets, even the animals stop coming to see him. What to do? Children of all ages - and adults too - will enjoy the story of the good Doctor and his animals as he travels to Africa and back, braves shipwrecks and pirates, escapes from prison, and tries to reunite a little boy with his kidnapped uncle, all with the help of his charming animal friends. (Summary by Rachel) Please note that this book was written at a different time and includes attitudes which are now considered racist. Some modern editions are available with some of this changed - this recording is of the original public domain text, as it was first published in 1920. Cast List: Introduction read by Donald Cummings Narrated by Adele de Pignerolles Doctor Dolittle: Adam Polynesia the parrot / Ben Ali the Barbary Dragon: Beth Thomas Too-Too the owl / the Pushmi-Pullyu: Esther ben Simonides Chee-Chee the monkey: Adele de Pignerolles Gub-Gub the pig / Tiny Red Monkey: SuperCoconut Dab-Dab the duck / Queen Ermintrude / Major of the Marmosettes / Pirate 1: Rachel Jip the dog: MaryAnn Townsperson: Vanessa Cooley Cat's-Meat-Man: Elijah Fisher Sarah Dolittle: Dorothy Godfrey-Smith Horse: Willy Porpoises / Crocodile / Swallows / Eagles: April Walters White Mouse / Pirate 2: Mary Kay African Man / Grand Gorilla / Mayor: Larry Wilson The King of Jolliginki: Paul Simonin Biggest Baboon / Big Black Rat / Shark / Fisherman: Michael C. Johnson Leader of the Lions / Prince Bumpo / Sailor: Zames Curran Queen Lioness: Shiloh Fuscello Chief Chimpanzee / Little Boy: Lydia Audio edited by Rachel

Recording facts

• Recording title: The Story of Doctor Dolittle (Dramatic Reading)
• Author credits: Hugh Lofting
• Language: English
• Original MP3 tracks: 22
• Listed recording duration: 2:28:28

Catalogue topics

• travel
• adventure
• animals
• dolittle
• doctor
• parrot
• monkeys

Track guide

1. 00 - Dramatis Personae and Introduction — 8:36
2. 01 - Puddleby — 4:09
3. 02 - Animal Languages — 10:47
4. 03 - More Money Troubles — 6:44
5. 04 - A Message from Africa — 6:01
6. 05 - The Great Journey — 6:41
7. 06 - Polynesia and the King — 6:17
8. 07 - The Bridge of Apes — 8:11
9. 08 - The Leader of the Lions — 6:09
10. 09 - The Monkeys' Council — 4:18
11. 10 - The Rarest Animal of All — 6:48
12. 11 - The Black Prince — 6:31
13. 12 - Medicine and Magic — 11:08
14. 13 - Red Sails and Blue Wings — 5:03
15. 14 - The Rats' Warning — 5:08
16. 15 - The Barbary Dragon — 6:57
17. 16 - Too-Too, the Listener — 5:19
18. 17 - The Ocean Gossips — 6:04
19. 18 - Smells — 10:44
20. 19 - The Rock — 7:05
21. 20 - The Fisherman's Town — 5:47
22. 21 - Home Again — 4:01

Listen to this recording

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Source and rights

This is a record from LibriVox's official Internet Archive collection, with a public-domain licence recorded in its metadata. LibriVox's policy includes its catalogue summaries as well as its recordings. Its public-domain assessment follows United States law; copyright status can differ elsewhere. The summary and track facts are reproduced and reformatted from that record. Dates attached to the archive upload are not treated as original book publication dates.