The table shows the correct reading order, i.e. the chronology of events in the Doctor Dolittle novel series. The sequence of events differs from that shown on other websites. However, we assure you that it has been thoroughly analyzed and described in order to maintain the greatest possible cause-and-effect logic of the events and adventures of Doctor Dolittle.
| No. | Book | Place | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Story of Doctor Dolittle (1920) | Puddleby-on-the-Marsh - Africa: Lands of Jolliginki + Land of the Monkeys, Canarian Islands | Ca. 1834 (In The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle it is mentioned that the Doctor has known Dab-Dab for about 5 years) |
| The story of how Doctor Dolittle, a human doctor, learned animal language and became an animal doctor. When is called for help, he goes to Africa to cure monkeys from a deadly plague. He ends up in the prison of the African King of the Jolliginki. | |||
| 2 | Doctor Dolittle’s Post Office (1923) | Africa: Fantippo Kingdom (around the real Gulf of Guinea) | |
| In fact, it is not known in what time period this story should be set. On the one hand, it is the story of the Doctor's second trip to Africa resulting from Pushmi-Pullyu's request, on the other hand, the Doctor's animals mention that they do not want to return to circus life. However, in the "The Circus of Doctor Dolittle" there is mention of the sensational events at Cape Stephen described in "Doctor Dolittle’s Post Office". So these are adventures taking place and time at the beginning of the doctor's circus life. The book tells the story of organizing a bird mail in the country of the African King Koko, which spread throughout the world. The doctor also learns about the history of humanity during the flood and Noah's ark. |
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| 3 | Doctor Dolittle’s Circus (1924) | England travelling | |
| 4 | Doctor Dolittle’s Caravan (1926) | England, including London | |
| These 2 parts should be read together. This is the story of how Doctor Dolittle, after coming from Africa with an original two-headed animal - Pushmi-Pullyu - gives shows and performances in the circus. His goal is to raise money to pay for the ship he had borrowed to go to Africa, which he had crashed. In these times, the Doctor did not have a peaceful life and even reach prison a few times. He meets an outstanding bird - Pipinella, whose life becomes the basis for the content of the opera and the next book about Doctor Dolittle. | |||
| 5 | Doctor Dolittle and the Green Canary (1950) | Pipinelli's Tale: England and the Atlantic, including Ebony Island | |
| A sensational story of the life of Pipinella - a canary rescued by the Doctor from a pet shop. Her life covers a wide range of life themes - from love to politics. | |||
| 6 | The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle (1922) | Puddleby, Spain (Monterverde), Spidermonkey Island (near Brasil) | From 1839 to ca. 1841 |
| It is a story about how 9-year-old Tom Stubbins becomes the Doctor's assistant and then goes on a journey to the coast of Brazil, where the world's second naturalist - the Long Arrow Indian - has disappeared. | |||
| 7 | Gub Gub’s Book: An Encyclopedia of Food (1932) | Puddleby | |
| A book by the pig, Gub-Gub, which he wrote during his circus and opera adventures. This is a collection of stories about how food can change history. | |||
| 8 | Doctor Dolittle’s Zoo (1925) | Puddleby | |
| How the Doctor and Tom create a zoo for various animals around their house in Puddleby. It turns out that the life of animals can be full of adventures worth telling. | |||
| 9 | Dr Dolittle meets Londener in Paris (1925) | Paris, Tuileries Gardens | Times close to the story about the Doctor's Zoo (the Doctor was invited to Paris by naturalists from the Paris Zoo, so he must have been known for his knowledge of nature by then). |
| A short story about how difficult it was to maintain hygiene in Paris at that time. | |||
| 10 | Doctor Dolittle’s Garden (1927) | Puddleby | |
| 11 | Doctor Dolittle in the Moon (1928) | The Moon | |
| 12 | Doctor Dolittle’s Return (1933) | Puddleby | |
| These 3 parts should be read together. It is the story of a trip to the Moon that the Doctor made at the request of the lunar animals. | |||
| 13 | Doctor Dolittle’s Birthday Book (1936) | ||
| 14 | Doctor Dolittle and the Secret Lake (1948) | Puddleby-on-the-Marsh - Africa: Fantippo Kingdom + rivers and lakes in the hearth of Africa (propably southern side of the equator) | |
| Due to the imprudence of one of the animals, Doctor Dolittle loses the notes on the history of humanity during the flood and Noah's ark, which he acquired during the adventures described in Doctor Dolittle’s Post Office. So he goes again to the heart of Africa to redo it. | |||
| 15 | Doctor Dolittle’s Puddleby Adventures (1952) | ||