Doctor Aybolit

Doctor Aybolit (, Doktor Aibolit) is a fictional character from the children's poems Aybolit (1929) and Barmaley (1925) by Korney Chukovsky, as well as from the children's fantastic novella Doctor Aybolit (1925) by the same author. The name may be translated as "Ai" ("Ouch"), "Bolit" ([it] hurts!)". Origins The origins of Aybolit is Hugh Lofting's 1920 character Doctor Dolittle, Doctor Aybolit being its loose adaptation. The first 1924 edition of Doctor Aybolit was titled "Лофтинг Гью. Доктор Айболит. Для маленьких детей пересказал К. Чуковский" ("Lofting Gyu (sic!), Doctor Aybolit. Retold for little children by K. Chukovsky"). In the adaptation the plot was drastically reworked to simplify the perception by little children and this, in addition to ignorant accusations in plagiarism, was a subject of "holy wars" in Russian literary circles in 1990s when faithful translations of Doctor Dolittle stories appeared in Russian. A living prototype of the character was Chukovsky's acquaintance, the Vilnian Jewish physician Zemach Shabad (1864–1935), whom he met in 1912. Chykovsky desribed him in his memoirs as "the nicest man I knew. <...> Not only children visited him themselves, but also they were bringing sick animals." A monument to Zemach Chabad was dedicated in Vilnius on 16 May 2007. In Lithuanian language, Doctor Aybolit is translated as Daktaras Aiskauda. However the very first Doctor Aybolit book contains a dedication "Посвящаю милому доктору Конухесу, целителю моих Чуковлят" ("Dedicated to dear Doctor Konukhes, the healer of my Chukovlings") Influence The character became a recognizable feature of Russian culture. The poems found their following in the films Doktor Aybolit (black and white, 1938), Aybolit 66 (Mosfilm, 1967, English title: Oh How It Hurts 66), and Doctor Aybolit (animated film, Kievnauchfilm, 1985). The doctor's appearance and name appear in brand names, logos, and slogans of various medical establishments, candies, etc.