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Becoming Dr. Seuss : Theodor Geisel and the making of an American imagination / Brian Jay Jones

Catalog Data

Author:
Jones, Brian Jay  Search this
Physical description:
483 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some color) ; 24 cm
Type:
Biography
Biographies
Place:
United States
Date:
2019
20th century
Contents:
And that is a story that no one can beat. Minnows into whales 1904-1921 ; The slob generation 1921-1925 ; Strange beasts 1925-1926 ; The flit 1927-1936 ; Brat books 1936-1940 ; Cockeyed crusader 1940-1943 -- It is fun to have fun but you have to know how. Snafu 1943-1946 ; A good profession 1946-1949 ; A person's a person 1950-1954 ; A literary straitjacket 1954-1957 -- Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try. Beginner books 1958-1960 ; The work 1961-1963 ; Stink. Stank. Stunk. 1963-1967 ; I intend to go on doing just what I do 1967-1971 ; You'll miss the best things if you keep your eyes shut 1971-1978 ; A few years longer 1979-1984 ; Off and away 1984-1991
Summary:
"The definitive, fascinating, all-reaching biography of Dr. Seuss: Dr. Seuss is a classic American icon. Whimsical and wonderful, his work has defined our childhoods and the childhoods of our own children. The silly, simple rhymes are a bottomless well of magic; his illustrations timeless favorites because, quite simply, they make us laugh. The Grinch, the Cat in the Hat, Horton, and so many more are his troupe of beloved and uniquely Seussian creations. Theodor Geisel, however, had a second, more radical side. It is there that the allure and fascination of his Dr. Seuss alter ego begins. He had a successful career as an advertising man and then as a political cartoonist, his personal convictions appearing, not always subtly, throughout his books--remember the environmentalist in The Lorax? Geisel was a complicated man on an important mission. He introduced generations to the wonders of reading while teaching young people about empathy and how to treat others well. Agonizing over word choices and rhymes, touching up drawings sometimes for years, he upheld a rigorous standard of perfection for his work. Geisel took his responsibility as a writer for children seriously, talking down to no reader, no matter how small. And with classics like Green Eggs and Ham and One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish, Geisel delighted readers while they learned. Suddenly, reading became fun. Coming right off the heels of George Lucas and the bestselling Jim Henson, Brian Jay Jones is quickly developing a reputation as a master biographer of the creative geniuses of our time."--Dust jacket
Dr. Seuss is a classic American icon; his work has defined our childhoods, and even more than twenty-five years after his death his books continue to find new readers. Theodor Geisel, however, led a life that goes much deeper than the prolific and beloved children's book author. He had a successful career as a political cartoonist, and his political leanings can be felt throughout his books. Jones introduces us to this complicated man, who introduced generations to the wonders of reading while teaching young people about empathy and how to treat others well. -- adapted from jacket
Topic:
Authors, American  Search this
Illustrators  Search this
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_1109983