The Man Who Was Dr. Seuss: The Life and Work of Theodor Geisel

The Man Who Was Dr. Seuss is the first major personal and literary biography of theodor "Dr. Seuss" Geisel. It describes the origins of the rhyme scheme he used for many of his books; his views of international justice; the morals for children in his books; why parents are seldom seen in Dr. Seuss books and finally, among fabulouse facts and fanciful fables, how and why Dr. Seuss eventually became an American icon.

We all have memories of our favorite Dr. Seuss books, either those we read as children or those we read to our children countless times. Even ten years after his death, Dr. Seuss's popularity is still strong, and the recent film version of The Grinch is just more proof that he continues to capture the imaginations of children and adults alike. This is the second biography of the elusive Theodor Geisel, the first being Judith and Neil Morgan's Dr. Seuss & Mr. Geisel: A Biography (LJ 4/15/95). Unlike that book, more a personal reminiscence, this new title is essentially a straightforward literary biography, tracing the development of Geisel's characters and works but also detailing the major points of his life. Fensch, the author of 19 books (including The Man Who Was Walter Mitty, reviewed below), begins with Geisel's birth in Springfield, MA, in 1904 and an instance of public humiliation he suffered at the age of 13, which left him forever uneasy around crowds and seldom willing to speak in public. He then examines Geisel's academic career (the author attended Dartmouth and Oxford before dropping out and discovering his gift for drawing and writing) and subsequent rise to fame. He also studies the method Geisel devised to write his books, which changed the face of children's literature. Fensch's style is as breezy as a Dr. Seuss book, and fans will find this book informative and entertaining. A more critical analysis of Geisel's life and work await. For all collections. Ron Ratliff, Kansas State Univ., Manhattan
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