Hugh Lofting, English author responsible for creating the fictional child book character, Dr. Dolittle was born Jan. 14, 1886 at Maidenhead in Berkshire, England Born into a family of four
Hugh Lofting, English author responsible for creating the fictional child book character, Dr. Dolittle was born Jan. 14, 1886 at Maidenhead in Berkshire, England
Born into a family of four brothers and one sister, an Irish mother and English father, both Roman Catholic, Hugh was sent to a Catholic boarding school, Mount Saint Mary, at the age of eight
He remained there until he was 18.
In 1904, he came to the United States to study civil engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
He held many jobs, married, went off to the first World War and wrote letters to his children about Dr. Dolittle, who he created to entertain his family while he was off to war.
In the war, a wounded animal was killed, so Hugh created an imaginary doctor who left treating humans to begin helping injured animals.
After being injured in the war and sent home, Hugh began his writing career publishing his first Dr. Dolittle book in 1920 and wrote one each year until 1927.
These seven books are considered the best of his Dr. Dolittle series.
We only have one of his books, (JF) The Story of Dr. Dolittle, at the Henryetta Public Library.
Hugh died Sept. 26, 1947 in Santa Monica, Calif.
According to the library calendar, Jan. 15 is National Hat Day and Jan. 16 is Appreciate a Dragon Day.
There have been three books added to our shelves this week: (F) A Minute to Midnight by David Baldacci; Criss Cross by James Patterson and (OK364.15) Now I Lay Me Down by Faith M. Phillips.
Many other books are available at the Henryetta Public Library located at 518 West Main Street.
