In fact, I remember as a child wondering about those pictures. I was confused, I thought that the illustrator had suddenly lost his skill. I asked my mom whey they looked so funny. She said that people used to draw black people like that, and that I was right, it was silly.
The characters, the africans in the story, are not treated in a racist way. In fact, the Doctor defends the Africans' suspicion of him as a white person, saying it was understandable since they had been mistreated. The Africans are a little silly, but no sillier than any of the other characters in the book (the pirates, the cat's meat man at Puddleby).
I am disappointed that they have "improved" upon Hugh Lofting's original work. I think it is fine the way it was written.
I know that I, my brothers, and all our friends would discuss at length the Doctor Dolittle books. We wondered what the Solid gold collar would look like, and I am now very aware of the different smells of water.
All of us became fascinated with ship's biscuit, and forced our mothers to buy it for it.
I still like hard tack (aka ship's biscuit)
Article comments
1 - John Richey
I am just starting Doctor Dolittle for the first time. I am a college student, and my friends and I get together weekly to read classic books out loud. We have read The Count of Monte Cristo, A Christmas Carol, A Wrinkle in Time+, and Treasure Island so far. I am excited about Dr. Dolittle; thus far it has been a wonderful book to read outloud, and loads of fun. I was encouraged by your post, and I am curious to see what I think about your comments as the book progresses. God bless!
John Richey
Case Western Reserve University