 The Story of Dr. Doolittle by Hugh Lofting Originally published in the United Kingdom in 1920, this unabridged recording of The Story of Dr. Doolittle was produced in 1995 by Blackstone Audiobooks Incorporated, which holds the copyright there too. Neither this recording nor any portion of it may be reproduced or used for any purpose without prior written authorisation from Blackstone Audiobooks. This book is read by Nadia May. This book is 144 pages long. The following material from The Dust Jacket is provided for the interest of our listeners. This is the first of the books about the famous Dr. Doolittle. Published in 1920, it received the immediate and enthusiastic reaction of children's book critics. But even more important, children loved the good doctor and wrote to Hugh Lofting asking for more of his adventures. Now more than 70 years later, the story of Dr. Doolittle and all of the subsequent books about the animal's own doctor are as popular as ever with children and literary critics. In a feature article on Dr. Doolittle, written for the New York Times book review in 1966, William K. Zinser gives one of the many reasons for the continued success of the Dr. Doolittle books. Children know good writing when they see it or hear it, and there is nothing accidental about the continual hold exerted on young listeners by Beatrix Potter, Frank Baum, Edward Lear, E. B. White, and other authors who respect a child's right to enjoy a difficult word, even if he doesn't understand it, or to sail away on a flight of the imagination that carries no guarantee of a safe landing. Of this small company, none so exhilarated me for pure style as Hugh Lofting. Nobody can beat Lofting for the simple beauty of a declarative sentence. His writing, like the doctor he is writing about, is strong and straightforward, wholly free of clutter. And remember, when simplified editions of Dr. Doolittle appear, there is no substitute for the best. The Story of Dr. Doolittle by Hugh Lofting The book's dedication reads, To all children, children in years and children in heart, I dedicate this story. Chapter 1. Puddlebee Once upon a time, many years ago, when our grandfathers were little children, there was a doctor, and his name was Doolittle, John Doolittle M.D. M.D. means that he was a proper doctor and knew a whole lot. He lived in a little town called Puddlebee on the marsh. Sample complete. Ready to continue?